The Summer of Bitter and Sweet

In this complex and emotionally resonant novel about a Métis girl living on the Canadian prairies, debut author Jen Ferguson serves up a powerful story about rage, secrets, and all the spectrums that make up a personand the sweetness that can still live alongside the bitterest truth. A William C. Morris Award Honor Book and a Stonewall Award Honor Book!

Lou has enough confusion in front of her this summer. Shell be working in her familys ice-cream shack with her newly ex-boyfriendwhose kisses never made her feel desire, only discomfortand her former best friend, King, who is back in their Canadian prairie town after disappearing three years ago without a word.

But when she gets a letter from her biological fathera man she hoped would stay behind bars for the rest of his lifeLou immediately knows that she cannot meet him, no matter how much he insists.

While Kings friendship makes Lou feel safer and warmer than she would have thought possible, when her familys business comes under threat, she soon realizes that she cant ignore her father forever.

The Heartdrum imprint centers a wide range of intertribal voices, visions, and stories while welcoming all young readers, with an emphasis on the present and future of Indian Country and on the strength of young Native heroes. In partnership with We Need Diverse Books.