Water Music: A Cape Cod Story by Marcia Peck is a coming-of-age novel set during the summer of 1956 on Cape Cod. Twelve-year-old Lily Grainger's family vacation takes a strange turn when the Sagamore Bridge closes, isolating them and escalating the growing tensions in her family. Amid local events such as the sinking of the Andrea Doria and whale strandings, Lily grapples with her parents' strained marriage, her competitive uncle, and difficult relationships with her sister and cousins. Seeking solace and understanding, she finds refuge in her music and the natural beauty of Cape Cod. This is the story of Lily, who discovers small acts of kindness and devastating betrayals as she searches for love and understanding in a broken world.

Author Marcia Peck creates the perfect atmosphere for Lily’s growth and development. Cape Cod’s beauty is described in the most vivid way possible, allowing readers to enjoy it as they experience Lily’s growth. Lily's perspective as a twelve-year-old is authentically portrayed, capturing the confusion and emotional turmoil of adolescence. Her perspective is endearing, and her struggles with her mother and extended family are relatable and deeply affecting. The backdrop of real historical events adds depth and context to the story. The pace was fast, the descriptions were entertaining, the narrative style was perfect, and the overall plot was immersive. Water Music is a beautifully written, heartfelt story about the small ways people seek connection and the courage it takes to find safe passage through life’s storms. I highly recommend it!

Water Music: A Cape Cod Story by Marcia Peck follows a young girl named Lily during a summer at Cape Cod. Lily's father, determined to build a house on the land they’ve purchased, wades through financial issues and strained family dynamics, especially with his brother, George, and his wife, Fanny. Lily’s mother is reluctant about rustic life at the Cape, preferring the comforts of home, and their marriage becomes increasingly strained. Lily is witness to this and, through her perspective, she reflects on her relationships with her parents and extended family, her cello lessons, and even tragedy. When a storm shatters an already fragile situation, Lily is forced to process grief and the unraveling of her family, finding a small piece of joy where she can, and hoping for reconciliation with her mother through music.

Marcia Peck’s Water Music is a beautiful ode to childhood innocence in a stormy home life, gifted to us through the eyes of Lily. Peck’s writing is solid and she really does capture the nuances of Lily's perspective, where the simplicity of her observations contrasts with the overwhelming tensions in her family. As adult readers, we can see things for what they truly are, but it's a tougher pill to swallow when we experience Lily's confusion and vulnerability. As someone who grew up with parents who also built a home, and who was raised in a culture where affection simply is not shown, I connected with Lily at a level that I did not expect at all. In fact, my wife handed me the book and said I should read it first. Cape Cod is rendered with the grace that it deserves and Peck turns its changing landscape and natural disasters into metaphors for Lily's family. Overall, this is a truly affecting coming-of-age story that is worth a read. Very highly recommended.