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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
Anna is an adolescent with doting parents, bright and kind, growing up in the suburbs. Frankie is her very best friend and neighbor. Up until last year, Anna and Frankie were part of a trio, which included Frankie's older brother Matt. Then, Matt died of a heart defect and everything in the girls' world changed.
Anna is left with a secret that she doesn't know how to broach with Frankie: she was in love with Matt, and for the month prior to his death, the two had been taking their friendship to the next level. Frankie is dealing with her grief by rebelling: changing her clothes, flirting with boys, and smoking cigarettes. Anna doesn't know how to deal with it, but does her utmost to remain a steadfast friend.
Then, summertime comes and the girls go with Frankie's parents, Aunt Jayne and Uncle Red, to Zanzibar for a three-week vacation. There's sunshine, beach, boys, and booze. Secrets, squabbles, and sneaking out: a teenage epic.
Sweet and enjoyable. Recommend it. A couple of the quotes about dealing with love and grief really struck true:
"What is the statute of limitations on feeling guilty for cheating on a ghost?" (153).
"And in this moment of pale dawn in the hours before we leave California, I finally realize what has been the hardest thing for me about Matt's death. It isn't that I lost a brother, like Frankie, or a son, like Aunt Jayne and Uncle Red. The hardest thing is that I'll never know exactly what I lost, how much it should hurt, how long I should keep thinking about him" (267).
Anna is left with a secret that she doesn't know how to broach with Frankie: she was in love with Matt, and for the month prior to his death, the two had been taking their friendship to the next level. Frankie is dealing with her grief by rebelling: changing her clothes, flirting with boys, and smoking cigarettes. Anna doesn't know how to deal with it, but does her utmost to remain a steadfast friend.
Then, summertime comes and the girls go with Frankie's parents, Aunt Jayne and Uncle Red, to Zanzibar for a three-week vacation. There's sunshine, beach, boys, and booze. Secrets, squabbles, and sneaking out: a teenage epic.
Sweet and enjoyable. Recommend it. A couple of the quotes about dealing with love and grief really struck true:
"What is the statute of limitations on feeling guilty for cheating on a ghost?" (153).
"And in this moment of pale dawn in the hours before we leave California, I finally realize what has been the hardest thing for me about Matt's death. It isn't that I lost a brother, like Frankie, or a son, like Aunt Jayne and Uncle Red. The hardest thing is that I'll never know exactly what I lost, how much it should hurt, how long I should keep thinking about him" (267).
So, when I first read this book I thought I just loved it because I didn't have very high expectations. I was wrong.
Sarah Ockler weaves a beautiful story about first love, loss, friendship, and growing up. My heart broke for these characters within the first two chapters, and even knowing what happened, I couldn't put it down until they were safe again.
A great read, especially for the summer. Highly recommend!
Sarah Ockler weaves a beautiful story about first love, loss, friendship, and growing up. My heart broke for these characters within the first two chapters, and even knowing what happened, I couldn't put it down until they were safe again.
A great read, especially for the summer. Highly recommend!
A story of love, grief an friendship. This is a book that beat all of my expectations. It was so amazing for a period of time I felt that I really was Anna
Full review at http://yannabe.com/2010/01/06/review-twenty-boy-summer/
Summary: Anna is getting what she’s always wanted—a summer vacation at the beach with her best friend Frankie. Frankie comes up with a game to find summer romance by meeting a new guy every day, and she convinces Anna to play too. But Frankie doesn’t know that Anna already met the guy she wants—Frankie’s older brother Matt, whom Anna can’t let go.
Review: This is what I get for not checking any reviews of this book or even the jacket blurb before I started reading it. Because it’s not exactly a light romance, like I had expected.
But it turns out that fact is what I like best about the book. As I read, my throat was thick with Anna’s grief for Matt and the guilt she felt for wanting to move on—and even worse, for actually moving on.
The ending tended toward melodrama in parts, but overall this one was a good read.
Summary: Anna is getting what she’s always wanted—a summer vacation at the beach with her best friend Frankie. Frankie comes up with a game to find summer romance by meeting a new guy every day, and she convinces Anna to play too. But Frankie doesn’t know that Anna already met the guy she wants—Frankie’s older brother Matt, whom Anna can’t let go.
Review: This is what I get for not checking any reviews of this book or even the jacket blurb before I started reading it. Because it’s not exactly a light romance, like I had expected.
But it turns out that fact is what I like best about the book. As I read, my throat was thick with Anna’s grief for Matt and the guilt she felt for wanting to move on—and even worse, for actually moving on.
The ending tended toward melodrama in parts, but overall this one was a good read.
I read this book because there was nothing else to read and it was a long road trip and I actually found myself really enjoying it. My sister had gotten it from the library and I picked it up and couldn't put it down. It was a quick read and actually managed to elicit an emotional response from me at some points (which is quite rare when I am reading) so I recommend it to those looking for a quick read.
Best book about the fall out of a car accident that I've read in awhile. From the outside, it looks like a trashy book about boys but it turns out to be a book about love and friendship--and what happens when we keep grief and secrets from each other. Sound corny? Yes. Surprisingly not corny. I was very impressed.
Ok, so I have to ask...how many really sad books about car crashes can one girl read in 2 weeks without even intending to pick up ANY books about car crashes? I mean really? As it happens, the answer is 3. And this book is "really sad book about car crashes" number 3. Buuuut, this one is slightly different than #1 and 2, because instead of containing a car crash which causes death, it's a death which causes a car crash, but really, close enough, I think. Luckily all three have all been really good.
So...the title of this one suggests it's about girls trying to get with a lot of boys over the summer, but really it's about death and healing and friendship. Sad, but ultimately leaves you with a warm and fuzzy feeling.
So...the title of this one suggests it's about girls trying to get with a lot of boys over the summer, but really it's about death and healing and friendship. Sad, but ultimately leaves you with a warm and fuzzy feeling.
This was a good summer read, something that was fun to read while at the beach or while relaxing inside, because it incorporated death, romance and friendship, which are components of a typical summer book (maybe minus death, but still).