The Battle of Junk Mountain - Hardcover

Greenberg, Lauren Abbey

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0762462957 ISBN 13: 9780762462957

Publisher: Running Press Kids, 2018

Synopsis

For fans of Rebecca Stead and Jennifer L. Holm, this is the perfect middle grade summer beach read.

Twelve-year-old Shayne Whittaker has always spent summers on the Maine coast, visiting her grandmother Bea and playing with her BFF Poppy. Both Shayne and Bea are collectors, in their own ways: Shayne revels in golden memories of searching for sea glass and weaving friendship bracelets with Poppy, while Bea scours flea markets for valuable finds, much of which she adds to a growing pile in her house that Shayne jokingly calls Junk Mountain.

This summer, though, everything has changed. Poppy would rather talk about boys than bracelets, and Bea's collecting mania has morphed into hoarding. Only Linc, the weird Civil War-obsessed kid next door, pays attention to her. Turns out Linc's collected a secret of his own, one that could enrage the meanest lobsterman on the planet, his grandpa. What begins as the worst summer of Shayne's life becomes the most meaningful, as she wages an all-out battle to save her friendships, rescue her grandmother, and protect the memories she loves the most.

About this title

About the Author

Lauren Abbey Greenberg is a graduate of the Institute of Children's Literature and has been published in Highlights for Children and Knowonder! magazine. She was a freelance writer/producer for many years and worked on a ton of cool projects such as TV spots for Discovery Kids, educational videos for National Geographic, and a film for Mount Rushmore National Memorial. She lives in Maryland with her husband, children, and fluffy dog, and has spent summers in Maine for the past twenty years. The Battle of Junk Mountain is her debut novel.

Reviews

Gr 4–6—Twelve-year-old Shayne has just arrived on the Maine coast to spend a month with her grandmother, who everyone calls Bea. Shayne is excited to be back in Maine to catch up with her "summer sister" Poppy. She's also there to help Bea clean out her house. Complicating things is the fact that her grandmother is an avid collector. She loves yard sales and has piles and piles of stuff she has amassed over the years. In the background, though, hovers her grief over the loss of her husband, Shayne's grandfather, who died in a boating accident. When Shayne helps Bea organize her things and bring them to the flea market, Bea refuses to sell anything. Meanwhile, Poppy is busy working at her dad's store and Shayne is left feeling out of sorts and lonely. Into this mix comes Cranky, also known as Mr. Holbrook, and his grandson Linc, a devoted Civil War reenactor. They become friends and Shayne starts working on Cranky's lobster boat. The Maine setting comes through clearly with rich descriptions and details. VERDICT Themes on intergenerational relationships, grief, and evolving friendships elevate this above the standard summer vacation story. A solid purchase, especially where realistic coming-of-age middle grade is needed.—Susan Lissim, Dwight School, New York City

Edition details

• Publisher: Running Press Kids
• Publication date: 2018
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0762462957
• ISBN 13: 9780762462957
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 224