The Summer of Letting Go

De: Gae Polisner

Narrado por: Tara Sands

Summer has begun, the beach beckons - and Francesca Schnell is going nowhere. Four years ago, Francesca's little brother, Simon, drowned, and Francesca's the one who should have been watching. Now Francesca is about to turn 16, but guilt keeps her stuck in the past. Meanwhile, her best friend, Lisette, is moving on, most recently with the boy Francesca wants but can't have.

At loose ends, Francesca trails her father, who may be having an affair, to the local country club. There she meets four-year-old Frankie Sky, a little boy who bears an almost eerie resemblance to Simon, and Francesca begins to wonder if it's possible Frankie could be his reincarnation. Knowing Frankie leads Francesca to places she thought she'd never dare to go, and it begins to seem possible to forgive herself, grow up, and even fall in love - whether or not she solves the riddle of Frankie Sky.

©2014 Original material by Gae Polisner. Published by arrangement with Algonquin Young Readers, an imprint of Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, a division of Workman Publishing Company, Inc. (P)2014 HighBridge Company

very well-written and engaging

Any additional comments?

This is very well-written and engaging.

First the good: The main character is likable and relatable as she struggles to cope with some very serious real-life issues. I loved her observations about reincarnation and how it gave her hope. The book hits on some interesting themes that would be great for group discussions. I also learned something new and amazing about Christmas Island's red crabs. (I had no idea! Google it!)

The not-so-good: The ending ties everything up in a neat bow, which is disappointing since most of the novel was able to avoid the pitfall of sanitizing everything. I felt the ending was a disservice to an otherwise realistic story.