SUMMIT, NJ — A Summit High School graduate is weaving together hometown memories and a deeply personal caregiving experience in her newly released novel exploring second chances and life transitions later in adulthood.
Brett Ellen Block, who graduated from Summit High School in 1991, said her connection to Summit continues to shape her work and perspective.
She recalled growing up in town and remembering simple but lasting moments, including drives along Kent Place Boulevard during the fall, holiday lights downtown, and Fourth of July fireworks.
“I’d published five books but stepped away from writing after my mom suffered a medical tragedy,” Block said.
She said her mother had a strong connection to Summit and often spoke about the town, even sharing stories with people she met about its well-known residents and history.
Block eventually moved her mother from New Jersey to Southern California to provide full-time care.
“She never lost her sense of humor,” she said, reflecting on that period. “We had as many funny moments as we did hard ones, and I really cherish that time.”
That experience became a central influence on her new novel, The Secret of Sunrises, which follows a woman balancing the demands of caring for an aging parent while unexpectedly being forced to rethink her own future.
The story centers on themes of family responsibility, identity, and reinvention later in life.
Block said the book reflects what she describes as a “new prime,” a stage when many people are managing caregiving responsibilities while also rediscovering personal goals and direction.
While the novel is not set in New Jersey, Block said the emotional foundation of the story is rooted in experiences that resonate across communities like Summit, particularly for families navigating care for aging parents.
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