Eleven year old Mitch is on the brink of his long-awaited summer vacation of movies and hanging out, when his parents announce he's headed to the relatives and the depths of rural Louisiana. This means eight weeks with these cousins, aunts and uncles who wear overalls and speak a foreign language. But change usually delivers a few lessons and that's exactly what's in store for Mitch. Instead of watching movies, he's leaping into rivers, falling for a girl and getting bullied royally by a jerk named Finn. This is a coming of age story with adventure, character study and a celebration of the bonds of family. 336 pages Ages 9-13