The Blossoming Summer by Anna Rose Johnson

What worked:

Twelve-year-old Rosemary is reunited with her family after being separated for three years. World War II is going on in Europe, and her parents couldn’t afford to keep everyone together. Think how much her younger brothers have changed physically and mentally in three years. The reunion isn’t as happy as readers might expect, since the siblings are almost strangers from being apart for so long. Nearly half of the boys’ lives have been with a family that was not their own. Rosemary feels it’s her duty to reunite the family and help defuse any conflicts.

The book is all about relationships. Rosemary’s father and grandmother have been feuding for decades, and their conflict simmers throughout the book, with outbursts surfacing at times. Rosemary is upset when she discovers her father never taught her about their Indian and French-Canadian heritage. She finds it fascinating and important, while her father thinks it’s pointless. Rosemary’s cousin is also staying with Grandmother and has a superior, disinterested attitude. It’s heartwarming to watch their relationship grow, as they share feelings and dreams and start spending time together.

Grandmother’s garden becomes an important site for the characters, as she’s determined to win many categories and quiet the bragging of her neighbors. Rosemary brings a violet from England and secretly plants it next to the other flowers. She dreams of living in a meadow full of colorful flowers, and she calls this imaginary place “Paradise”.  Grandmother recruits Rosemary to oversee most of the gardening, and Rosemary must convince her brothers and parents to help, too. This flower and vegetable garden is the catalyst that will bring healing and unity to the family.

What didn’t work as well:

From the book’s synopsis, readers might expect the Indian heritage to be a bigger factor, but it’s more of an issue between Grandmother and her son. Also, Rosemary promises to write letters to her friend back in England, and she works on a letter throughout the book. It might have felt better if she had actually sent more letters rather than one long one.

The final verdict:

This book tells an emotional story of family and feelings, as Rosemary tries to reunite her parents and siblings and heal the relationship between her father and grandmother. Including WW II adds historical context, and the simple life in the Wisconsin countryside is peaceful and beautiful. I recommend you give this heartwarming book a shot.