CROSSING THE PRESSURE LINE

“Life is messy and confusing … but it can be perfectly beautiful at the exact same time.”

At the start of this utterly delightful and heartwarming middle grade novel, 12-year-old Clare is struggling with the loss of her grandfather, her favorite person in the world. Not only is her grandfather gone, but Clare blames herself for his passing. In order to fulfill his last wish, Clare, her mother and her grandmother agree to leave their home in Chicago to spend the summer at her grandfather’s rural cabin in the northwoods of Wisconsin. With memories of her grandfather everywhere, and her friends and swim team far away, Clare must open her heart to a different kind of summer: one filled with unexpected friendships, exciting challenges, and surprising new beginnings.

I loved this wonderful debut by my bookstagram friend @laura_at_the_library! It’s just the kind of book that tween-me would have adored decades ago - but 50-year-old me enjoyed it just as much now. This novel feels both timeless and modern in its story and characters, and refreshingly wholesome in its themes of independence and empathy. It’s also a love letter to the author’s native Wisconsin: the shade of the trees and cabin’s glittering waters come vividly to life through Clare’s eyes. It’s not easy to write about grief in a middle grade book, but the subject is addressed in a direct yet delicate way, as Clare learns to move forward while keeping her grandfather inside her heart. I also loved the way Clare grew to see her mother and grandmother as individuals with their own goals and dreams apart from their roles in her family. In short, I highly recommend this lovely new book, out in March!

This book features a celebration where guests nibble on cucumber sandwiches, so I made some heart-shaped ones here for Clare! I imagine there must have also been a fantastic cheeseboard too with lots of Wisconsin cheeses - so here’s my interpretation of the refreshments at that gathering ... I happen to LOVE cucumber sandwiches so this was especially fun and delicious!