First published 2021
A young girl knows that summer cannot truly begin until Lola arrives from the Philippines. Her grandmother transforms their home with the scent of homemade mango jam and fills the air with Tagalog lullabies and tales of kitchen disasters. The girl shows Lola her favorite places: the sandy beach, the park where fireworks bloom overhead, and the quiet lake where they cast their fishing lines together. The whole family gathers around Lola's cooking, sharing meals and laughter as the warm days stretch on. But as green leaves turn golden and the air grows crisp, Lola must pack her bags and return to the Philippines. The girl faces the sadness of goodbye, yet Lola has prepared something special to help her granddaughter hold onto their precious time together until they meet again next summer.
Genres: fiction, family-life, contemporary
Vibes: emotional, intimate, lyrical
Tropes: found-family
Setting: Philippines, United States
Period: Summer
40 pages · Hardcover · HarperCollins