A heartfelt and voice-driven novel with just a touch of magic, Emily Gale's The Other Side of Summer is perfect for fans of Rebecca Stead.
Ever since her brother Floyd died, Summer’s world has been falling apart. Her mom is a ghost of her former self, her older sister is angry all the time, and her dad wants to move the family to Australia. It seems like the only thing unchanged in their lives is Floyd’s guitar, which was returned to the family perfectly unharmed by the bombing that killed him.
Once Summer arrives in Australia, she feels even further away from Floyd than before. Until she works up the courage to play his guitar. When she plays, something amazing—perhaps even magical—happens. Summer starts to feel less alone. But even with a little magic on her side, only Summer will be able to find her way through her grief to whatever the other side may bring.
“This pitch-perfect story is full of hope and magic. Exquisite and unforgettable.”—Fiona Wood, author of Six Impossible Things, Wildlife, and Cloudwish
The Other Side of Summer
Write Review
Author(s)
Publisher
Age Range
8+
Release Date
May 30, 2017
ISBN
978-0062656742
Buy This Book
Editor reviews
1 reviews
Overall rating
5.0
Plot/Characters/Writing Style
5.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
Trust your own heart
THE OTHER SIDE OF SUMMER is an emotional ride about a girl named Summer trying to find her place in the world now that her brother, Floyd, isn't in it. It takes you through the processes of grief and how to come back from losing someone so close.
Summer and her family are broken with the absence of Floyd. When his guitar magically makes its way back into their lives, it brings along some hope. Summer loves the guitar and knew that Floyd always had it on him. Now, it's a way for her to connect to Floyd without him there any more.
Searching for the change, Summer's dad uproots Summer and her sister, Wren, and moves them from London to Australia. At first, it makes her feel farther away from her old self. When Summer discovers her mother isn't going with them, she feels even more abandoned.
Then, she meets Gabe, but there's something different about him. At first, she thinks he's a ghost, but soon finds that there is so much more to his story and that he's connected to her brother and his guitar. They may be the only ones able to help each other out of their ruts.
Final Verdict: This is the perfect summer read for ages 8-12 that is full of compelling emotion, making new friends, trusting your own heart, and finding your way back home, wherever it is.
Was this review helpful to you?
User reviews
There are no user reviews for this listing.
Powered by JReviews
FEATURED GIVEAWAYS
Latest Book Listings Added
When sixteen-year-old Sylvie’s brother takes over management of their family’s...
My wishes for you are many. But the...
There's a storm coming! The other WellieWishers promise to help...
The internet’s “World’s Best Father," award-winning photographer Dave Engledow, follows...
In 1815, a 5-year-old girl searches for Utopia in a...
ONE RULE. DON'T FALL FOR THE BAD BOY. Sixteen-year-old Jasmine...
The perfect spooky read for Halloween, this pulse-pounding adventure will...
Latest Member Reviews
"My wish for you is the quintessential girl power read. Although it seems to focus on empowering young girls..."
"Kendall’s snow fort is a feel-good lesson learning wintery mix of fun. Essential for slightly more advanced readers, Kendall’s..."
"Dave Engledow does it again with THE LITTLE GIRL WHO WANTED TO BE BIG. All the little girl wants to..."
"All Little Penguin wants to do his fly like all of the other birds. His only hope is wishing on..."
"MERRY CHRISTMAS, LITTLE ONE is a fun, interactive story about Christmas time and snowmen. "Christmas comes but once a year..."
"HI-FIVE ANIMALS is exactly as it sounds. You Hi-Five all of the animals! The illustrations are adorable with close up..."
"What happens after the Three Little Pigs put the Wolf in jail? Well, he plots his revenge of course! THE..."
"Harper moved to Washington, D.C. with her family and found out about her paranormal abilities in Spirit Hunters. She has..."
"Nicky's family moves around a lot, and he gets tired of having to adjust to new towns, new schools, and..."
"Giovanni lives in New York City with his mother, who is an opera singer. His father was a set designer,..."
"After finding an enormous treasure with his cousin Alex, Max's family has built a big new house and is enjoying..."
"This fictional picture book, inspired by the tragic death of three-year-old Alan Kurdi's tragic death on a Turkish beach, follows..."
"When Fiona and Finn's father, a psychologist, is killed in a car accident, the children and their mother (who is..."
"Zoe and her family have moved to Bright Field Stables from California. Her mother is from the small island in..."
"Fuzzy and the other pets in Miss Wills' class 5-B are getting ready for Halloween. Fuzzy in particular is trying..."
"GROW UP, DAVID is all about having a sibling. David's brother is the typical older brother who doesn't want David..."
"Nora and her mother have been living in her father's family mausoleum after they lost their home, and her father,..."
"Ranger, a failed rescue dog (squirrels are so distracting!), has a first aid kit that sends him through time to..."
"Ten-year-old Katy is a fantastic pitcher, so great that a local Little League coach encourages her to sign up for..."
"LizBetty Porter doesn't want to be called by her name-- she wants to be called Possum, which is what her..."
