The Blossoming Summer Middle Grade Historical Fiction Novel

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July 4, 2026

Inspiring

A warm summer walk in a field of blooming flowers.

I love what inspired the author to write this story: the emigration of a family who had to leave the UK to avoid WWII, the reconnection of the family members who had spent years apart out of necessity for survival, and finding their way to each other again. All wth the help of the 13-year-old Rosemary oldest child of three, the loss of hope in adults and cynicism that lead them to gloom and some in a less rightful way, the awareness to the fear and pressure one child feels to fix and please the adults so they can just remain ok (and I feel very relatable to this point because I was never able to heal it in myself) all of the negative points explored by the author are healed and resolved with communication, sincerity, willingness to learn more about each other's interest, passion for gardening as a family activity, respecting each other's passions and accepting differences, learning and overcoming trauma of inheritance/cultural ancestry, dealing with the trauma caused by racism, colonialism.

Although many times emigrants introducing fauna and flora to a foreign land results in problems in the ecosystem later, saving that violet from the ground that would be destroyed by war was a beautiful symbol.

The characters have a lot of faith, it doesn't bother me as a humanist/creative artist, I embrace the concepts not as religion, but as words from the dictionary: faith: faith in myself to do better, faith in the fact that authors and books like this make my day or a person better. The same applies to words as love: loving another human being (regardless of the genre, loving a pet or a city, a sports team, or a deity) shouldn't be used to hurt others.

Today, I feel that Rosemary's faith and her father's passion for art inspire me to grab my watercolors and paint fields and fields of flowers.

0:14

I saw the world differently after reading this—that’s the sign of a great book.

Being an oldest sister myself (with six younger brothers!), I could intensely relate to Rosemary’s struggles about trying to handle the weight of healing an imperfect family, being a kind and caring older sister, and trying to find common ground with siblings who have different interests. I really admired how she kept calm with her brothers, even when she found Kenneth ripping the stuffing out of that pillow, haha.

Anne of Green Gables turned me into a great lover of nature, so I was delighted at all the beautifully vivid descriptions of the farm, the meadows, the lake. I really felt like I was there! The resort is my new dream home 🤩

Everything was beautifully done, especially the prose. It was vivid, rich, and simple. Nothing was too fancy, but the words told the story elegantly.

Wonderful book! This might be my new fifth favorite comfort book, right behind Pride and Prejudice, Anne of Green Gables, Betsy-Tacy, and Jane Eyre. I know I’ll bring re-reading this many times in the future!