Book Review of Summer Solstice
The Children’s Book Review
Summer Solstice
Written by Kelly Williams
Ages: 10+ | 226 Pages
Publisher: Independently published (2025) | ISBN: 979-8289388049
What to Expect: Grief, healing, family relationships, friendship, environmental awareness, Antarctica, albatross rescue, and coming-of-age.
Summer Solstice is a poignant and hopeful story that follows Elliot Blake as he embarks on an unexpected healing journey to Antarctica with his mother, a marine biologist.
Still reeling from the loss of his father five months prior, Elliot is initially sullen and resistant to his new, icy surroundings and the relentless daylight of the Antarctic summer. However, his world changes when he meets Olivia, and, together, they discover an injured albatross, whom they name Solstice. Readers will uncover a story about finding your place, even when that place is at the bottom of the world, and discovering that even in the face of immense loss, there is always hope for new connections and new beginnings.
The story skillfully portrays Elliot’s grief and healing as his bond with Solstice and friendship with Olivia help him find purpose. Williams’s clear prose, emotive dialogue, and strong pacing, along with Elliot’s internal monologue, reveal the raw pain and anger he harbors, particularly the guilt surrounding his last conversation with his father. The dialogue, especially Olivia’s enthusiastic and Spanish-peppered speech, adds a lively contrast to Elliot’s initial quietude.
Beyond Elliot’s personal growth, the book also subtly introduces themes of environmental responsibility through Olivia’s father’s work (Dr. Alvarez) with wildlife and the poignant incident of Solstice’s injury from longline fishing. The Antarctic setting is vividly described, allowing the reader to feel the biting cold and blinding whiteness, as well as the unique beauty and wonder of this remote continent. The story is a beautiful narration on how caring for another living creature can be a powerful catalyst for personal healing.
It’s a moving and uplifting read for anyone navigating grief, learning to embrace change, or simply seeking an adventure in an extraordinary setting.
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About the Author
Kelly Williams grew up dreaming of far-off places and wide-open skies. This is her first novel, inspired by a love of new experiences and the amazing journeys of the legendary albatross. She wrote this book for curious readers who enjoy a touch of wonder in their science and a dash of heart in their adventures.
When Kelly isn’t writing stories, you might find her hiking near the coast, reading books about beautiful places, or daydreaming about sailing across a distant ocean. She believes that the best stories help us see the world—and ourselves—just a little more clearly.
