★★★★★ (five out of five stars) "Bugs, Weeds, and Water is an amazingly well written heartfelt coming of age tale." - Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (11/2021)
★★★★ (four out of four stars) "I honestly enjoyed this book, and it was a fantastic experience." - Reviewed by Ekezie1998 for OnlineBookClub.org (11/2021)
"Bugs, Weeds, and Water is a delightfully detailed coming-of-age story. The characters are quirky, vibrant, and drive the story forward. This is especially true of Zoe, whose curiosity and tendency to snoop often gets her into trouble. Even secondary characters, such as Evelyn the bully, have layers and complex motivations that feel believable and intrigue readers. The setting also adds to the story's charm, and the girls' love of nature and wildlife breathes even more color into an already lively world that the characters inhabit. The mystery at the heart of the story--the true identity of the triplets's father--is revealed with an inevitability that is satisfying for readers..." - Anonymous Reviewer, Writer's Digest Competitions, Self-Published E-book Awards, 2021
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Zoey Starling has no idea what it means to be normal. Everything she touches has a taste, and her father's identity is a town secret. Her sisters have issues of their own. While it's a struggle for Celeste to connect with the world, Ruby, who has a flair for the dramatic, doesn't seem to worry about anything. Orphaned at birth, the fourteen-year-old triplets live with their aunt in rural Leamington, Ontario, steps from Point Pelee National Park.
From their little cottage on the lake, they mark the seasons by the yearly migration of captivating birds that pass through the park. Despite an almost idyllic childhood grounded in Aunt Flory's home-cooked food and family values, Zoey struggles to define her identity in a community where the Starling family is the subject of gossip and speculation. But secrets run deep in the small town, and the triplets aren't the only ones with something to hide. By observing the people around her, Zoey discovers that the truth isn't always straightforward and different perspectives shape the world. Normal doesn't exist. It's always how you choose to look at things that matters most.
