It’s the summer of 1976—the Bicentennial of America—and 13-year-old Mary is about to embark on the road trip of a lifetime. With her father at the wheel, her twin younger sisters in the back seat, and their baby-blue Peugeot sedan—affectionately named Blue Pierre—as their ride, Mary sets off on a cross-country adventure filled with fireworks, flag ceremonies, and hard-earned truths.
What begins as a patriotic escape from small-town Ohio quickly becomes a test of loyalty, courage, and growing up. As her father’s behavior turns more erratic, Mary must navigate not just unfamiliar highways but the shifting landscape of her own beliefs. When the journey takes a turn they never expected, Mary discovers that sometimes the people you love the most are the hardest to understand.
Told with heart, humor, and a vivid sense of 70s nostalgia, Bicentennial Summer is a coming-of-age story about family, freedom, and finding your own way when the map runs out. Perfect for fans of The Glass Castle and The Bean Trees, this unforgettable debut explores the bittersweet moment when childhood ends—and independence begins.
Whether you remember the Bicentennial or are just discovering it, Mary’s voice will linger with you long after the last mile is driven.
This Northern Californian cozy thriller takes place between Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in a Victorian home at the gateway to Sonoma wine country in the quaint, riverfront city of Petaluma. The dark side of the holiday unfolds in an all-woman, multi-generational household on the brink of irreversible change. Widow, Admaria and her daughter Gracie, a single mom, are settling in for what they hope will be a quiet, uneventful holiday, with slow-pleasured, traditional Italian American festive preparations. In turn heartwarming and harrowing, unexpected events occur when a stranger disturbs their sleep in the early hours of Christmas morning.
Put another log on the fire, make yourself a cup of tea and settle in for unforgettable and immersive storytelling as the past, present and future collide in the company of an unforgettable cast of characters.
It’s the summer of 1976—the Bicentennial of America—and 13-year-old Mary is about to embark on the road trip of a lifetime. With her father at the wheel, her twin younger sisters in the back seat, and their baby-blue Peugeot sedan—affectionately named Blue Pierre—as their ride, Mary sets off on a cross-country adventure filled with fireworks, flag ceremonies, and hard-earned truths. What begins as a patriotic escape from small-town Ohio quickly becomes a test of loyalty, courage, and growing up. As her father’s behavior turns more erratic, Mary must navigate not just unfamiliar highways but the shifting landscape of her own beliefs. When the journey takes a turn they never expected, Mary discovers that sometimes the people you love the most are the hardest to understand. Told with heart, humor, and a vivid sense of 70s nostalgia, Bicentennial Summer is a coming-of-age story about family, freedom, and finding your own way when the map runs out. Perfect for fans of The Glass Castle and The Bean Trees, this unforgettable debut explores the bittersweet moment when childhood ends—and independence begins. Whether you remember the Bicentennial or are just discovering it, Mary’s voice will linger with you long after the last mile is driven.
This Northern Californian cozy thriller takes place between Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in a Victorian home at the gateway to Sonoma wine country in the quaint, riverfront city of Petaluma. The dark side of the holiday unfolds in an all-woman, multi-generational household on the brink of irreversible change. Widow, Admaria and her daughter Gracie, a single mom, are settling in for what they hope will be a quiet, uneventful holiday, with slow-pleasured, traditional Italian American festive preparations. In turn heartwarming and harrowing, unexpected events occur when a stranger disturbs their sleep in the early hours of Christmas morning. Put another log on the fire, make yourself a cup of tea and settle in for unforgettable and immersive storytelling as the past, present and future collide in the company of an unforgettable cast of characters.
