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Family Week
Four best friends spend Family Week together at an annual gathering of LGBTQ+ families in Provincetown, MA—the largest of its kind across the world—in this middle grade coming-of-age story that celebrates identity, acceptance, and found family.
For as long as they can remember, Mac, Lina, Milo and Avery have celebrated Family Week together in "the smallest, gayest town in the world"—Provincetown, Massachusetts.
But this summer, their big rented beach house feels different. Avery’s dads are splitting up, and her life feels like it’s falling apart. Milo’s flunked seventh grade, which means everyone is moving on to bigger and better things except for him. Mac’s on his way to a progressive boarding school that lets transgender kids like him play soccer, but it means leaving his twin sister, Lina, and his moms—and the safety of home—behind.
Everything is changing, and for Lina, it feels like it's happening with or without her. Avery, Milo, and Mac know this is going to be their last summer together. But Lina can't accept that—and if she can make this the best summer ever, maybe she'll convince them that there will be a Family Week next year. Good things might not last in the real world, but they do in P-town.... Right?
For as long as they can remember, Mac, Lina, Milo and Avery have celebrated Family Week together in "the smallest, gayest town in the world"—Provincetown, Massachusetts.
But this summer, their big rented beach house feels different. Avery’s dads are splitting up, and her life feels like it’s falling apart. Milo’s flunked seventh grade, which means everyone is moving on to bigger and better things except for him. Mac’s on his way to a progressive boarding school that lets transgender kids like him play soccer, but it means leaving his twin sister, Lina, and his moms—and the safety of home—behind.
Everything is changing, and for Lina, it feels like it's happening with or without her. Avery, Milo, and Mac know this is going to be their last summer together. But Lina can't accept that—and if she can make this the best summer ever, maybe she'll convince them that there will be a Family Week next year. Good things might not last in the real world, but they do in P-town.... Right?
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First published April 15, 2025
About the author
Sarah Moon
77 books78 followersSarah Moon is a teacher, writer, and translator. She lives and works in Brooklyn, New York.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
September 6, 2024
I want to go to family week! This was a wonderful story about your chosen family and how they can evolve.
Thanks NetGalley for letting me read this!
Thanks NetGalley for letting me read this!
May 28, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
July 14, 2025
provincetown you will always be gay and famous
February 1, 2025
Review to come on April 2ndI received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Family Week by Sarah Moon is a Queue contemporary Middle Grade set in Provincetown, Massachusetts. Twins Milo and Lina and their moms have celebrated Family Week with Avery and her dads and Mac and his mom every year for almost their whole lives. But everything is going to change this summer as the four get ready for big changes that come with growing up.
I rarely comment on covers, but given the political climate that I received this ARC in, I would be remiss not to. I believe the cover was finalized before November, but it seems like an act of defiance as of writing this on January 31st. It's unapologetically Queer with the trans and BIPOC-inclusive flag prominently displayed along with a transboy on the cover and a racially diverse cast of characters. There is no mistaking what this book is and, when I got approved, I actually cried tears of joy when I saw this cover again. I loved it before, but I love it so much more now.
This book had me tearing up multiple times because of how normalized Queerness is while still recognizing the political climate the book was written in. Milo is a transboy who started transitioning before the book starts. One of the reasons and he Lina’s mom's want him to go to an elite boarding school is because it will allow him to play soccer when bans on transgender athletes are keeping trans kids out of sports. The kids refer to themselves as ‘gaybies’ and make Queer jokes but, outside of Provincetown, they deal with being outsiders in a society with mostly heteronormative families.
Avery’s dads are in the middle of a divorce when the book opens and we get to see Avery's complicated relationship towards all of it. One of her dads is Bi/Pan-coded (the exact label is never used and it is instead explained as sexuality being a spectrum, which I felt was done more in a way to introduce that how we identify ourselves and our sexuality can change at any age and less out of reluctance to explicitly give it a label) and has started a new family with a female friend but still wants to be one of Avery's dads. Avery has a lot of complicated feelings around this and I thought it was very cool and important for kids to see that kids growing up in Queer houses can also struggle with divorce.
Lina is in the middle of her first crush and her own blossoming Queer identity (she's never given a label) as she is shown to be attracted to several girls and to want to start a relationship with her crush if her crush returns her feelings. Mac, meanwhile, is dealing with feeling inadequate next to Milo as Milo is a genius who has already skipped a grade and Mac almost had to repeat the seventh grade. I appreciated the journey that Mac and Milo had to go on to becoming friends again; their frustration with their own lives and each other were great foils for the target audience of middle school schoolers.
I would recommend this to young readers looking for books with a variety of Queer representation, readers looking for Middle Grade with Queer interracial relations and characters (particularly Jewish-Chinese and Black-Jewish) and those looking for shorter works affirming that trans children deserve as much love and consideration as any other child
Family Week by Sarah Moon is a Queue contemporary Middle Grade set in Provincetown, Massachusetts. Twins Milo and Lina and their moms have celebrated Family Week with Avery and her dads and Mac and his mom every year for almost their whole lives. But everything is going to change this summer as the four get ready for big changes that come with growing up.
I rarely comment on covers, but given the political climate that I received this ARC in, I would be remiss not to. I believe the cover was finalized before November, but it seems like an act of defiance as of writing this on January 31st. It's unapologetically Queer with the trans and BIPOC-inclusive flag prominently displayed along with a transboy on the cover and a racially diverse cast of characters. There is no mistaking what this book is and, when I got approved, I actually cried tears of joy when I saw this cover again. I loved it before, but I love it so much more now.
This book had me tearing up multiple times because of how normalized Queerness is while still recognizing the political climate the book was written in. Milo is a transboy who started transitioning before the book starts. One of the reasons and he Lina’s mom's want him to go to an elite boarding school is because it will allow him to play soccer when bans on transgender athletes are keeping trans kids out of sports. The kids refer to themselves as ‘gaybies’ and make Queer jokes but, outside of Provincetown, they deal with being outsiders in a society with mostly heteronormative families.
Avery’s dads are in the middle of a divorce when the book opens and we get to see Avery's complicated relationship towards all of it. One of her dads is Bi/Pan-coded (the exact label is never used and it is instead explained as sexuality being a spectrum, which I felt was done more in a way to introduce that how we identify ourselves and our sexuality can change at any age and less out of reluctance to explicitly give it a label) and has started a new family with a female friend but still wants to be one of Avery's dads. Avery has a lot of complicated feelings around this and I thought it was very cool and important for kids to see that kids growing up in Queer houses can also struggle with divorce.
Lina is in the middle of her first crush and her own blossoming Queer identity (she's never given a label) as she is shown to be attracted to several girls and to want to start a relationship with her crush if her crush returns her feelings. Mac, meanwhile, is dealing with feeling inadequate next to Milo as Milo is a genius who has already skipped a grade and Mac almost had to repeat the seventh grade. I appreciated the journey that Mac and Milo had to go on to becoming friends again; their frustration with their own lives and each other were great foils for the target audience of middle school schoolers.
I would recommend this to young readers looking for books with a variety of Queer representation, readers looking for Middle Grade with Queer interracial relations and characters (particularly Jewish-Chinese and Black-Jewish) and those looking for shorter works affirming that trans children deserve as much love and consideration as any other child
April 13, 2025
I really wanted to like Family Week, but it fell a little short for me. If you like sweet, straightforward, and family-driven, this could absolutely be a book you’ll enjoy. However, I felt like there wasn’t enough time spent on any individual plotline, and it often felt as though events were happening somewhat randomly rather than being unified by a continuous plot, particularly in the middle of the book.
Individually, I liked all of the characters, and their individual struggles were very vivid and relevant, with particularly poignant moments for each one. Personally, I connected a lot with Milo and Avery, and I loved the overall themes of acceptance and queer joy within a very contemporary society. It also did a really good job of creating a narrative that revolves around queer families and a sense of belonging. (And I love the cover!) As a whole, though, I didn’t feel like it quite hung together, maybe because the short length combined with the many points of view made it so that I never felt fully anchored in any one story until close to the end.
On a content-warning side,
2.5 stars, rounded up because I truly do feel that some readers could enjoy this book, particularly younger middle schoolers - it just wasn’t for me!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.
Individually, I liked all of the characters, and their individual struggles were very vivid and relevant, with particularly poignant moments for each one. Personally, I connected a lot with Milo and Avery, and I loved the overall themes of acceptance and queer joy within a very contemporary society. It also did a really good job of creating a narrative that revolves around queer families and a sense of belonging. (And I love the cover!) As a whole, though, I didn’t feel like it quite hung together, maybe because the short length combined with the many points of view made it so that I never felt fully anchored in any one story until close to the end.
On a content-warning side,
2.5 stars, rounded up because I truly do feel that some readers could enjoy this book, particularly younger middle schoolers - it just wasn’t for me!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.
May 14, 2025
I really enjoyed this. I read one of Moon's previous books and wasn't that wowed by it but this one really pulled me in. I'm not the target audience but I think kids would also relate to the characters and experiences in the story. Each kid had a different secret to start their summer Family Week. Cheating, divorce, failing school, being a genius about to be shipped off to boarding school but not wanting to go, a crush on a best friend who doesn't seem to reciprocate and their twin pulling away; and that's just to start the book. I appreciated the multiple genders and sexual identities as well as different races. Each problem was dealt with sensitivity and care and each character had their own voice and learned lessons after the week was up. It's a fairly short book but I think 8-12 year olds are looking for that now since it's not a graphic novel. Lots of drama, emotion, love, family (biological and found), and truths spilled make this a book you want to gulp in one sitting.
July 13, 2026
wholesome
June 9, 2025
Thank you to PRHAudio and Knopf for Young Readers for my gifted ALC and finished copy.
It’s incredibly important in the current political climate for stories like this to proudly be sold, read, borrowed, and talked about so that we normalize queer stories. To be clear, while this story has queer characters, it’s about family.
Provincetown, Massachusetts has a week where queer families from all over come to enjoy time together. For these four friends, they’ve spent family week together every year for almost their entire life. And this is the most important year of all, because following this week all of their lives will change forever.
This was a sweet story filled with queer joy and growth. I love that one of the kids dads are divorcing (that sounds horrible, but it’s also important to show how families can change by separating and moving on) and he’s in a relationship with a woman now. There are so many letters in the alphabet and their child learning that her father can still be queer and with a woman is something I haven’t seen in middle grade before.
It’s incredibly important in the current political climate for stories like this to proudly be sold, read, borrowed, and talked about so that we normalize queer stories. To be clear, while this story has queer characters, it’s about family.
Provincetown, Massachusetts has a week where queer families from all over come to enjoy time together. For these four friends, they’ve spent family week together every year for almost their entire life. And this is the most important year of all, because following this week all of their lives will change forever.
This was a sweet story filled with queer joy and growth. I love that one of the kids dads are divorcing (that sounds horrible, but it’s also important to show how families can change by separating and moving on) and he’s in a relationship with a woman now. There are so many letters in the alphabet and their child learning that her father can still be queer and with a woman is something I haven’t seen in middle grade before.
September 1, 2024
Set in Provincetown, MA, Family Week is the story of three families that share a week together during the biggest celebration of lgbtq+ families in the country. Each of the kids in the story is going through typical preteen drama, for the most part, and it's sweet that they all have each other's backs. My favorite thing about this book, though, is reading how the kids communicate. I love, love, love that, throughout the story, the author gives examples of effective and positive communication between the kids with each other and with their parents in a natural, non-pushy way.
I would definitely recommend this book for kids in middle school and beyond. It's a fun read and the characters are instantly lovable.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read the free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I would definitely recommend this book for kids in middle school and beyond. It's a fun read and the characters are instantly lovable.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read the free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 20, 2025
This is a fun feel-good book about the kids of a bunch of LGBTQ+ people who vacation together every summer for a week in Provincetown, Massachusetts. All the family structures are diverse and some of them are in the process of changing. These changes affect the kids in different ways, and we get to see the ways they come together to support each other as found family often does. There's lots of diversity in representation of queer people, and I think young readers will either love to see themselves represented in the book or will gain valuable insights into other kinds of families.
Read
April 24, 2025Sooooooooooo angsty in a way that feels very realistic. All these kids are going through it. This is really realistic about how tweens talk/act, which surprised me. I wanna go to Provincetown now.
June 17, 2025
This was so cute! Wish it was a bit longer, because I wanted to spend more time with this family, but it was so sweet!
July 21, 2025
For one week every summer, Provincetown, MA holds Family Week, a gathering of queer families filled with kid-friendly events. Moon uses her own childhood memories from vacations in Provincetown as inspiration for her latest middle grade novel, Family Week. Twins Lina and Milo have been meeting their friends Avery and Mac in Provincetown every summer for as long as they can remember. Their families even rent the same house together. But this summer might be their last. Mac’s failed seventh grade, Avery’s dads are getting a divorce (and one of them will be having a new baby with a woman), Milo has a full scholarship to a fancy boarding school that will let transgender kids like him play sports, and Lina feels like everything is changing whether she likes it or not. Now that everyone is back in Provincetown for a week, Lina is determined to make this the best summer ever so that everyone will want to come back again… except everyone seems to be withdrawing and no one is having fun. Can Family Week be saved? Milo and Lina are Asian, Avery is Black, Mac cues as white. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...
These kids are all going through a lot and the angst feels authentic. Mac resents Milo because of how easy school is for him. Avery is stealing lipsticks in the hopes that her dads will notice her. Lina is pretending to be excited for Milo even though she feels left behind, and Milo is scared to tell his sister and his moms that he really doesn’t want to go away for school. All readers should be able to find something resonant here, especially the life lesson about talking to the people you love about what you are going through rather than suffering alone. In the end this is a sweet story about friendship and the importance of safe communities for marginalized groups.
These kids are all going through a lot and the angst feels authentic. Mac resents Milo because of how easy school is for him. Avery is stealing lipsticks in the hopes that her dads will notice her. Lina is pretending to be excited for Milo even though she feels left behind, and Milo is scared to tell his sister and his moms that he really doesn’t want to go away for school. All readers should be able to find something resonant here, especially the life lesson about talking to the people you love about what you are going through rather than suffering alone. In the end this is a sweet story about friendship and the importance of safe communities for marginalized groups.
March 7, 2026
I checked this out from my library. Which so glad that it had it and that it was on a shelf advertising books for middle school young adult kids. Where I'm at don't see that much but at the library it's so awesome to see it.
I was sad that Avery's dads are divorcing which isn't a spoiler since on the summary. Seriously depressing even though I know stuff happens. Also I was so freaking proud of Avery for finally telling them how she felt. Cause seriously when they told her just sucked. She's going through it for sure and this doesn't shy away from those emotions.
Lina and Milo are twins. Their moms take them every year to Provincetown. They are both struggling on the inside about decisions. Milo got accepted to a boarding school where he can not only still play soccer because he's trans and they don't care but he is a genius and can have so much more experience there. Thing is he's not sure he wants to go.
Lina wrote a letter to Avery telling her something but with all going on with her dads Avery's not sure if she feels the same way about Lina. I loved their friendship so much. Then being their for each other. Especially when someone is a snake in hiding.
Mac's there with his mom and he is feeling like disappointment after failing 7th grade. I felt horrible for hi especially since he is being told should ask Milo for help. Thankfully Mac finds something that he's good at and even gets a great chance at something the coming year.
This had me crying at times and also wanting to hug them. All the things they going through. Life is hard at times. Loved the town in general and the drag show was cool. Milo is my favorite.
I was sad that Avery's dads are divorcing which isn't a spoiler since on the summary. Seriously depressing even though I know stuff happens. Also I was so freaking proud of Avery for finally telling them how she felt. Cause seriously when they told her just sucked. She's going through it for sure and this doesn't shy away from those emotions.
Lina and Milo are twins. Their moms take them every year to Provincetown. They are both struggling on the inside about decisions. Milo got accepted to a boarding school where he can not only still play soccer because he's trans and they don't care but he is a genius and can have so much more experience there. Thing is he's not sure he wants to go.
Lina wrote a letter to Avery telling her something but with all going on with her dads Avery's not sure if she feels the same way about Lina. I loved their friendship so much. Then being their for each other. Especially when someone is a snake in hiding.
Mac's there with his mom and he is feeling like disappointment after failing 7th grade. I felt horrible for hi especially since he is being told should ask Milo for help. Thankfully Mac finds something that he's good at and even gets a great chance at something the coming year.
This had me crying at times and also wanting to hug them. All the things they going through. Life is hard at times. Loved the town in general and the drag show was cool. Milo is my favorite.
March 7, 2025
Just finished “Family Week” by Sarah Moon and I’m absolutely in love! This middle grade gem is a beautiful exploration of identity, acceptance, and the power of found family, all set against the backdrop of the vibrant and welcoming Provincetown, MA.
Sarah Moon has crafted a heartfelt narrative that resonates deeply with readers of all ages. The story follows four best friends—Mac, Lina, Milo, and Avery—who gather for their annual Family Week, but this time, everything feels different. With Avery’s family in turmoil, Mac facing academic challenges, and Milo preparing to leave for a new adventure, the stakes are higher than ever.
What I love most about this book is how it captures the bittersweet essence of growing up and the fear of change. Lina’s determination to make this summer unforgettable is both relatable and inspiring. Moon’s writing is infused with warmth and authenticity, making you feel like you’re right there in the beach house, riding the waves of joy and sorrow alongside these unforgettable characters.
“Family Week” is a celebration of love in all its forms—a must-read for any age, but especially those middle school, early high school readers. It reminds us that even as we grow and change, the bonds we create can last a lifetime.
This book hits shelves in April, and trust me, you won’t want to miss it! Mark your calendars and get ready for a beautiful journey filled with laughter, tears, and a whole lot of heart. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
Sarah Moon has crafted a heartfelt narrative that resonates deeply with readers of all ages. The story follows four best friends—Mac, Lina, Milo, and Avery—who gather for their annual Family Week, but this time, everything feels different. With Avery’s family in turmoil, Mac facing academic challenges, and Milo preparing to leave for a new adventure, the stakes are higher than ever.
What I love most about this book is how it captures the bittersweet essence of growing up and the fear of change. Lina’s determination to make this summer unforgettable is both relatable and inspiring. Moon’s writing is infused with warmth and authenticity, making you feel like you’re right there in the beach house, riding the waves of joy and sorrow alongside these unforgettable characters.
“Family Week” is a celebration of love in all its forms—a must-read for any age, but especially those middle school, early high school readers. It reminds us that even as we grow and change, the bonds we create can last a lifetime.
This book hits shelves in April, and trust me, you won’t want to miss it! Mark your calendars and get ready for a beautiful journey filled with laughter, tears, and a whole lot of heart. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
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June 11, 2025
Family week is the one week out of the summer where non-traditional families come together and vacation in the city of Provincetown, Massachusetts. Described as a week of “Gay Christmas,” bestfriends Mac, Lina, Milo and Avery have a lot on their shoulders this year. Avery’s dads are getting a divorce, Milo didn’t pass the 7th grade, Milo has been invited to a prestigious boarding school and his twin sister Lina doesn’t want anything to change. A book that captures the heart of what it means to grow up, Family Week is a great inside look into the difficulties families face regardless of what they look like from the outside.
This is a coming of age story through and through and I really enjoyed that it didn’t shy away from the difficulties of being a tween. Life is hard, especially at this age, and Family Week gives kids who aren’t used to seeing themselves in books the opportunity to do so. I did have the chance to listen to the audiobook and I would recommend the book in either format.
Thank you Random House Kids and PRH Audio for the gifted copies.
This is a coming of age story through and through and I really enjoyed that it didn’t shy away from the difficulties of being a tween. Life is hard, especially at this age, and Family Week gives kids who aren’t used to seeing themselves in books the opportunity to do so. I did have the chance to listen to the audiobook and I would recommend the book in either format.
Thank you Random House Kids and PRH Audio for the gifted copies.
April 15, 2025
This was a cute, sweet, queer story about families, both found and chosen. Spending a week in Provincetown, MA for Family Week, enjoying activities both queer and hobby focused really showcases the discovery of one's self.
Overall, I enjoyed the story. I like that the chapters were literally each day of the week. However, there were parts that felt overly detailed and others that I would have loved to read more of. I don't know if that's because of the formatting or wanting to keep things shorter for the intended middle grade audience.
Thank you NetGalley and publishers for allowing me to read this eARC.
Overall, I enjoyed the story. I like that the chapters were literally each day of the week. However, there were parts that felt overly detailed and others that I would have loved to read more of. I don't know if that's because of the formatting or wanting to keep things shorter for the intended middle grade audience.
Thank you NetGalley and publishers for allowing me to read this eARC.
February 18, 2025
I really loved Family Week! It is a great MG look at growing up in a queer family and what makes a family in general. I think all four of the main kiddos were really well written and their voices/struggles were completely clear. I wanted the adults to get it together a little bit more, but they were well written as well. Overall, a book with lots of heart & lovely queer vibes!
Thanks to NetGalley, Sarah Moon, and Random House Children's for the chance to read and review. M opinions are my own!
Thanks to NetGalley, Sarah Moon, and Random House Children's for the chance to read and review. M opinions are my own!
March 25, 2025
A moving middle grade novel about four friends and their family's vacation during a 'Family week' that celebrates pride and diversity. I really enjoyed this heartfelt story about different kinds of families - found, blood, blended, etc and their individual challenges. There are lots of fun moments and some highly relatable ones. It was good on audio, has fantastic LGBTQIA+ content and is sure to resonate with young readers. Recommended for fans of authors like Alex Gino, Ronnie Riley and Kyle Lukoff. Many thanks to @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!
July 13, 2025
I loved everything about Family Week. This is such a solid middle grade book tackling divorce, new siblings, changes in schools, and the overall growing pains of moving from being a tween into your teen years. As all 4 kids struggle with the idea that this summer may be their last family week vacation, they also learn that found family can change but still be there for each other.
July 22, 2026
A group of four middle school friends find their normal summer getaway - Family Week - different this year because of lots of changes. This was a great story for middle grade students about dealing with life changes. Plus, I love that it takes place in a super inclusive environment.
I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 9, 2026
This was a fun, moving story. I enjoyed the characters and the premise, though I will say the POV switches happening mid-paragraph were really jarring for me and it took me a minute to get used to and figure out who was talking from sentence to sentence. Overall though, a great story about family- chosen and not.
May 22, 2026
Very cute book! I think there was a great thread throughout the book of change and how to deal with it. I like that the story didn't necessarily wrap everything up because that isn't realistic either. The book got a little repititive, hence the 4 star.
June 25, 2025
a cute pride month read!! 🏳️🌈
October 7, 2025
DNF for Family Week. Writing wasn't working for me--too much packing in of backstory details up front rather than getting into the plot, and inconsistency of POVs.
January 15, 2026
4.5 stars
This is so sweet! I cried! (Did I rate it higher because it made me cry? Maybe, but I think that’s fair!)
Is Sarah Moon multiracial? It feels like yes? Or maybe her kids are? If not, slightly weird choices were made. But I also don’t want to make assumptions.
Anyway, I do love this overall. It’s amazing that there are children’s books like this in the world now, that this isn’t even a big deal that a book this gay is being published for kids (and what a strange time to be alive!). The way everyone’s stories were woven together was really well- done.
This is so sweet! I cried! (Did I rate it higher because it made me cry? Maybe, but I think that’s fair!)
Is Sarah Moon multiracial? It feels like yes? Or maybe her kids are? If not, slightly weird choices were made. But I also don’t want to make assumptions.
Anyway, I do love this overall. It’s amazing that there are children’s books like this in the world now, that this isn’t even a big deal that a book this gay is being published for kids (and what a strange time to be alive!). The way everyone’s stories were woven together was really well- done.
November 10, 2024
I received a free eARC of this book. Thank you for the opportunity to read it.
Family week by Sarah Moon demonstrates a reality for LGBT kids and kids from LGBT families, which is that their problems often are the same problems other kids face…with an added element.
So, Mac has a chance to go to a specialty gifted school, where his language gifts can be fully accommodated, but doesn’t want to leave his twin sister or his parents. This would be enough for any kid to deal with, but the fact that Mac is trans and would be able to play soccer at the private boarding school, but not at his local school just adds another twist.
Lina is worried about losing her brother…and is navigating her first lesbian crush,
Avery’s parents are getting a divorce. That’s hard enough for any kid to deal with, but the fact that one of Avery’s dads has left the other for a woman and Avery will soon have a new step sibling and her guilt because at some level, she always wondered what it would be like to have a mom, a dad, brothers, sisters….that’s an extra level.
Milo is failing 7th grade and was recently identified as twice exceptional (Kudos to the author for using 2e!,)
None of these kids’ problems are that they have same sex parents, or that they’re LGBT themselves (for those that are) They’re kids, navigating problems not uncommon for kids their age. And enjoying, but also struggling, with being with their friends that they see every summer, hoping to be understood, but also dealing with the fact that being a teen is harder than being a kid.
Family Week shows the value of community, of connections. Many kids will relate to that, too-ones who go every summer to the same camp, or see the same neighbors when they visit their grandparents. Those who don’t necessarily fit in all year, but have a place they belong will relate to WHY Provincetown family week is so important to Milo, Mac, Lina, and Avery-why being and feeling NORMAL is so powerful. So will parents, reading this book, because ultimately the parents are simply normal parents facing parenting problems and not necessarily making the best choices or fully hearing their kids.
And that is the amazing value of this book. Because not only is it going to help kids who have same sex parents, who are trans, who are gay feel seen, it will also help gifted kids, kids who feel like the less achieving sibling, kids with divorced or divorcing parents, kids who struggle in school, kids who are dealing with crushes, kids who have trouble taking to their parents feel seen. This book has one of the best examples of how giftedness can appear in different kids that I’ve EVER seen.
I look forward to adding this book to the recommended list for the class I teach on Giftedness/Twice Exceptionality. I look forward to adding it to my Little Free Library. It’s an excellent middle grade/middle school book for families to share.
Family week by Sarah Moon demonstrates a reality for LGBT kids and kids from LGBT families, which is that their problems often are the same problems other kids face…with an added element.
So, Mac has a chance to go to a specialty gifted school, where his language gifts can be fully accommodated, but doesn’t want to leave his twin sister or his parents. This would be enough for any kid to deal with, but the fact that Mac is trans and would be able to play soccer at the private boarding school, but not at his local school just adds another twist.
Lina is worried about losing her brother…and is navigating her first lesbian crush,
Avery’s parents are getting a divorce. That’s hard enough for any kid to deal with, but the fact that one of Avery’s dads has left the other for a woman and Avery will soon have a new step sibling and her guilt because at some level, she always wondered what it would be like to have a mom, a dad, brothers, sisters….that’s an extra level.
Milo is failing 7th grade and was recently identified as twice exceptional (Kudos to the author for using 2e!,)
None of these kids’ problems are that they have same sex parents, or that they’re LGBT themselves (for those that are) They’re kids, navigating problems not uncommon for kids their age. And enjoying, but also struggling, with being with their friends that they see every summer, hoping to be understood, but also dealing with the fact that being a teen is harder than being a kid.
Family Week shows the value of community, of connections. Many kids will relate to that, too-ones who go every summer to the same camp, or see the same neighbors when they visit their grandparents. Those who don’t necessarily fit in all year, but have a place they belong will relate to WHY Provincetown family week is so important to Milo, Mac, Lina, and Avery-why being and feeling NORMAL is so powerful. So will parents, reading this book, because ultimately the parents are simply normal parents facing parenting problems and not necessarily making the best choices or fully hearing their kids.
And that is the amazing value of this book. Because not only is it going to help kids who have same sex parents, who are trans, who are gay feel seen, it will also help gifted kids, kids who feel like the less achieving sibling, kids with divorced or divorcing parents, kids who struggle in school, kids who are dealing with crushes, kids who have trouble taking to their parents feel seen. This book has one of the best examples of how giftedness can appear in different kids that I’ve EVER seen.
I look forward to adding this book to the recommended list for the class I teach on Giftedness/Twice Exceptionality. I look forward to adding it to my Little Free Library. It’s an excellent middle grade/middle school book for families to share.
February 3, 2025
Three lgbtq famlies meet every year in Provincetown, MA, ever since the families first met when the children were four years old. They are now 13, and things have changed. One is in the middle of a divorce, one of the twins has been awarded a full-ride scholarship to a prestigious boarding school, one has a crush on one of the other girls, and one has nearly flunked out of school. Do they all share their secrets? Or do they keep them to themselves, so that nothing spoils the festivities.
Each of the kids has this sort of push and pull, not sure how much to share, and then sharing it. Unlike the adults, who don’t want to talk about it.
I do like how they know each other so well, despite only spending a week together every year. There is a certain fellowship that builds with doing the same things every year, but with slight variations.
The descriptions are great. One feels as though one is really in P-Town. And the whale trips that at first one of the kids hates, and then finds he loves.
This is a quick read, and I found I had trouble putting it down.
One nit I have is that I normally don’t like changes in point of view (POV) in the same section, just a paragraph apart. It is very jarring. But, that was the way this was written, so I gritted my teeth, and kept reading, because other than that, I enjoyed the story.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book is coming out the 15th of April 2025.
Each of the kids has this sort of push and pull, not sure how much to share, and then sharing it. Unlike the adults, who don’t want to talk about it.
I do like how they know each other so well, despite only spending a week together every year. There is a certain fellowship that builds with doing the same things every year, but with slight variations.
The descriptions are great. One feels as though one is really in P-Town. And the whale trips that at first one of the kids hates, and then finds he loves.
This is a quick read, and I found I had trouble putting it down.
One nit I have is that I normally don’t like changes in point of view (POV) in the same section, just a paragraph apart. It is very jarring. But, that was the way this was written, so I gritted my teeth, and kept reading, because other than that, I enjoyed the story.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book is coming out the 15th of April 2025.
June 1, 2025
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*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review*
3.75/5 Stars
Since they were little, Mac, Lina, Milo, Avery and their parents celebrate Family Week together in Provincetown, Massachetues. This year is different as Avery's dad's are splitting up, Milo flunked seventh grade, and Mac's on his way to a prestigious boarding school that he's not sure he really wants to go to because he will have to leave his twin sister, Lina. They need to make this their best summer yet, and Lina is determined to make that happen.
This was a very quick middle grade read with a diverse cast of characters all about chosen family. Each of the characters are dealing with their own issues, and I liked how they all supported one another in different ways. I liked that all of their problems had nothing to do with the fact that their parent's are on the LGBTQIA+ spectrum and more had to do with everyday issues all kids feel. I like how a big focus of the book was the fear of change and growing up. I thought the author did a great job capturing the very real emotions that come with this.
I think this would be a great book to include in middle schools!
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review*
3.75/5 Stars
Since they were little, Mac, Lina, Milo, Avery and their parents celebrate Family Week together in Provincetown, Massachetues. This year is different as Avery's dad's are splitting up, Milo flunked seventh grade, and Mac's on his way to a prestigious boarding school that he's not sure he really wants to go to because he will have to leave his twin sister, Lina. They need to make this their best summer yet, and Lina is determined to make that happen.
This was a very quick middle grade read with a diverse cast of characters all about chosen family. Each of the characters are dealing with their own issues, and I liked how they all supported one another in different ways. I liked that all of their problems had nothing to do with the fact that their parent's are on the LGBTQIA+ spectrum and more had to do with everyday issues all kids feel. I like how a big focus of the book was the fear of change and growing up. I thought the author did a great job capturing the very real emotions that come with this.
I think this would be a great book to include in middle schools!
April 5, 2025
Thank you to Random House Kids for the free book and to PRH Audio for the complimentary audiobook. These opinions are my own.
This is such a lovely story of found family on multiple levels. Every summer, three queer families have come together and shared a house in Provincetown as part of Family Week. It's a time for the families to relax and enjoy themselves. But as Milo, Avery, and twins Mac and Lina come together this time, it feels like everything is changing. And this might be their final family week.
I so appreciated the many kinds of representation included in the book. This is a story of kids all facing different struggles with growing up. As they each figure out their next steps, they also have to figure out whether they still fit in the boxes that their families have set for them. All of the characters felt so nuanced and real. I think everyone can find someone with whom they identify. And ultimately, this is such a beautiful story of love and acceptance.
I was impressed by both the physical copy and the audio format. Both were well produced. Avi Roque did all of the narration for the audio format. I am always impressed with their performance.
This is such a lovely story of found family on multiple levels. Every summer, three queer families have come together and shared a house in Provincetown as part of Family Week. It's a time for the families to relax and enjoy themselves. But as Milo, Avery, and twins Mac and Lina come together this time, it feels like everything is changing. And this might be their final family week.
I so appreciated the many kinds of representation included in the book. This is a story of kids all facing different struggles with growing up. As they each figure out their next steps, they also have to figure out whether they still fit in the boxes that their families have set for them. All of the characters felt so nuanced and real. I think everyone can find someone with whom they identify. And ultimately, this is such a beautiful story of love and acceptance.
I was impressed by both the physical copy and the audio format. Both were well produced. Avi Roque did all of the narration for the audio format. I am always impressed with their performance.
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