This summer is turning out to be the most confusing time of 14-year-old Sara Godfrey's life. Up until now, things have flowed as smoothly and peacefully as the swans gliding across the lake. But suddenly, Sara feels like things are going wrong. She wants to fly away from everyone—her popular sister, her bossy aunt, and her beloved, mentally retarded brother Charlie. Then one night, Charlie disappears. In Sara's long and frantic search for her brother, her own problems seem small and unimportant. And before the night is over, she realizes that sometimes you don't know what matters most in your life-until you almost lose it. For over 20 years, The Summer of the Swans has captivated young adults across the nation with its gentle power and poignant drama. The winner of the prestigious Newbery Medal, it is a contemporary classic from one of the most popular authors of young adult fiction.