Once Upon a Summer

Seasons of the Heart, Book 1

By: Janette Oke

Narrated by: Marguerite Gavin

An excerpt from the book: "Sure, it's unusual to have an 18-year-old mother when you're 12. But when you're an orphan and she's your aunt and the only mother you've ever had well, as I explained, it had worked out real well.

That's why I got so riled up when I heard Grandpa and Uncle Charlie talkin' about findin' a fella for Auntie Lou!

You see, somethin' had to be done! I couldn't just sit back and watch our special family get broken up. But with Grandpa and Uncle Charlie workin' so hard to get Auntie Lou married off, I really had my job cut out for me.

Then, when that poor preacher came along, it really got complicated.

And maybe you'll find out what I found out about the best kind of family, I mean."

©1981 Janette Oke (P)1999 Blackstone Audiobooks

great for young teens

Good christian values and it is a easy read/listen.... My 11 year old loved this book.

love it

i loved this book my sister bought me once upon a spring when i was younger just thought id continue now.

favorite

I have always loved Janette Oke's books. This was one of the first of hers that I read back in Jr. high. The reader dis a great job with the story.

Easy Listen/Read

I have kind of a neutral opinion about the plot, but I do love the wholesome, Christian theme and that it is an easy listening story while I get my chores done at home.

Wrestling with God . . . Learning . . .and Loving

This is a sweet story about family, faith and loss . . . a young man growing up without his parents, being raised by his grandpa and his aunt, who isn't too much older than he is . . . and blaming God that he can't even remember his parents . . . it is a different era, a time of working on the family farm, of respecting and obeying one's elders, and going to church in a wagon . . . a gentle tale of life, growing, changing, accepting . . . I only wish is that a different narrator had been chosen . . . I would have enjoyed it a lot more if the voice of Josh had not been a woman . . . it set me on edge throughout the whole book

Good read

It was a couple of parts I thought was a bit drawn out like the part about the harvest time. I can say however the story was sweet and nearly had me in tears at some parts.

Initially a slow starter but full of love

Appreciated that the Pace of the storyline picked up..... Characters or well-developed and appreciated the developing ending. Would have liked a little more flexibility in the narrators voice for the characters but it was a good audio

Enjoyed it very much!

This story was easy to slide into. While listening, I felt that I was in the story and could see everything and smell the cooking. It had a good balance of optimism mixed with some real-life challenges.

Wonderful

Normal Janette Oke style of story. I read this as a teen. Was excited to listen to it 15ish years later! Going to work my way through the whole series.

Smiled all the way through it! Well did cry once!

This story brought me back toy teenage years. My Mom had the whole series and my sister read it to me. Thought I'd listen to it as an adult and see if I still liked the story! That is an understatement! I love you these characters! This book takes you back in time and you can just sit back and enjoy! I drive a long distance to work this definitelyadey trip feel shorter!