Last week I visited a school in Vancouver, Washington, my last author visit of the year. It's a wonderful time to go into an elementary school. Even on a wsummery Friday afternoon, the students were attentive, pleasant, and caring to one another. They are a well-oiled learning community by now.

My last group of the day was fifth graders. You might think they'd be antsy, but instead they were especially quiet. They'd been to visit the middle school earlier, and it was almost as if, sitting all together in what was probably their last assembly of the year, they became of just how much was about to change.

Each fifth grade class had special t-shirts in various colors (my favorite was the hot pink, which both boys and girls both seemed to like best too), with all the kids' names on the back. This generation probably won't have to look back at a t-shirt to remember their classmates: they may be Facebook friends their whole lives.

While some things have changed, others haven't, including the sense of excitement and anticipation that summer brings. The students were full of plans and trips -- and yes, books they wanted to read. I encouraged them to join their library summer reading program, and asked them to watch this fall for my new book, The Great Trouble.The Great Trouble: A Mystery of London, the Blue Death, and a Boy Called Eel

Most of all, I found myself nostalgic for what I loved most about summer -- that sense of long, long days with time to read. I am long past fifth grade. I write books, and have a full time job to boot.

But as I drove away I made up my mind: this summer I will get lost in a book.