“Raw, real and deeply hopeful” – ALICE OSEMAN

“Bowman dives into the sea of grief with her protagonist and celebrates the kinds of love that are eclipsed all too often.” – SAMANTHA SHANNON

“A quiet but powerful exploration of music and love, and their ability to heal grief over time. Like my favorite sad songs, this book settled deep into my heart and refused to let go.“ – BRANDY COLBERT

“With a Hawaiian setting so vividly alive that it becomes essential to Rumi’s healing, this is a gut-wrenching, must-read novel“ – S. K. ALI

"A beautifully complex exploration of grief, guilt, and the healing power of art and friendship. Akemi Dawn Bowman’s Summer Bird Blue will make your heart ache and leave your soul hopeful.” – ASHLEY HERRING BLAKE

“Achingly beautiful and exquisitely crafted, Summer Bird Blue is an emotionally raw and utterly honest story about loss, about hope, and about finding the courage to sing your own song. Akemi Dawn Bowman’s writing is lyrical and full of life. I was riveted from the first page.” – SAMIRA AHMED

“A lyrical novel about grief, love, and finding oneself in the wake of a tragic loss.” – BUSTLE

“A lovely, powerful, and raw book about grief and loss . . . Bowman is skillful in highlighting how anger can be easier than sadness and grief, and she does so in a manner that allows Rumi to be angry and unlikable while also being sympathetic to the reader.”– BOOK RIOT

“Will leave readers breathless.” – Booklist“A strikingly moving book about teenage grief.” – KIRKUS REVIEWS

“A stunning story filled with the healing power of friendship, family, and music . . . The language is extraordinary.” – SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNEY

“Gorgeous prose and heartbreaking storytelling.” – PASTE MAGAZINE