Jelly Bean Summer (Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, 2017) by Joyce Magnin is one of those pull-you-through reads. Once I got started with this historical middle grade novel, I didn’t want to put it down.
It’s 1968 and Joyce Anne and her sister Elaine are not getting along. In fact, Joyce is so desperate to get out of their shared bedroom, and out of the house where everyone shares the grief over brother Bud being missing in Vietnam, she moves up to the roof. From the roof she meets an older boy and finds something to occupy her summer away from crazy UFO-believer Elaine and her squealing guinea pig.
The book has humor, pathos, and a satisfying ending.
Author Joyce has two other middle grade novels out and also writes for adults. You can read all about her here.