Ten-year-old Lexie is feeling unsettled, and a little guilty, about going on her family’s annual beach vacation without her mom. Her parents were still together last summer, but now they are divorced. She already knows that her dad’s girlfriend, Vicky, will be joining them, but it isn’t until Vicky arrives—a day earlier than Lexie expected—that she discovers Vicky’s two sons, three-year-old Harris and fourteen-year-old Ben, are along. Lexie is angry her dad didn’t tell her, and worries she’s fated to be a guest in the summer home she’s always known. On top of that, she finds the boys annoying ... when she isn’t having fun with them. Despite Lexie’s wild swings of emotion, her feelings are explored with great subtlety and nuance in Audrey Couloumbis’s terrific middle grade novel. Lexie gradually develops a relationship with each of the two boys—surprised to discover how much she can enjoy their company—and finds unexpected support from Vicky when she finally confronts her dad about his failure to communicate or to think about her feelings. The realistic complexities and foibles of all of the characters are part of what make this story so very satisfying. (Ages 8–11)

Ten-year-old Lexie used to love going to the shore. For as long as she can remember, she's spent every summer there with her parents, eating hamburgers, swimming in the ocean, and combing the beach for treasure. This summer is going to be different though. Lexie's Mom and Daddy are divorced, and for the first time Mom won't be there. To make matters worse, Daddy has a surprise--his new girlfriend, Vicky, and her two sons are coming to stay with them for a week! Now Lexie has to share her house with perky Vicky, Vicky's moody teenage son Ben, and messy three-year-old Harris. The little beach house just doesn't seem big enough for so many people. Is there still room for Lexie?

In a voice that's sharp, funny, and sincere, Newbery Honor-winning author Audrey Couloumbis tells the story of a girl discovering that if you pay attention, sometimes you can find treasure in the most unlikely places.