Families who loved Forever This Summer by Leslie C. Youngblood often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
Reach for this book when your child is grappling with a grandparent's memory loss, navigating the complexities of foster care among friends, or learning how to support a family through a major transition. It is a heartfelt story about eleven-year-old Georgie, who moves to rural Louisiana to help care for her Great Aunt Vie, whose mind is beginning to slip. Through Georgie's journey, the book explores how love can bridge the gap between the past and the present. While the story handles heavy topics like dementia and the search for a missing parent, it is grounded in the warmth of a Black family's heritage and the resilience of sisterhood. It is an ideal choice for middle-grade readers (ages 8 to 12) who are ready for a realistic look at family responsibility and community justice. Parents will appreciate how it models empathy and shows that even young children can be powerful advocates for the people they love.