Saving Gramps

by Jean Lejcher

When 12 yr. old Toby arrives at Gramps and Grams for the summer up north, he realizes something isn't right. Because of a fall and resulting injury, Gramps is not the person he used to be.

Toby decides that he has the answer to help Gramps get back to his old self, save what is left of the summer gone wrong and get some serious fishing in before it is over. With the help of Cal, his friend from the resort next door, and Stealth the black cat with gold, starburst eyes, he finds his idea becomes more of an adventure than an answer.

Never did Toby imagine that by summer's end he would be touching a loon, scaring off a coyote and . . . saving Gramps. Follow along with Toby in this coming-of-age story as he gains insight on life, acceptance and unconditional love.

127 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 16, 2023

Reviews

[Courtnee Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saving Gramps is a middle-grade novel by Jean Lejcher. Toby Langford is usually excited about his summer trips to his grandparents' lakeside house. He and his gramps build fires, fish, and call for loons, and Toby gets to spend time with his friend, Cal. His Gramps fell in December, so Toby's twelfth summer looks different. Gramps isn't as cognitively aware as he was before his fall, so building fires and fishing are dangerous for him, and he seems to have lost his loon-calling ability. The summer gets worse when Gram talks about selling the house, but Toby vows to reawaken Gramps and save his summers at the lake house.

Jean Lejcher has written relatable characters that will stay in readers' hearts long after they read the last page. Younger readers may sympathize with Toby as he tries to preserve his summer and heal his grandfather's brain, and experienced readers will love the nostalgia of youthful summers and simpler pleasures. The book could be a good gift for a pre-teen whose older family member is diagnosed with dementia. Even though Gramps's loss of cognition resulted from an injury, the challenges and caregiving responsibilities between the two are similar. The story contains a sense of adventure, too, with "mousin'" as a distraction, storms, and possible coyote attacks. Toby learns a valuable lesson as he selfishly tries to hold on to his summers with his grandparents and adjusts to a new relationship with Gramps. Saving Gramps is a great selection for readers who enjoy coming-of-age novels with strong family values.

[Carol M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful story-it brought back memories of my own father who fell victim to memory loss and all of the wonderful times we had his lake cabin. I highly recommend this quick read to any one who has dealt with this life changing time. Three shouts to Jean for sharing this story with us

[Joanne Rosener · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! Sorry to see it come to an end. The relationship between a young boy and his gramps is a tender reflection on family, growth, and the passage of time.