The Blossoming Summer
The Blossoming Summer by Anna Rose Johnson, published by Candlewick Press on June 3, 2025, is a children’s book that explores themes of identity and family against the backdrop of World War II. In this 288-page story, thirteen-year-old Rosemary is evacuated from England to her grandmother’s home in America, where she uncovers a significant family secret: her Anishinaabe heritage and the fact that her family has been passing as white. As Rosemary navigates her new surroundings, she grapples with the changes brought about by the war and her family’s hidden past.
Readers will find a narrative that intertwines Rosemary’s personal growth with her deepening connections to her grandmother and a local boy who shares a passion for gardening. This relationship helps her appreciate the beauty in her unexpected circumstances. The Blossoming Summer addresses important topics such as multicultural stories and geography, while also delving into the complexities of memory and identity. Through Rosemary’s journey, the book presents a tender exploration of coming-of-age experiences, making it a thoughtful addition to the genre.
Official synopsis Publisher
When English thirteen-year-old Rosemary is evacuated to her grandmother in America at the start of World War II, she uncovers the family secret—they are Anishinaabe and passing as white.
Life in England is all Rosemary has ever known. . . but as WWII changes the world, no one’s life is left unscathed. Suddenly, she’s sent away to escape the devastation of London. Her grandmother’s house on Lake Superior is safe, but unfamiliar, especially as she discovers her parents have kept a tremendous secret.
Rosemary and her family are Anishinaabe—and no one is supposed to know.
Far from home but newly connected to a once-hidden part of her family, Rosemary develops a warm, close relationship with her grandmother… and a local boy whose love of gardening helps her to see the beauty in her unexpected circumstances. As Rosemary grows into her new life like a flower in bloom, she realizes that maybe she’s not as far from home as she thought.
Tender, sophisticated, and sweet, this is a beautiful story about memory, family, and identity. Rising Ojibwe author Anna Rose Johnson addresses the trauma of World War II and the legacies of hidden indigeneity alongside coming-of-age milestones like first crushes, new schools, and beginning to imagine the life you want. Hand The Blossoming Summer to fans of Christine Day, L.M. Montgomery, and Kimberly Brubaker Bradley!
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