CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - s4story -- As the United States commemorates its 250th anniversary, independent publisher 3 Swallys Press is releasing a timely new middle-grade novel that invites young readers to experience history not as something to memorize, but as something to live.

The Summer of '76 follows twelve-year-old Betsy Ross, who expects nothing more exciting than a summer helping on her grandmother's farm in historic Lexington, Massachusetts. Instead, she discovers a hidden cellar beneath the barn—and a mysterious invention that sends her and her friend Nate from the Bicentennial summer of 1976 to April 19, 1775.

As their journey unfolds between Lexington and Concord, the two friends must race to protect their families' legacies—and the fate of a nation.

Blending history, mystery, humor, and heart, The Summer of '76 explores courage, community, family, and the enduring bonds between generations while introducing young readers to the people and places that launched the American Revolution.

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Author Liz Bieler, whose debut novel, Alice in Condoland, was published in 2022, drew inspiration for this story from a shed hidden in the woods behind her childhood Massachusetts home. That memory eventually became the novel's mysterious time machine, connecting two milestone moments in American history—the Bicentennial and the nation's 250th anniversary.

"I learned Longfellow's 'Paul Revere's Ride' in 1976 when I was Betsy's age," said Bieler. "This book brings that poem to life in Massachusetts, where it all began. As the story unfolded, I fell in love with characters who believe we can each make a difference."

Publisher Nivi Nagiel said the novel resonated with her deeply. "Growing up in Lexington, I was surrounded by reminders of our nation's history," Nagiel said. "What I love about The Summer of '76 isn't just its setting—but also its heart. Beneath the mystery and adventure is a timeless reminder that kindness, generosity, and love are the true measures of wealth, and that the more we share them, the richer our communities become."

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Released during the nation's Semiquincentennial celebration, The Summer of '76  offers families, educators, libraries, museums, homeschool communities, and history enthusiasts a fresh way to experience one of America's defining moments through contemporary middle-grade fiction.

Book Information

The Summer of '76
By Liz Bieler

Paperback | 268 pages | 5.25" × 8"

ISBN: 978-0-9987651-8-1

$12.99 U.S.

Available through Ingram and major online booksellers.

About 3 Swallys Press

Based in Cambridge, Mass., 3 Swallys Press is an independent publisher founded by three Lexington writers in 2012. The press publishes books that celebrate memorable voices, meaningful stories, and the communities that inspire them.

http://www.3swallyspress.com/