A fatal accident. Traumatic memories of the past. Will uncovering the truth bring them together again?

Silver Medal in 2020 New York City Book Awards

Summer of Hard Choices is a mystery with a mission to find the truth. In the first novella Summer of Change, PerryAnn’s parents died when their VW bus careened off the road. Now, 10 years later, she and MatiLou embark on the quest to find out what happened that fateful day. In the search of truth, they brush imminent danger. PerryAnn deals with trauma from losing her family. MatiLou still deals with scars from bullying during her childhood. The truth about the accident offers some solace, yet they have hard choices to make as they navigate their experiences. The difficulties they face and the differences they have bring them closer together as they find a bond as strong as sisterhood.

With an unrelenting eye and the compassion that comes from personal experience, Martha Passel offers a message that is both enlightening and surprisingly hopeful. An excerpt from the book:

PerryAnn poked her head in as I was standing. I went outside to where she had been and she took my place at the table. Jen knew about the snakes and my anger at my mother. Everything I feared about the environment she confirmed. I took out my notes and wrote if we all will look for a way everyday in our own lives to take care of nature, we can collectively make a difference. It seemed more constructive than fighting the companies, which I wanted to do. I thought of a name for my paper. “What Can I Do.”