by Lorrie Moore
First published 2018
Leena Fogg sees an opportunity when her classroom gerbils need somewhere to stay during summer vacation. She steps forward as their caretaker, determined to prove herself capable of the responsibility. The decision weighs on her because her previous attempt at pet ownership ended badly. Those memories cast doubt on her current plan, but Leena pushes forward anyway. She wants to believe this experience will turn out differently than last time. The gerbils represent more than just a summer job for Leena. They offer her a chance to rewrite her story with animals and maybe with herself. Moore crafts a tale about second chances and the courage it takes to try again after failure. Leena must face her past disappointments while caring for these small creatures who depend on her completely.
Genres: animals, family-life, contemporary
Vibes: emotional-atmospheric, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, redemption
124 pages · Paperback · CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform