It all started with one single mosquito bite that turned into Summer getting malaria. That was only the beginning of the year of bad luck.
When it comes down to the season of harvesting, Summer's parent's are swept away across the ocean to take care of their ailing relatives.
Summer is stuck making the harvest with her brother who can't seem to make a single friend, her grandmother Ovaachanc who is constantly trying to teach life lessons while in extreme back pain, grandfather Jiichan who is getting too old to harvest and Thunder, Summer's adventurous dog.
Summer withdraws from school alongside of her brother and travels across the country with her family to harvest wheat in order for her parents to make enough money to pay their mortgage.
In addition to the extreme heat and exhaustion, the family deals with their bad luck, health and relationships.
While on the harvest, Summer must stay in and cook alongside of her grandmother and follow the rules of Mrs. Parker the woman who is responsible for paying Summer's family from the harvest profits.
But it's the Parker's young son that teaches Summer about love and loss at such a young age.
When Jiiachan is no longer able to work the combines, Summer steps up in the middle of the night and continues on with what her grandfather has started in order to not lose the job and the money.
Summer saves her family and their reputation while dealing with her own feelings of guilt, love and determination while trying to turn her luck around.
This is the perfect read for young adults and for those interested in the history of harvesting from the wide eyed perspective of the most insightful 12 year old girl.