Being a kid is rough. Especially when you’ve been accused of a crime that you didn’t commit and it makes the whole town turn against you. Plus, your mom is already in prison for attempted murder so you don’t really need anymore help feeling like you don’t fit in.
But that’s life for Emily O’Reilly, the main character in Rock Harbor Search & Rescue by Colleen Coble, who lives with her brother, dad, and stepmom, Naomi, in Rock Harbor, a part of the Upper Peninsula. Emily loves spending time with Naomi and her stepmom’s rescue dog, Charley, on searches and as Emily’s birthday nears, her dad decides it’s time for Emily to have her own rescue dog. She’ll have to come up with some of the money, but that shouldn’t be a problem with her jewelry-making business profits.
Until an expensive necklace goes missing and Emily is blamed. In an instant, she loses all her saved money, her reputation, and her dad’s trust. As Emily and her friends work to find the necklace and the real thief, Emily’s mom makes contact from jail, sending Emily’s world into chaos. Add in a local legend that keeps popping up when Emily least expects it and time is running short for Emily to recover the necklace and still have time to get her own dog.
This book would be a great summer read for late elementary or middle school students, especially girls. They’ll relate to Emily’s character of being wrongly accused (because, really, aren’t all tweens/teens always innocent) and working against the “bad guy” to save her reputation. The book also speaks to the dog lover in me with all the search-and-rescue adventures. I can’t wait for school to start so I can book talk this one to my new students and introduce them to Emily and her family.
Rock Harbor Search & Rescue is a great summer read and would make a perfect pick-me-up for any kid that doesn’t know what to do or read now that school is over. And today you can win a copy of this book for your own tween/teen (or, if you like YA novels like I do, just keep it for yourself…). All you need to do is enter using Rafflecopter below. Good luck and happy summer reading!
P.S. If you don’t want to wait for the giveaway to end, the book is currently on sale for $7.49 so now is a great time to buy it!
DISCLOSURE: I was gifted this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers, but all opinions expressed are mine.
This book sounds perfect for my 12 year old daughter. I used to read Judy Blume and the “Little House” books when I was a tween. I guess I’m showing my age 🙂
I read an unending stack of Louisa May Alcott biographies in middle school.
Anne of Green Gables
Brittany McEuen
My favorite middle school read was Stone Fox. I think it had something to do with the fact that it was my teacher’s favorite! Thanks for the giveaway.
Amber
I loved Hardy Boys. I had a little crush on Joe. 🙂