Plot

"My Little Tomatoes" seems a cute nickname from a father to his motherless children, but after the death of the household cat instigates the telling of an old family fairytale, the name takes on a more literal meaning. Six-year old Sam and nine-year old Maggie bicker over the truth of the tale (and most everything else) until a sudden accident kills their dad. As strange things begin to happen on the farm, Maggie struggles beneath the onslaught of new adult responsibility while her brother throws all of his efforts into trying to bring their father back to life, by means of the fairytale's promise... A Bad Summer for Tomatoes is a story of sibling rivalry, magic, birth/death, and the importance of family to all of us.—Anonymous

Maggie Callahan, an emotionally distant ten year old girl, has been hiding the extent of her father's illness from social workers and police officers her entire life. When that illness finally leaves her orphaned, her brother turns to an old family fairy tale to attempt to bring their father back to life. Wracked with responsibility and guilt, Maggie must discover what she believes, and how far she's willing to go to keep her small family together. A story about isolation, trust, and the darker side of magic, Bad Summer explores the pain of growing up, and the consequences of our secrets.—Ibba Armancas