Hello, everyone! Today, I am going to be sharing a book review of The Blossoming Summer by Anna Rose Johnson!

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Book: The Blossoming Summer by Anna Rose Johnson

Genre: Middle Grade Historical Fiction

Blurb:

When English thirteen-year-old Rosemary is sent to stay with her American grandmother at the start of World War II, she uncovers the family secret: they are Anishinaabe.

The year is 1940. England is all Rosemary has ever known . . . but as World War II changes the world, her life is altered as well. With France conquered, she, her parents, and her little brothers flee to America to escape the coming Blitz. Her grandmother’s house in Northern Wisconsin is safe, but unfamiliar—and she soon discovers that her parents have kept a tremendous secret.

Rosemary and her family are Anishinaabe . . . and her father is not proud of it.

Grandmother, however, is. A fashionable, independent, and fiery-minded old lady, she begins to teach Rosemary Anishinaabemowin. Far from home, but newly connected to a once-hidden part of her identity, Rosemary develops a warm, close relationship with Grandmother Charlotte—and with a local boy whose love of gardening helps her to see the beauty in her unexpected circumstances. As Rosemary grows into her new life like a flower in bloom, she realizes that maybe she’s not as far from home as she thought. (cover and blurb from Goodreads)

My Rating: 4.5 stars

Recommended Age: 10+

My Review:

My Overall Thoughts: This is an excellent historical fiction novel for middle grade readers set on the World War 2 homefront! I enjoyed reading Rosemary’s story as she adjusted to her new life in Wisconsin and learned more about her family and heritage, and the old-fashioned writing style was delightful. Definitely recommended!

Plot: The plot revolves around Rosemary and her family moving from England to Wisconsin to live with her grandmother. I would say this book is more focused on character development than a plot, and it had a nice slice-of-life feeling to it. The Northwoods Wisconsin setting was beautiful, and I enjoyed the gardening aspect and how that tied into Rosemary’s family building a stronger relationship.

Characters: I really enjoyed the characters! Rosemary was a sweet main character, and I related to her a lot as an oldest sibling, as well. Her parents were realistically written, and I appreciated how they cared for their children despite their flaws. Her siblings felt realistic to their ages, and it was fun to read about them getting to know each other better after their years apart. Grandmother was wonderfully feisty yet sweet, and I loved how she cared about her family and wanted to pass on her Ojibwe culture. I also enjoyed reading about Aunt Ann, Corinne, and Jacob and the part they played in helping Rosemary adjust to her new life.

Writing Style: The writing was great! I liked the old-fashioned feeling, reminiscent of classic girls’ fiction. There was also a lot of good vocabulary used. My only complaint in this area is that the story was quite slow-paced, which isn’t bad, but it could drag a bit at times.

Themes: I loved the themes in this story, as well! I liked how there were some Christian themes woven in, and the overall themes of family relationships and family heritage, along with Rosemary learning that keeping the family together isn’t solely her responsibility.

Content Notes: Discussions of war, death, grief, and strained family relationships. Mentions of racial/ethnic discrimination. A brief mention of wine.

Overall, The Blossoming Summer is a wonderful pick for middle grade readers who enjoy slow-paced historical fiction! I will be back on Wednesday with a couple exciting announcements! In the meantime, feel free to leave a comment and let me know what you have been reading lately!