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3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
Grades 4-7
Lily has been invisible for the past two years. She doesn't talk, she won't look people in the eyes, and the townspeople think that she's brain-damaged. She's not, but she's content to have them think that and leave her alone. She sits unresponsively in school, but when nobody is around, she loses herself in Nancy Drew mysteries. Tinny, the new girl in town, unexpectedly stumbles across the fact that Lily can read, and makes it her mission to torment Lily with the knowledge. But Tinny has some secrets of her own, and Lily is determined to discover them before Tinny can hurt her great aunt Fern. When a strange man comes to town, Lily realizes that Tinny's secrets are dangerous ones. Interwoven in the story of Lily and Tinny are flashbacks to Lily's brother Pete, slowly revealing more about their relationship and the reason that Lily hasn't spoken for the last two years. Andrea Beaty mixes in just enough mystery and suspense to make this a very hard book to put down. Don't be fooled by the rather bland title and cover... this is a page-turner.
Lily has been invisible for the past two years. She doesn't talk, she won't look people in the eyes, and the townspeople think that she's brain-damaged. She's not, but she's content to have them think that and leave her alone. She sits unresponsively in school, but when nobody is around, she loses herself in Nancy Drew mysteries. Tinny, the new girl in town, unexpectedly stumbles across the fact that Lily can read, and makes it her mission to torment Lily with the knowledge. But Tinny has some secrets of her own, and Lily is determined to discover them before Tinny can hurt her great aunt Fern. When a strange man comes to town, Lily realizes that Tinny's secrets are dangerous ones. Interwoven in the story of Lily and Tinny are flashbacks to Lily's brother Pete, slowly revealing more about their relationship and the reason that Lily hasn't spoken for the last two years. Andrea Beaty mixes in just enough mystery and suspense to make this a very hard book to put down. Don't be fooled by the rather bland title and cover... this is a page-turner.
This was such a pleasurable read from the childhood trauma to its beginning resolution. Lily, ever since what happened to her brother, doesn't like to talk to others or make eye contact, which not only makes things difficult for her, but for those who love her as well. But when Tinny comes along and finds herself interested in our mute main character, things go all topsy-turvy. Especially when Tinny frames Lily for stealing. Now, Lily isn't seen just as a sad child, but as a delinquent, too. And she can't do anything about it. Unless she wants to say something. But she doesn't.
Lily and Tinny are frustrating characters at times, but that's what makes you love them. They both have a huge backstory that caused them to be the way they are, and that backstory takes a long while to unfold. Yet there's something about both of them that's endearing and that makes you want to come back for more. Maybe it's Lily's fondness for Nancy Drew, or maybe it's Tinny brashness, but either way, this duo gives Cicada Summer a dynamic and fun tone.
As we sort through their tumultuous pasts, more and more becomes revealed not only with their respective families, but with their current town dynamics as well--after all, in a small town, rumors and gossip spread quickly.
Overall, Beaty's book gives us a hugely pleasurable storyline about what it means to be able to speak your truth--literally.
Review cross-listed here!
Lily and Tinny are frustrating characters at times, but that's what makes you love them. They both have a huge backstory that caused them to be the way they are, and that backstory takes a long while to unfold. Yet there's something about both of them that's endearing and that makes you want to come back for more. Maybe it's Lily's fondness for Nancy Drew, or maybe it's Tinny brashness, but either way, this duo gives Cicada Summer a dynamic and fun tone.
As we sort through their tumultuous pasts, more and more becomes revealed not only with their respective families, but with their current town dynamics as well--after all, in a small town, rumors and gossip spread quickly.
Overall, Beaty's book gives us a hugely pleasurable storyline about what it means to be able to speak your truth--literally.
Review cross-listed here!
A good quick read for a reluctant reader. Subtle and emotional, I would recommend this to someone who liked Bridge to Terabithia.
This book was WAY better than Attack of the Fluffy Bunnies. Because I had read AotFB first, I seriously considered NOT reading this book, but I'm glad I did. I thought this book was well-plotted and well-written. There wasn't any technology in the book, but that didn't make it feel old fashioned.
This was a good, easy read, which I would recommend for ages 8 and above. Great to read with a parent, and lots to talk about.
A good little mystery/small town novel. Nothing brilliant, but solid.
Lily has perfected the art of being invisible. For the past two years she hasn't spoken or looked anyone in the eyes. Everyone thinks she's brain damaged. But Lily has a secret. A secret she's never told anyone. When the new girl Tinny comes to town, Lily knows right away that she's trouble. Having read every Nancy Drew book in the library, Lily knows how to spy on Tinny and she's determined to keep an eye on her until she figures out what Tinny is hiding.
The thing I loved most about this book was that it had the perfect buildup of suspense. From the very beginning when we find out that Lily is hiding something, I was hooked and the climax didn't let me down.
The thing I loved most about this book was that it had the perfect buildup of suspense. From the very beginning when we find out that Lily is hiding something, I was hooked and the climax didn't let me down.
I cried. I would type the part that made me try to hold in my tears, but you'd have to read the whole book before you can understand.
This was not my favorite book. Nevertheless, it deserves all 5 stars. My only complaint is that the cover isn't a very good one for this book. To make it more dramatic, I'd have a solid color with the leaves and cicadas on the edges, then nothing else. Oh, and also, the author never gave a very good description of cicadas. I had to look it up. -_-
I applaud Andrea Beaty for getting me to cry. (about 3 other authors in my plethora of books was able to).
Spoiler
Why do all the seemingly good characters have to die off?This was not my favorite book. Nevertheless, it deserves all 5 stars. My only complaint is that the cover isn't a very good one for this book. To make it more dramatic, I'd have a solid color with the leaves and cicadas on the edges, then nothing else. Oh, and also, the author never gave a very good description of cicadas. I had to look it up. -_-
I applaud Andrea Beaty for getting me to cry. (about 3 other authors in my plethora of books was able to).
I mean, I probably would have used the cicadas in the story a little more, but it was a good little emotional novel.
11-year-old Lily has a secret she has to protect at all costs, which is easy because she doesn't talk anymore. A sweet story that tackles heavy topics.