Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
Such a beautiful book filled with true raw emotions.
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
34 years ago my brother died in a car accident, I was a little over a year old, he was three. I don't remember much about him, save one strange memory of him standing outside the car entertaining me while my mom pumps and pays for gas. I recall the car, the sun sparkling off of the metal on the window and the smell of the summer day mingling with the smell of the gasoline. And, of course, I have the stories, of how he called me Finnie Shell for Stephanie Michelle, how he would chase me around the house, how he could make me laugh...it hurts that I only have these stories and not their memories.
2 years ago I gave birth to a tiny person, I was a little over 33 years old, she was a surprise. I remember everything about the night I found out I was pregnant, everything about the day the doctor confirmed it, showing us the ultrasound of our little girl already 5 months in the making and every moment anxiously awaiting her arrival. And, of course, I have the stories, of how she calls me Mommy and Mom and sometimes Mommy Stephanie, how she comes to school with me on Saturday Publication work days, how she makes me laugh...it hurts to realize I used to think my life was complete without her.
It's these two people, the brother I never knew and the person I didn't know who could make me, well, a better me, that I think about when I think about Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler.
This book has so much in it and it speaks honestly about love, friendship, family and what it means to grieve the loss of a loved one.
I am more than willing to believe that when you are still grieving the loss of someone you truly love that having sex for the first time helps to heal the wound, that blocking it out and drinking and pretending to have sexual exploits makes it a little easier to be alive and that when your child dies a piece of you dies and living doesn't even seem possible. I believe that each of the characters in this book acts how people act when their hearts hurt so much they can't feel it.
I like that the parents and other grown-ups in this book are ancillary to the true narrative. I do not mind that the girls sneak out of the house to hang out with boys, go to a party by lying and making up imaginary girl friends. I believe that grieving parents who are just as lost as their still alive children, in this case the very lost Frankie, don't know how to act or how to feel, I believe they ignore and believe what they want to believe. Here's what I don't like, here's the part that makes me sad and here's the part that I hope makes me a better parent...neither of the girls talk to their parents about how they feel and I believe Anna's parents, would listen and trying to help. While I don't need to know everything that my daughter is doing or will do I hope that she knows that she can always talk to me and she can always share her most personal thoughts with me. I hope that she knows that I love her no matter what.
Everything in this book is real and honest and tender and I wouldn't change a single word of it.
My niece is reading this book right now and I know that I'm going to make sure this book finds its way into the hands of my daughter and then we can have a talk about love and friendship and when it's appropriate to have sex and I hope that while I am not her peer she sees me as someone to go to when she needs to do so.
While I write this my daughter is singing "Happy Birthday to Mommy", it isn't my birthday until next May, but it sure feels like a celebration.
2 years ago I gave birth to a tiny person, I was a little over 33 years old, she was a surprise. I remember everything about the night I found out I was pregnant, everything about the day the doctor confirmed it, showing us the ultrasound of our little girl already 5 months in the making and every moment anxiously awaiting her arrival. And, of course, I have the stories, of how she calls me Mommy and Mom and sometimes Mommy Stephanie, how she comes to school with me on Saturday Publication work days, how she makes me laugh...it hurts to realize I used to think my life was complete without her.
It's these two people, the brother I never knew and the person I didn't know who could make me, well, a better me, that I think about when I think about Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler.
This book has so much in it and it speaks honestly about love, friendship, family and what it means to grieve the loss of a loved one.
I am more than willing to believe that when you are still grieving the loss of someone you truly love that having sex for the first time helps to heal the wound, that blocking it out and drinking and pretending to have sexual exploits makes it a little easier to be alive and that when your child dies a piece of you dies and living doesn't even seem possible. I believe that each of the characters in this book acts how people act when their hearts hurt so much they can't feel it.
I like that the parents and other grown-ups in this book are ancillary to the true narrative. I do not mind that the girls sneak out of the house to hang out with boys, go to a party by lying and making up imaginary girl friends. I believe that grieving parents who are just as lost as their still alive children, in this case the very lost Frankie, don't know how to act or how to feel, I believe they ignore and believe what they want to believe. Here's what I don't like, here's the part that makes me sad and here's the part that I hope makes me a better parent...neither of the girls talk to their parents about how they feel and I believe Anna's parents, would listen and trying to help. While I don't need to know everything that my daughter is doing or will do I hope that she knows that she can always talk to me and she can always share her most personal thoughts with me. I hope that she knows that I love her no matter what.
Everything in this book is real and honest and tender and I wouldn't change a single word of it.
My niece is reading this book right now and I know that I'm going to make sure this book finds its way into the hands of my daughter and then we can have a talk about love and friendship and when it's appropriate to have sex and I hope that while I am not her peer she sees me as someone to go to when she needs to do so.
While I write this my daughter is singing "Happy Birthday to Mommy", it isn't my birthday until next May, but it sure feels like a celebration.
4.5 stars. I really enjoyed this book. The beginning was so full of hope and wonder and then sadness. The journey that Anna and Frankie take to get them to the end was a good one. This was a very enjoyable book.
I could totally relate to the 16 year olds sneaking out, drinking, parties, etc. Reminded me of my youth....scary part...I have 2 daughters now and I'm real worried what I have in store for me! ;)
I could totally relate to the 16 year olds sneaking out, drinking, parties, etc. Reminded me of my youth....scary part...I have 2 daughters now and I'm real worried what I have in store for me! ;)
Crisp writing. When she writes about waiting for an airplane, it sounds action packed and interesting. She has great verb choice, which is good cause there isn't that much action in the book when you really think about it. The book is banned in some schools, but really, that should only make you want to read it. And of course, how can you not like a person who likes california sunsets and the ocean?
This book reminds me of Meg Cabot's Ready or Not. If not for the amazing storytelling and emotional journey, I would have disliked this book as much as Ready or Not, Twenty Boy Summer actually teaches you a lesson and is the epitome of why I read books. It leaves you something to think about or you get that warm feeling when you close the cover for the last time. Though this book was not what I was expecting, and the summary was a little misleading, I did enjoy this book very much. Its few shortcomings, although repetitive, should be overlooked because of the overall quality.
I was expecting a light and frothy read with a title like Twenty Boy Summer. That's not what this was at all, but I loved it all the same. Anna and her best friend Frankie are both grieving for the loss of a boy -- Frankie's brother and Anna's first love. It's been more than a year and they are still dealing. As someone who lost her mother almost exactly one year ago, I know that you can't put a timeline on the grieving process and I identified strongly with their plight. This story brought up a lot of feelings. But I enjoyed it very much and recommend this book.