Manatee Summer by Evan Griffith

Perfect for fans of The Line Tender and The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise, this poignant middle grade debut beautifully captures all the heart and uncertainty that come with caring for family, friends, and the natural world—now in paperback! 

Peter and his best friend, Tommy, have a goal for their last summer before middle school: finish their Discovery Journal, a catalog of the animals around their Florida town. When they spot a manatee, Peter knows he’s found something special—especially because his grandpa has been telling stories about manatees for years.

But as Grandpa’s dementia worsens and an unwelcome surprise jeopardizes Peter and Tommy’s friendship, Peter finds himself adrift—navigating shifting tides and the realization that he has as much to discover about himself as he does about the world around him.