Summer of the Gypsy Moths

From Clementine author Sara Pennypacker, this is a poignant middle-grade novel about two foster children who must find a way to work together in order to survive.

Eleven-year-old Stella misses her (unreliable) mom, but she loves it at great-aunt Louise's house. Louise lives on Cape Cod, where Stella hopes her mom will someday come and settle down. The only problem? Angel, the foster kid Louise has taken in. The two girls live together but there's no way they'll ever be friends.

Then Louise suddenly passes away one morning-and Stella and Angel decide not to tell anyone. Now they have to depend on each other for survival. Now they are forced to trust each other with the biggest secret ever.

With great empathy and humor, Sara Pennypacker tells the story of two very different girls who unexpectedly become each other's true family.

One secret to keep. One cottage colony to run. And one summer to see if two enemies can become a family.

• Unlikely Friendship: Stella is a rule-follower who misses her mom. Angel is a cynical foster kid who trusts no one. They're not friends—until they're all each other has left.
• Found Family: After Great-Aunt Louise's sudden death, the girls must rely on each other to survive, discovering that family isn't just about blood, but about who stays.
• A High-Stakes Secret: To avoid being separated by the foster care system, Stella and Angel decide to hide Louise's body and pretend she's still alive, a secret that gets harder to keep each day.
• Grief and Resilience: A moving and realistic look at loss and the strength it takes to build a new life from the ashes of the old, perfect for young readers navigating big emotions.