No way summer can end like this! These young people are powerful, courageous, experienced adventurers molded through their heroic commitment to discipline and deduction. They’ve already got two keys to the city, but the rival Epic Ellisons-twin sisters Wiki and Leen-are steadily gaining celebrity across Logan County, Virginia, and have in hand their third key to the city. These two black boys are coming to terms with the end of their brave, heroic summer at Grandma’s, with a return to school just right around the corner.

Jacobsen’s lively, well-composed pencil illustrations nicely capture the book’s emotions.Ī moving, well-written tale about an unusual friendship.Ĭan this really be the first time readers meet the Legendary Alston Boys of Logan County? Cousins and veteran sleuths Otto and Sheed Alston show us that we are the ones who are late to their greatness. Throughout, the author effectively employs maritime metaphors to tie everything together. Rusty realizes he can repair his boat, “unlike some of the other things that I couldn’t do anything about.” Poetically striking details make scenes come alive, as with Hazel’s house, filled with “books, shells, pottery, dried seaweed, lacy snake skins…and an entire standing skeleton of what might have been a fox.” That Rusty allows himself to be changed by Hazel’s friendship and guidance speaks well of him in a subtle way, and it’s touching to see their mutual caring and compassion. In his third book for children, Loizeaux sensitively evokes his narrator’s pain and confusion as well as his insights. Though sorrow follows, Rusty gains a firmer sense of what’s important. The day before his mother’s return, Rusty finally takes Hazel for a joyous sail. Besides the money, Rusty appreciates Hazel’s agreeably cluttered house, her seaside paintings, and her friendly cat, Marigold. They settle into a comforting routine, starting with a snack and math homework, then chores. Rusty puts her off but later agrees to earn money by doing chores at her house.

One day, Hazel Perkins, an older woman in a wheelchair, asks him to take her sailing. Rusty takes his mind off things by fixing up an old catboat. But worst of all, his mother is temporarily gone, being treated for depression it’s unknown when she’ll return. His closest pal, Walter, is at sleepaway camp for six weeks. He failed fifth grade math and now has to go to summer school. Summer vacation isn’t starting out well for Russell, called Rusty. A middle-grade boy finds comfort and emotional growth in his friendship with an older woman in this novel.

Into the Wind by William Loizeaux