Evan Griffith’s writing is transportive. In his debut, Manatee Summer, (review here) readers were immersed in the varied nature of Florida, complete with all kinds of wildlife. In his newest book, Griffith takes readers to a small town in Vermont. This cozy village is full of interesting characters, beautiful places, and for one new temporary resident, fundamental life truths.

Holly Foster is on the move, again. With an adventure-craving actor father and a mom with a new step-family, Holly is accustomed to travel and being new. With always being the new girl, Holly knows it’s pointless to make friends. But she is not lonely. That’s why she doesn’t even mind (much) when her dad ships her to Vermont to stay with her uncle while he’s an understudy for a play in San Francisco, and her mom is on a cruise with her new family. Holly knows not to get attached to anything in Arden, Vermont. Not her uncle, not the random kid she sees falling down every time she turns around, nor the bakery with the delicious maple scones. Not even the special grove of Arden trees that only grow in this area of Vermont. But when the Arden trees are threatened, Holly has to face that maybe her fundamental life truths can be amended. Even if it means making friends. Even if it means letting herself take root.

Much like Manatee Summer, there is so much to love here. Complex characters living multifaceted lives, all in an incredible setting with an impeccably paced plot.

The abundant community in Arden feels like they belong to the town, and vice versa, making the town a character unto itself. Other characters, from the grumpy Beatrice with her rescue tortoise to lovable Lionel, the accident prone kid desperate to be Holly’s friend, make this town thrum with a living energy.

One of my favorite secondary characters is Logan, a research student from a nearby college helping evaluate the Grove. Holly feels torn between scientific methodologies and her very real feelings. Logan is an Indigenous scientist of Abenaki descent. He shares with Holly that there are more ways of knowing than only science. There’s so much that I love about this character and perspective being present, from the casual inclusion of an Indigenous character to the acknowledgement that Indigenous lifeways have been present and understanding the ecology far longer than anyone else. Logan’s presence felt like a warm hug as I was reading.

Many relatable themes range from the push and pull of belonging versus fear of rejection, dealing with divorced (and often unreliable) parents, blended families, loving self-acceptance, advocating for oneself, and found family.

I loved every component of this story, from the writing to the story itself. It reads cinematically, feels like a warm hug, and is a cozy, re-readable book certain to become a favorite for many readers.

Thank you to HarperCollins Children’s Publishers, the author, and Edelweiss for an advanced digital copy such that I could share my honest opinions.

The Strange Wonders of Roots will be available May 28, 2024. You can preorder this title from Bookshop.org here. Disclosure: I am an affiliate of Bookshop.org. I will earn a commission (at no extra cost to you) if you click through and make a purchase.