Summer Lightning

By: Judith Richards

Narrated by: Steve White

Length: 7 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

Irrepressible Terrell Calder is a cigarette-smoking, school-skipping six-year-old boy growing up in a migrant work camp under growing rumors of World War II during the last days of the Great Depression.

Son of the camp manager, Terry has no interest in school, and instead is drawn into an unlikely friendship with Mr. McCree, an eccentric old man living in the cracks of civilization. Together, they prowl the Everglades in search of rattlesnakes, epiphytes, and adventure until the law and society change their lives forever.

Based on a true story, the award-winning Summer Lightning has been reprinted in 15 languages since its first publication in 1978.

©1978 Judith Richards (P)2018 Judith Richards

Heartwarming and fascinating story

I enjoyed listening to Summer Lightning because it was a very good, entertaining story and the narration was fantastic. Set in a time when kids could be kids and you didn't fear for everything and everyone. Terrell ran around doing what he wanted to do rather than what he was supposed to be doing but he met some fascinating people and learned about life first hand. Mr. McCree was a wonderful man and a great person to get to know through this book. The ending of this story was perfect! This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.

Great coming of age books

This is one of those books that you enjoy it no matter how many times you read it .. Also you just know that it would make a fantastic movie ..
i grew up on the Texas, Louisiana border. Spent many summer days and nights fishing ,,hunting ,swimming ,camping a d mostly enjoying & learning the bayou , piney woods. Will always hold those days and times in my heart.
I highly recommend this book to any one .

I would give it 10 stars if I could!!!!

What a wonderful story. I was enchanted by the story as well as the reading. I can't imagine anything better than this wonderful story and the fantastic performance. It shows a part and history of Florida that I don't know much about. I felt so sad for the parents to have to deal with such a wild child, but now I'm grateful to have his knowledge shared with the world. Thank you, Book Sirens, for giving me a copy of this wonderful book.

A heartwarming beautiful book!

A heartwarming beautiful book! I was pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed this coming of age story.

Beautiful book

This was a little gem of a book. I stumbled upon it by accident but I’m so glad I did. This is a beautifully written story about a friendship between a precocious little boy and a older grandfatherly character. They have lovely adventures in this story set in the 1940s that you cannot imagine happening today. Add to that the excellent narration and it makes this a story I will come back to in the future.

Excellent story, strong performance

This was a terrific discovery. I saw halfway through my listening that someone compared it to ‘To Kill a Mockingbird,’ which makes sense. Strong characters with an engaging plot, showing a southern world with a lot of color and descriptions. The reader did a great job of bringing it to life, with some of the most exciting scenes especially. Very well done!

“Old” Florida

Having been born and bred in Florida I could visual the story taking place in “old” Florida. I really enjoyed hearing Steve White narrate the story and he made it come alive with the individual voices. It was entertaining, like having a book read aloud to me as a child.

Life lessons

Summer Lightning
: Judith Richards

I have to ask, how have I missed this book throughout the years? It is part fiction, part non- fiction, historical fiction, adventure and so much more!!! It took me a few chapters to realize that the protagonist was a six year old boy. Wow! Terrell Calder learned more from life lessons than when he actually showed up for school. Adults didn't understand him, kids thought him different. I feel privileged to have been able to listen to this book.



The narration was well done. The characters were well portrayed. Steve White brought these characters to life!!!



I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

pleasantly surprised

This is hidden gem that i wouldn't have expected. starring a cigarette smoking six old. I was surprised with what i got and was glad i gave this novel a chance. narration was great.

A Precocious Little Six Year-Old Driving His Parents Crazy

We were taken quickly through 3 months of a precocious little 6 year old’s life. Terry did more in his six years than most kids do in a lifetime. He learned more with Mr. McCree than I learned in twelve years of school. How many six year olds know about botany, biology, and other Sciences that Terry knew. If older people were not separated from the young and they would attend school too, what they could know? We could learn a lot from this book. I would give anything to have a Eunice, LuBelle and Mr. McCree in my children’s life. What a story. What a good start to life!
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