Umbrella Summer

About this book

Annie Richards knows there are a million things to look out forbicycle accidents food poisoning chicken pox smallpox typhoid fever runaway zoo animals and poison oak. Thats why being careful is so important even if it does mean giving up some of her favorite things like bike races with her best friend Rebecca and hot dogs on the Fourth of July. Everyone keeps telling Annie not to worry so much that shes just fine. But they thought her brother Jared was just fine too and Jared died. It takes a new neighbor who looks as plain as a box of toothpicks but has some surprising secrets of her own to make Annie realize that her plans for being careful arent working out as well as she had hoped. And with a lot of help from those around herand a book about a pig tooAnnie just may find a way to close her umbrella of sadness and step back into the sunshine. With winsome humor and a dash of small-town charm Lisa Graffs third novel is a touching look at rising above grief and the healing power of community.