Summer of the Woods
A new home, an old mystery, and a summer they’ll never forget.
Where it all begins. The first adventure of brothers Sam and Derek — and the opening chapter of Steven K. Smith’s twelve-book Virginia Mysteries series. Cliffhangers, secret caves, hidden passageways, and a stolen coin collection from sixty years ago.
The book trailer.
A summer that changes everything.
When brothers Derek and Sam move with their family to Virginia, they aren’t sure what to expect from their new home. But beyond the backyard lies a deep stretch of woods, a winding creek, and the kind of freedom they never had in their old neighborhood.
Then Sam finds an unusual old coin in the creek.
What begins as a summer of exploring quickly turns into something much bigger. A strange boulder marked with the words Virginia Mining Company leads the boys deeper into the woods, where they discover hidden caves, cross paths with new rivals, and hear terrifying growls from something called Bear.
Soon Derek and Sam realize that the coin may be connected to a valuable collection stolen from the Virginia Museum sixty years earlier. But if the missing coins are still out there, where have they been hidden all this time — and are the boys brave enough to follow the trail underground?
Summer of the Woods is the first adventure in The Virginia Mysteries series — the book that introduces Sam and Derek, their new life in Virginia, and the idea that history, mystery, and adventure can be waiting just beyond your own backyard. Perfect as a first read or a One Book, One School selection for grades 3–5.
Inside these pages
Walk the same Virginia woods as Sam and Derek.
Summer of the Woods captures the feel of a Virginia summer — old creeks, hidden trails, and the kind of woods every kid who grew up here remembers. While the Maddox brothers’ house is fictional, the world around them is unmistakably real Virginia countryside.
Want to take your family there in real life? Head to Midlothian Mines Park, just south of Richmond. It’s the perfect spot to recreate Sam and Derek’s adventure — with miles of trails, real coal mining history, and the same kind of woods that come alive on the page.
Midlothian Mines Park
Hiking trails through wooded mining country, historic interpretive signs about Virginia’s coal mining past, ponds where the old mine shafts once stood. A perfect afternoon outing after reading the book — bring the kids’ bikes or a picnic.
The real history behind the book
The 1877 Indian Head cent at the center of the mystery is real — one of the most valuable U.S. coins of its era. A great rabbit hole for kids curious about numismatics.
Long before steel and railroads, Midlothian Mines was one of America’s first commercial coal operations — open from the early 1700s. Now a park with hiking trails and historical markers.
The wooded setting of Summer of the Woods draws on the rural Virginia countryside Steven came to love after moving south from New Jersey — and where countless families still spend their summers exploring.
Free downloadable comprehension quiz, chapter-by-chapter discussion guide, and One Book, One School materials specifically designed for Summer of the Woods.
What readers are saying
“Steven K. Smith’s descriptive writing is like reading a Norman Rockwell art gallery.”
— Reader review
“My 8 year old son ran into my room immediately after finishing this book, shoved it in my face and said ‘You HAVE to read this, it’s SO good!’”
— Parent
“This book is the hands-down read-aloud favorite of third grade! Girls and boys alike loved it.”
— Third-grade teacher
“A clean, wholesome mystery adventure… reminiscent of the books of the past that so wonderfully captivated young audiences.”
— Dan
All 12 Virginia Mysteries
Using Summer of the Woods in your classroom?
Free comprehension quiz, discussion guide, and One Book, One School program materials available. Plus bulk pricing for classroom sets and signed copies.
Start the Virginia Mysteries.
Available in hardcover, paperback, Kindle, and audiobook everywhere books are sold — or order a signed copy direct from Steven.