Local author pens semi-autobiographical novel for middle schoolers

By Sam Leishman - Lethbridge Herald Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on April 1, 2025.

A local children’s author hopes young readers will find a sense of adventure, fun and family bonding in her newest book, Summer of Rocks.

Jenna Greene says she has been writing professionally since she was about 17 years old. She currently lives in the Lethbridge area and teaches in the small community of Lomond.

Her latest middle-grade novel, meant for ages 8 to 12, was inspired by her father, Stephen Butrenchuk, who chased his passion for geology for 50+ years.

“He specialized in industrial minerals, so not even the fun stuff like gold and diamonds, but barite and gypsum and things like that,” Greene joked. “He was in charge of exploration which meant that his job was to go out and find sites and evaluate things. He was home a lot during the winter, but during spring, summer and fall he was gone. My mom always said if we want to spend time with him, we need to go with him.”

Greene says Summer of Rocks is a fictional retelling of all her fondest childhood memories of long road trips with her family to interesting places in Canada where they would explore rock quarries and encounter wild animals.

The story is told from the perspective of three fictional sisters, 11-year old Amy, 9-year old Beth and 6-year old Marion, set in the summer of 1990. They’re strapped into the backseat of the family pickup truck on a trip to the British Columbia-Yukon border, all the while fighting over who gets to play with the Gameboy next, listening to fascinating facts from their parents and playing the Little Mermaid soundtrack on repeat.

Greene says the whole point of this book is to acknowledge her childhood experiences and pay tribute to her family that is full of scientific and literary minds.

“I think about my friends growing up and now I have daughters and I think about how their summers are spent, and I realize just how vastly different my summers were,” Greene told the Herald. “I may have complained about it at the time, but I don’t know of many other people that experienced what I did in the way that I did. I have to finally celebrate that it was really unique and really special.”

Summer of Rocks, plus its accompanying teacher guide, are set to release on Tuesday. Analog Books in Lethbridge will be hosting a book launch between 6pm and 8pm on Apr. 5.

Greene has released several other books for children and young adults, including An Owl Without a Name which has been used by several schools around southern Alberta. All of her books are available on her website, jennagreene.ca.