Cecilia Galante

Julia and Sophie are sisters, but they aren't close. Julia is the younger "perfect" sister while Sophie is the older...um...mess. This book tells the story of how they come to terms with their relationship (or lack thereof) and the secret that has been kept from Julia her whole life. There is a road trip made, a romance blossoming, and a summer of discoveries for Julia as the whole story behind the family secret is slowly revealed. The relationship between Julia and Sophie is realistically drawn and develops in a natural progression. There is no singular event that suddenly makes everything peachy. They have to get to know each other. There are some really quirky and enjoyable characters in the town where Sophie lives, as Julia finds out. It is interesting to watch Julia learn about her sister through the friends Sophie has in her town - as opposed to what Julia thinks she knows about Sophie from the strained family gatherings they've experienced in the past. Also, Julia has had a terrible crush on her best friend's brother for a long time, and there are some awkward moments for her with him, especially at the beginning of the novel. Once she makes her road trip to Vermont to see her sister, she meets another young man with whom she strikes up a friendship. So, you've got a little romance, a little friendship, and a dysfunctional family sorting through their issues - although the parents don't have a huge role in the novel. The story is mostly about the two sisters. I enjoyed the book quite a bit - if you like realistic family drama, you probably will, too.… (meer)

Why did it take me so long to read this book? Because right after I started it I got a bunch of other new books and they all seemed a lot more exciting. I'm sorry, Willowood. You're a good little story with a lot of heart, but you are also a not a stand-out title in my Mock Newbery reading.

Just for fun, let me transcribe the notes I took while I was reading this: "Lily. Moving from small town to city. Friendship tested. Love of lizards. Absent father. Mother smokes. Willowood = Terabithia-like special place. Picky eater. Coffee drinker. Target of school bullies. Dodgeball. Pet store job. Adult friend with Down syndrome. Hatching lizard eggs. Superman. Alice in Wonderland. Unconventional family."

Ah. That was easier than trying to sum up the plot. Mock Newbery review here: http://blogs.kcls.org/newbery/2010/06/willowood.html… (meer)

Unlike any of the other middle grade novels that I have ever read, The Summer of May is not a "sunshine and rainbows" kind of book. Quite the opposite really. This is a tough read, filled with real life emotion that cuts down into your heart as you read. I'll be honest when I say that I literally cried while I read this.

May is a 13-year-old girl who wants nothing more than to feel whole again. Navigating the trials of middle school, she tends to use anger as her defense mechanism against anything (or anyone) who she doesn't agree with. She doesn't enjoy the feelings that bubble up inside her and burst to the surface, but it is the one way that she knows how to deal. Angry words help to mask the hurt that she feels inside. This story is a look at how these feelings affect a person, as well as the people around them.

May isn't the only character in this book who is learning something either. Amidst her tumultuous inner battle, Galante sets up other characters who are fighting the same sort of battle. Although they are much older than her, these characters show May that she isn't the only one who doesn't know quite how to deal with how she feels. Each character chooses their own defense mechanism, but they all have the anger and hurt beneath their surface. It isn't until May starts to spend more time with Mrs. Movado that she starts to make progress towards understanding what is inside her.

At the heart of this book is really a message of forgiveness, and of making amends. This is a topic that is so rarely dealt with in tween/teen books, but I wish it was out there more often. As summer wanes on, May learns to look into herself through the use of writing and poetry. She learns to find the things that are buried deep inside her and come to terms with them. Most importantly of all she learns to forgive, and to ask for forgiveness, in an effort to heal herself from the inside out. If you're thinking that this sounds like a topic from a much older story, I would have agreed at one point. However now that I've finished reading this book I'm not sure I can look at middle grade literature the same again.

Excellently written and brimming with honest emotions, The Summer of May is one of the most surprising and heartfelt books that I have read this year. I applaud Cecilia Galante for so carefully and sincerely dealing with such a tough topic. This is a book that I will recommend to tweens, teens and even adults a hundred times over. Dealing with the importance of family, the power of words, and the idea of forgiveness, I don't think it matters who is reading this book. Everyone can benefit from the messages between these pages.… (meer)