The Summer I Learned To Fly by Dana Reinhardt

Synopsis (From Goodreads): Drew's a bit of a loner. She has a pet rat, her dead dad's Book of Lists, an encyclopedic knowledge of cheese from working at her mom's cheese shop, and a crush on Nick, the surf bum who works behind the counter. It's the summer before eighth grade and Drew's days seem like business as usual, until one night after closing time, when she meets a strange boy in the alley named Emmett Crane. Who he is, why he's there, where the cut on his cheek came from, and his bottomless knowledge of rats are all mysteries Drew will untangle as they are drawn closer together, and Drew enters into the first true friendship, and adventure, of her life.

This was an excellent book. The story was very well crafted. I loved how the little details (the Book of Lists, the cheese shop, Drew's pet rat) are what really gave the story heart. Character and plot development are very important to me, and Dana Reinhardt excelled in both with this novel. This is the first book I've read by Dana Reinhardt, but I definitely want to check out what else she has to offer. This is a great summer read. I highly recommend it!

You can order The Summer I Learned To Fly here.