Winner of 2016 National Jewish Book Award for Young Adult Literature
'Jewish summer camp is the perfect setting for a multi-generational novel: a daughter connects with her late mother through names etched in the bleachers, murals in the dining hall, and a mysterious stranger. Mann's compelling story and artful writing make this an excellent read for teens and adults.' Sarah Bunin Benor, winner, Sami Rohr Choice Award for Jewish Literature, author of Becoming Frum: How Newcomers Learn the Language and Culture of Orthodox Judaism
'Whether on the streets of New York or deep in the summer camp woods, Mann ensures the reader is as alive to every sight and sound as her central characters. Not only is the writing exquisite, but it had me in floods of tears by the end. I loved this book and so will you ' Justine Solomons, Byte the Book
'Mann weaves a poignant tale of loss and discovery that carefully builds to a hopeful, satisfying ending.' Wiley Blevins, author
One daughter. One mother. One summer camp. Twenty years apart.
If only Reena could stay in the city, instead of spending the last summer before high school at her cousin's Jewish sleepaway camp. From morning prayer to Color War to the social pecking order, she is lost from the start, and her cousin Lila is no ally. While working on her survival skills, Reena begins to find clues of the mother she never knew.
Twenty years earlier, Naomi stands on a dock in the middle of the lake. Just finished with her first year of college, camp feels too small to contain her giant dreams. Her sister Mara is all about finding a man, but Naomi believes something more awaits.
A mysterious, barefoot stranger appears on a hill, offering blessings and songs. Can he guide Naomi to her future? Can he help Reena untangle her past?