Three Bird Summer [Paperback]

“This spirited novel seamlessly combines endings and beginnings against the beautiful backdrop of a lake in summer.” — Kirkus Reviews

For as long as he can remember, Adam and his parents have spent their summers at his grandmother’s rustic cabin on Three Bird Lake. This year, the lake will belong just to Adam . . . and, apparently, Alice, the girl next door. Alice seems to want Adam’s friendship, but she looks just like the aloof, popular girls back home — what could they possibly have in common? When Adam's grandma starts to leave strange notes in his room — notes that hint at a hidden treasure somewhere at the lake and a love from long ago — Alice is the one person he can rely on to help solve the mysteries of Three Bird Lake.Adam is a fully developed character many readers will relate to as he works through his changing relationship with his grandmother and his friendship with Alice. The leisurely pace matches the setting of long days spent dock-sitting or canoeing, and nature is never far from Adam’s mind as he watches loons, beavers, and even a pair of mink in their natural habitats. Rich in descriptive detail, readers will be able to fully visualize the characters and the lush setting of this well-written novel.
—School Library Journal

Adam and Alice are both endearing and believable teenagers. ... This spirited novel seamlessly combines endings and beginnings against the beautiful backdrop of a lake in summer.
—Kirkus Reviews

St. Antoine effectively evokes the visceral pull that nature and special summer places can have, and she understatedly examines the sometimes tricky navigation of middle-school boy-girl relationships. Adam’s narration is thoughtful and generally credible (his palpable discomfort with his grandmother’s worsening condition is particularly well drawn), and the kids who would rather go on a nature hike than play team splól