By Piranha T.

Marigold, Zinnia, and Lily Silver are looking forward to another summer spent in LA. Marigold, twelve, has recently been accepted by an acting agent and can’t wait to audition during the following months. Zinnia, age eleven, will likely spend her summer reading and going to the nearby seashore. And five-year-old Lily will play with her nanny and older sisters.

But this all changes when their parents have to travel for work and Marigold, Zinnia and Lily are sent to their Aunt Sunny’s house by the seashore town of Pruet on Cape Cod for several weeks. Although they are at first annoyed to go to Pruet, they are soon charmed by the small village, it’s beaches, and most of all, Aunt Sunny. Making friends with the villagers, the three sisters soon decide to organize a local talent show. Finding more excitement in the summer than previously expected, Marigold, Zinnia and Lily have lots of fun sailing, swimming, and waiting for the talent show that will come at the end of their visit.

The Forget-Me-Not Summer was an excellent book, and would be enjoyed by fans of The Penderwicks. It is a nice adventure about three sisters. They each have their own distinct personality—for example, Marigold loves to act, while it’s not Zinnia’s strong point—and they are realistic. I would recommend The Forget-Me-Not Summer to readers ages ten and up looking for a well-written and fun story about three sisters, a vacation, and the realistic adventures that come along with it.

By Piranha T.

Ten-year-old Robert Linnet is the first to remark, “Why don’t we run away?” An after all, why not? The four Linnet children are stuck with their grandmother, who thinks children should be seen and not heard, while their father is away in Egypt. So, Nan, Robert, Timothy and Betsy escape. Soon they find their Uncle Ambrose, who they grow to love, and his gardener, Ezra. And there they stay.

However, the real fun begins when they meet Lady Alicia—a kind old lady whose son and husband disappeared long ago. The Linnets decide to find the missing Valerians, but will they find them? Of will the possible witch Emma Cobley and her unusual black cat thwart their plots before they can even really begin their search?

I liked Linnets and Valerians because even though it was also a fun story about children running away, there was also excitement and magic, even though you may not get that idea from the cover. However, it was also an adventure with plenty of excitement and fun. I would highly recommend ­Linnets and Valerians to readers ages nine and up.
​
Note to older readers: just because I say ages nine and up does not mean older readers should snub it—I enjoyed it quite a lot and think older readers will as well.