The Summer I Learned to Fly

Title:  The Summer I Learned to Fly
Author: Dana Reinhardt
ISBN: 9780385739542
Copyright: 2011

I know that The Summer I Learned to Fly is a summer book, however, sometimes in Maine the winters get too cold, and too dark, and too snowy.  That is precisely why I picked up Dana Reinhardt's book.  I just couldn't resist a new book about summer.  Now I have never actually read a book by Reinhardt, I have read many reviews of her books and they are always described as wonderful and enchanting.  The Summer I Learned to Fly is no exception. 

Drew Robin Solo, who used to be named Robin Drew Solo, until her father died and her mother legally changed her name has turned 13 and is currently living out the summer before eighth grade.  Drew's mother just opened a designer cheese shop in Los Angeles. Drew's friends call her Birdie, and then she meets a boy named Emmett Crane who is everything she has been looking for. 

As if your mom owning a cheese shop isn't weird enough, Birdie also happens to have a Pet Rat named Humboldt Fog, or Hum for short.  Birdie takes Hum everywhere with her in a backpack, to the park, the ocean, the grocery store, and yes even the cheese shop.  Then one day when Hum goes missing, Birdie literally runs into a boy named Emmett who is everything she is looking for in a friend and so much more. 

However, as the summer goes on Birdie learns that she really doesn't know anything about her new friend, and she needs to decide if she is willing to give up everything she knows in order to help him.