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The Forgotten Summer of Seneca
A Novel
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From acclaimed author Camryn Garrett comes a middle-grade mystery with a magical twist, about a girl who goes to live with her aunt in the summer after the loss of her father—and who finds a doorway in Central Park that leads to a magically preserved historical village
Everything is changing, and twelve-year-old Rowan Robinson hates it. She’s dreading having to spend her summer in New York City with her Aunt Monica, even though she used to love it. But things are just different after her father passed away. Without him, nothing about her world feels the same.
Things start to get a little better when Rowan brings her dad’s old camera to Central Park to take pictures. But as she’s snapping photos, she notices a strange mirror-like shape floating in the air. When she gets closer to it, she trips and falls through the portal, and after she lands, she finds herself in a different world: Seneca Village, where Black people with magical abilities seem to live in the past, in a time without phones or electricity. At first, Rowan thinks it must be a dream, but the more time she spends in the village with her new friend Lily, the more she wants it to be real.
But outsiders aren’t even supposed to be able to find Seneca. Rowan and Lily aren’t sure how Rowan was able to see the portal, but they suspect it might have something to do with the girl who normally guards the portal having gone missing. As Rowan and Lily search for clues to help find the missing girl and uncover the truth of the portal’s magic, Rowan begins to realize what secrets this village might be hiding, and how the events of the past still linger in the present day.
Filled with sparkling magic, honest explorations of grief, and moving depictions of a new friendship, The Forgotten Summer of Seneca asks us to remember a history that’s often overlooked—and imagine a future where we’re brave enough to embrace change.
Everything is changing, and twelve-year-old Rowan Robinson hates it. She’s dreading having to spend her summer in New York City with her Aunt Monica, even though she used to love it. But things are just different after her father passed away. Without him, nothing about her world feels the same.
Things start to get a little better when Rowan brings her dad’s old camera to Central Park to take pictures. But as she’s snapping photos, she notices a strange mirror-like shape floating in the air. When she gets closer to it, she trips and falls through the portal, and after she lands, she finds herself in a different world: Seneca Village, where Black people with magical abilities seem to live in the past, in a time without phones or electricity. At first, Rowan thinks it must be a dream, but the more time she spends in the village with her new friend Lily, the more she wants it to be real.
But outsiders aren’t even supposed to be able to find Seneca. Rowan and Lily aren’t sure how Rowan was able to see the portal, but they suspect it might have something to do with the girl who normally guards the portal having gone missing. As Rowan and Lily search for clues to help find the missing girl and uncover the truth of the portal’s magic, Rowan begins to realize what secrets this village might be hiding, and how the events of the past still linger in the present day.
Filled with sparkling magic, honest explorations of grief, and moving depictions of a new friendship, The Forgotten Summer of Seneca asks us to remember a history that’s often overlooked—and imagine a future where we’re brave enough to embrace change.
Extent: 256 pp
Format: Hardback
Illustrations: Black-and-white illustrations throughout
Publication date: 2025-09-12
Size: 21.0 x 14.8 cm
ISBN: 9781419773334
Praise for The Forgotten Summer of Seneca
Garrett weaves together themes of grief, resilience, healing, and friendship as Rowan faces the unwelcome certainty of change while experiencing joy in everyday moments. Examinations of contemporary and historical racism as well as approachable juxtapositions of the IRL fate of Seneca Village with its fictional counterpart of gifted, secluded descendants ground this fantastical adventure.
Publishers Weekly
In her fresh, engaging, and surprise-filled middle-grade debut, celebrated YA author Garrett successfully blends genres...A thoughtful coming-of-age narrative infused with fantasy and history.
Kirkus Reviews
This novel is one of the very few resources for kids about Seneca Village, which will appeal to historical fiction fans. The tender tone and length of the book makes it accessible and very readable for a broad audience while still being engaging, thought provoking, and a page-turning mystery...a gentle read with a big heart as well as important themes.
School Library Journal
This magical middle-grade read will have readers curious to learn more about the real Seneca Village.
Booklist
About the Author
Camryn Garrett is an NAACP Image Award-nominated author and filmmaker who was born and raised in New York. Her first novel, Full Disclosure, received rave reviews from outlets such as Entertainment Weekly, the Today Show, and The Guardian. Her second novel, Off the Record, received three starred reviews. Her third novel, Friday I’m in Love, was an Indie Next Pick and received a starred review from Publishers Weekly. Her work has been translated into nine languages. Camryn has also written and directed several short films. You can find her on X @dancingofpens, posting (too much) from a laptop named Stevie.
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