Two starred reviews!

A young empath spending the summer with her grandfather stumbles upon a bit of magic in this "[l]uminous...introspective" (Publishers Weekly, starred review) middle grade novel about letting in the light--perfect for fans of Barbara Dee and Jamie Sumner.

Sixth grader Lucy thinks people are seriously overrated. People come with feelings, and Lucy can't escape them because of her so-called "gift" of empathy. She can feel the tension when her parents fight and can't escape the truth of what went wrong in her relationship with her former best friend. So when Lucy's parents suggest spending her summer vacation with her reclusive grandfather at his isolated cabin on Prince Edward Island, she jumps at the chance to get away from people, feelings--all of it.

Lucy arrives at her grandfather's with a small suitcase and the only thing she really needs: her camera. From behind the lens, she can watch the world without having to feel any of it. While exploring her new home, Lucy finds her grandmother's old camera and a darkroom that hasn't been used since Nana passed away five years ago. Lucy starts taking pictures of the people in her grandfather's town and developing photos the old-fashioned way.

The finished photos reveal everything about the subjects--their deepest fears and hidden desires. Along with a quirky neighbor and her reluctant grandfather, Lucy sets out to get to the bottom of the photographic magic. But can she uncover the truth of her grandmother's legacy and figure out what to do with the magical photos before summer ends?

Author: Erin Stewart
Publisher: Aladdin Paperbacks
Published: 02/03/2026
Pages: 336
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.90lbs
Size: 8.40h x 5.80w x 1.30d
ISBN: 9781665952286
Audience: Ages 9-12


Review Citation(s):
Booklist 01/01/2026
Publishers Weekly 01/19/2026
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 12/01/2025
School Library Journal 12/01/2025 pg. 68
Kirkus Reviews 12/15/2025

About the Author
Erin Stewart is a freelance writer and editor as well as a weekly columnist in Salt Lake City. She's the author of Scars Like Wings, The Words We Keep, and The Forgotten Magic of Zoey Turner. Erin is a neurotic extrovert who thinks Hot Tamales should be a recognized food group. In kindergarten, her mom thought she needed a therapist because everyone exploded at the end of all her stories; nowadays, her characters have a slightly higher survival rate. Erin lives in Utah with her husband and three children.