5 Book and Adventure Pairings for Northwest Kids

With her friends off at summer camp, 12-year-old Missy faces a long and lonely summer. She and her older brother Patrick take on summer jobs picking berries; the local blueberry farm provides the backdrop for Missy’s coming-of-age tale by local author Sara Nickerson.

Outing: Quick, before berry-picking season ends (blueberries are ripe through September), head to any one of the patches around the state. The free-to-pick patch at Charlotte’s Blueberry Park in Tacoma is a local star, just remember to bring a bucket. Bow Hill Blueberries in the Skagit Valley is ideal for a day trip north (U-pick typically available Fridays and Saturdays). Or check our guide to U-pick berry patches.

Additional reads: Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey (ages 4–8).