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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
A heartbreakingly tender middle grade novel told in a mixture of prose and verse that follows anxiety-riddled 12 year old Victoria/Tori as she goes on a road trip with her estranged, emotionally and physically abusive father.
My heart literally ached for this sweet, hopeful young girl who wanted this time with her father to be a positive experience, only to have him belittle and denigrate her constantly. The ways he was horrible to her defied my comprehension!
Great on audio, this might be hard for some young readers but is a great look at one girl's ability to persevere in the face of extreme distress and abuse. Recommended for fans of authors like Jamie Sumner.
My heart literally ached for this sweet, hopeful young girl who wanted this time with her father to be a positive experience, only to have him belittle and denigrate her constantly. The ways he was horrible to her defied my comprehension!
Great on audio, this might be hard for some young readers but is a great look at one girl's ability to persevere in the face of extreme distress and abuse. Recommended for fans of authors like Jamie Sumner.
A very, very hard read about families, divorce, and abuse. But a good story about finding your voice and yourself.
Never has a middle grade novel made me feel so angry o behalf of the main character. This is a prime example of a book parents should read to build empathy. Kids books arent just for kids!
So wonderful. Read this even if you are not a middle grade person. It is worth your time. You will know kids that need this book and perhaps the kid inside of you needs this book as well.
Can't. Recommend. Enough.
Can't. Recommend. Enough.
A sweet coming-of-age story in the same vein as Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret. Given how few middle grade novels have actually been published about menstruation, it's nice to have this book added to the very short canon of those much-needed stories.
The First Magnificent Summer is a vivid, heartwrenching, and emotionally resonant book about dealing with difficult parents and navigating a first period. Some readers will find this one tough to stomach, but I found it irresistible, full of heart, and compulsively readable in spite of the difficult theme explored. This story explores the idea that some parents are unkind, and sometimes kids don't have much agency over who they spend time with, but they can triumph over challenging situations and live to tell the story with support from others who love them. This atmospheric summer story is so relatable, especially for kids who love to journal or those going through puberty.
Full review: https://readingmiddlegrade.com/the-first-magnificent-summer-book-review/
Full review: https://readingmiddlegrade.com/the-first-magnificent-summer-book-review/
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I do not like the father. I wish him all the misery this world can afford him. This book is insanely triggering. I wish some of that father's words didn't hit me as hard as they did. And I want so badly to give this book 1 star, but that's only me lashing out at the antagonist of this book.
Victoria has a wonderful mother (but tbh, WHY in all the 9 hells did she let them go with him??) and a wonderful grandmother in Texas. She needs to stay with them. They are teaching her to grow into a strong woman who will never be silenced or made smaller by a man who doesn't even really care about her.
Victoria has a wonderful mother (but tbh, WHY in all the 9 hells did she let them go with him??) and a wonderful grandmother in Texas. She needs to stay with them. They are teaching her to grow into a strong woman who will never be silenced or made smaller by a man who doesn't even really care about her.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexism, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
