How We Flew That Summer - Paperback

by Christina Jenkins (Author)

One summer afternoon, four friends build something daring in a backyard that feels like it has always belonged to them. At first, it is just an idea. Then it is a plan. Then it is something real enough to test, to trust, and almost to lose control of.

How We Flew That Summer is a middle grade novel about friendship, responsibility, and the quiet moments where growing up actually happens. When a risk goes wrong and leaves one of them injured, the girls are forced to slow down and face the choices they made together. What follows is not a story about punishment or blame, but about honesty, repair, and learning when to stop.

Jayda, Mikki, Zee, and Toni each experience the aftermath differently. One learns that confidence can crack without breaking. Another discovers that numbers cannot account for everything that matters. Another realizes that strength is not just about holding tight, but about letting go. And another learns that stories are not built from dramatic moments alone, but from the decisions that follow them.

Set during the final stretch of summer before school begins again, this novel explores risk, trust, and accountability in a way that feels grounded and real. With lyrical prose and emotional clarity, How We Flew That Summer invites middle grade readers to reflect on friendship, boundaries, and what it truly means to grow.

This book is ideal for readers who enjoy thoughtful, character-driven stories and educators looking for discussion-worthy fiction about decision-making, responsibility, and peer dynamics.