The House on Sunrise Lagoon: Halfway to Harbor

by Nicole Melleby Narrated by Taylor Meskimen

Overview

In the third book set at The House on Sunrise Lagoon, oldest sibling Harbor must navigate spending half a summer away from her beloved home, the pull between her two families, and a growing crush on a girl on her basketball team.

If you want to get to know Harbor Moore, you need to know three things:

1. Sometimes she signs her name Harbor Ali-O'Connor to match her siblings.
2. She misses her dad a lot, but she doesn't want to be away from her moms and siblings, either.
3. She just might have her first crush.
*
Harbor is excited to spend the summer working on her jump shot in an elite basketball league. But the games take place near her dad's house-hours away from her beloved Sunrise Lagoon. Suddenly, she's spending every weekend at her dad's and getting to know Quinn, a girl whose smile makes her feel warm inside. Still, Harbor can't help wondering what's going on at home. Why is Sam hanging out with Harbor's best friend? Has Marina's friend Boom taken her place in the house? What have the twins “borrowed” this time for one of their disastrous scientific experiments?
*
When it comes time to decide whether Harbor will stay and play basketball with her team-and Quinn-all year round, or continue to live on Sunrise Lagoon, Harbor thinks she knows what to do . . . but is it the right decision?

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

"Moments of madcap humor and familial warmth characterize this emotionally generous summer tale from Melleby, which showcases the author’s command of fully realized characterization and distinct relationship dynamics.” -Publishers Weekly (The House on Sunrise Lagoon: Sam Makes a Splash)

“Layered family dynamics run through the heart of this character-driven story in which the love and devotion shared are as sure as the tides… An enjoyable and heartwarming read.” -Kirkus Reviews (The House on Sunrise Lagoon: Sam Makes a Splash)

“The Ali-O'Connors are an appealing bunch, each with their own quirks and foibles. The rivalry between Sam (who is adopted) and slightly older sister Harbor (Mom's biological child) is both believable and heart-wrenching at times; Marina (also adopted) is book-loving and reserved; and younger twins Cordelia and Lir (Mama's biological children) add humorous, relatable moments to the story. Perhaps most heartwarming is the tentative alliance that develops between Sam and Harbor as they team up to help Mom.” -Booklist (The House on Sunrise Lagoon: Sam Makes a Splash)

“This second series installment focuses on symptoms of severe anxiety emerging within a loving support network. Readers will appreciate the boisterous family dynamics and thoughtful treatment of mental health concerns. Entertaining and satisfying.” -Kirkus Reviews (The House on Sunrise Lagoon: Marina in the Middle)

School Library Journal

05/01/2024

Gr 3–7—This third installment revolves around 12-year-old Harbor, the eldest sibling in their large, boisterous family. Basketball is front and center in Harbor's life as she navigates her feelings of fitting in, standing out, and speaking up. When Harbor is offered the chance to play for an elite team miles away from home, her dad suggests she live with him during the week so she'll be close to practice. Leaving her too-small, too-noisy home is what Harbor has dreamed of, and a bedroom of her own promises to be amazing. Playing with the team, hanging out with new friend (and crush) Quinn, and staying with her dad is okay, but it's quiet and a little lonely. Harbor misses her sisters, moms, big slobbery dog, crowded house, and Sunrise Lagoon. Most of all, she misses the belonging, the love, and even all the noise. This novel features adoption, queer parents, surrogacy, divorce, and fractured friendships as Harbor navigates to her safe waters. Melleby captures the angst of being 12-going-on-13 with deft prose and believable dialogue. VERDICT Fans of the series will love Harbor and her family, and will root for her on and off the court.—Pamela Thompson McLeod

Kirkus Reviews

2024-05-17
Where do you fit when you’re watching from the sidelines?

Continuing the lives of the Ali-O’Connor family, this third series installment focuses on the eldest sibling, 12-year-old Harbor, who presents white. This summer, a friend of her dad’s invites her to join the elite girls’ basketball team she coaches, an important step for Harbor if she wants to stay serious about the sport. Instead of her usual two weekends a month, Harbor would therefore stay with her dad every weekend. The arrangement seems like a great deal to Harbor, who’s been finding her moms’ crowded house of seven people (plus a dog) even more stifling than usual. At the same time, Harbor’s dealing with a recent growth spurt, her suddenly strained relationship with her best friend, and not starting on the elite team, plus some unexpected new feelings of attraction. Maybe she should make the move to her dad’s place permanent? Melleby’s series continues to explore strong themes of discovering one’s place within the family, this time through Harbor’s unique position of being the only sibling who has a known father in her life and who is a child of divorce (two of her siblings are adopted, and two have a sperm donor). The story contains many potential points of identification for young readers as Melleby explores the journey of a preteen who’s dealing with emotional struggles through skillfully drawn, loving characters and a seamless plot.

Candid and uplifting. (Fiction. 8-12)

Product Details

BN ID:	2940159237866
Publisher:	Hachette Audio
Publication date:	05/07/2024
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	8 - 11 Years

Videos