Sara Pennypacker’s newest novel “Summer of the Gypsy Moths” is set in her home state of Massachusetts, specifically the Linger Longer Cottage Colony on Cape Cod. Pennypacker has left her beloved Clementine temporarily behind and has created two new characters–Stella and Angel. Two very different 12 year-olds, they face very serious, grown-up problems. Their world is contrasted in the novel to the vacationers enjoying a happy summer beach time.
Reviewed in the Sunday NYT’s Book Review section, Elisabeth Egan calls “Summer of the Gypsy Moths” the country-mouse version of ” From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.” The girls contrive to live on their own until a “responsible” adult, Stella’s mom, returns. This is a story of loneliness, yet the girls do create joy for themselves without adult help. Our copy is on the JF shelves.