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The Summer of Letting Go
Just when everything seems to be going wrong, hope and love can appear in the most unexpected places.
Summer has begun, the beach beckons and Francesca Schnell is going nowhere. Four years ago, Francesca's little brother, Simon, drowned, and Francesca is the one who should have been watching. Now Francesca is about to turn sixteen, 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.
Summer has begun, the beach beckons and Francesca Schnell is going nowhere. Four years ago, Francesca's little brother, Simon, drowned, and Francesca is the one who should have been watching. Now Francesca is about to turn sixteen, 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.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2014
77 people are currently reading
4,916 people want to read
About the author
Gae Polisner
13Ìýbooks482ÌýfollowersI am a wannabe mermaid and the author of THE MEMORY OF THINGS, SEVEN CLUES TO HOME and several other novels for readers young, old or in between.
Please note that, although I originally tried to assign star-ratings to my book reviews (and, thus, you will see some of my favorite books with stars), I have stopped doing so. A 3-star review, for example, can mean such different things to readers and reviewers, some rarely give more, so 3 means pretty great, to others 3 is barely mediocre. Because of this, it feels arbitrary and capricious to assign them, and I'd rather merely provide (in some cases) my brief thoughts on the book (unless I really can't help myself in giving it 5-stars, which usually means I wish there were lots more to give. . .). But for the most part, I'm only going to add the word recommended.
As for writer-me, if you want to know more about me, you can find me at my website, gaepolisner.com. You may also find me on Instagram or twitter @gaepol or on facebook here: .
I'd love to interact with you here or there. :)
Please note that, although I originally tried to assign star-ratings to my book reviews (and, thus, you will see some of my favorite books with stars), I have stopped doing so. A 3-star review, for example, can mean such different things to readers and reviewers, some rarely give more, so 3 means pretty great, to others 3 is barely mediocre. Because of this, it feels arbitrary and capricious to assign them, and I'd rather merely provide (in some cases) my brief thoughts on the book (unless I really can't help myself in giving it 5-stars, which usually means I wish there were lots more to give. . .). But for the most part, I'm only going to add the word recommended.
As for writer-me, if you want to know more about me, you can find me at my website, gaepolisner.com. You may also find me on Instagram or twitter @gaepol or on facebook here: .
I'd love to interact with you here or there. :)
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June 8, 2022
this is an ARC i illegally bought in a library sale by someone in my community who somehow received it?
anyway i see why it didn't make it on the KEEP list.
part of a series i'm doing in which i review books i read a long time ago. also publishers please don't take me off your list i was 15 and didn't know what an ARC was
anyway i see why it didn't make it on the KEEP list.
part of a series i'm doing in which i review books i read a long time ago. also publishers please don't take me off your list i was 15 and didn't know what an ARC was
December 13, 2013
3.5 STARS
I'm having a hard time rating this because it started off rocky for me with a lot of frowning and raised eyebrow moments followed by a strong middle that ended on a bit of a whimper. It took a great deal of empathic calisthenics on my part (yes, there's such a thing) to get along with the heroine because some parts of her story had the potential to be devastatingly heart wrenching one moment, only to be off-set by questionable actions and hazy rationale in the next turn.
For the last three years, Frankie "Beans" Schnell has been carrying the guilt of her younger brother, Simon's drowning and, by extension, the gradual ruin of her family. A distant, apathetic mother, a father who may or may not be fooling around with their Angelina Joliesque neighbor mixed with the perfect gorgeous best friend with the perfect gorgeous boyfriend she secretly covets� it's going to be an interesting summer. But apparently, not interesting enough, as in one of her stakeouts trying to catch her dad and the neighbor, she meets a young boy Frankie "Sky" Schyler who reminds her of Simon a little too vividly.
Okay, NOW it's going to be an interesting summer.
Beans and Frankie Sky's friendship played around with paranormal and religious themes but wasn't really the point of interest of the story (for me anyway). Save for Frankie Sky's propensity for lolspeak (I had a bit of trouble not imagining him as a lolcat at times) and some research lapse on pediatric cardiology I found their story sweet and the role each of them played in each other's growth (especially Beans') was truly touching. But my favorite storyline was that of Beans' family. I liked how Polisner depicted each member's hurt over Simon's death, how they acted on it and how it impacts each other. I found it the emotional core of this book, especially Beans' relationship with her father and the dilemma their situation brings.
There's a raw hurt and desperation in Beans' thoughts as she comes to terms with her father's possible fallibility. Because fully functional parents, in our eyes, always start from that pedestal, that plane that makes you believe they hang the moon and have the answers to everything. Some paths to adulthood starts with seeing them as mortal and imperfect as you are, Beans is on that one. Every scene that is tangentially related to her issues with her parents were brilliant especially and some of the ambiguity will probably piss a lot of people off but it is called The Summer of Letting Go for many reasons.
What I could not let go is how Beans figures in the Bradley-Lisette story line. I can't remember where I've seen/read how it doesn't really matter what we think or feel, it is in what we do that we measure the worth of a person and I found myself trying to isolate Beans' thoughts from what she actually does just to make this plot line tolerable. It's hard enough to stand by and listen to Frankie Beans' mental litany of her insecurities against Lisette but to actually suffer through her mooning over her best friend's boyfriend while being (slightly) guilty over it will certainly test your patience and empathy. I would've probably been more forgiving if her longing wasn't introduced as early as the first, freaking scene in the book or if the entire kerfuffle was resolved in a different, less unimaginative manner but as it echoes a message that I'm not entirely comfortable with, I can't make myself see anything else beyond what Beans did. I don't even get the fuss over Bradley, because, seriously? Crab-talk? Crab claws? THAT'S what turns you on?
This had a good story at its core but you'd have to forage through the cheap tricks of juvenile love games, inane crab talk and lolspeak without a lolcat to get to it. And your enjoyment of the story will probably hinge on how much of that you're willing to let go.
(See what I did there? ;p)
ARC provided by Algonquin Books thru NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Quotes may not appear in the final edition.
Let me lie and thieve and screw up until I rot away in hell, but don't just let me be no one, nothing, except that other girl. Because that other girl, the sad-eyed one staring back from the photograph on my computer, I don't want to be her anymore.
I'm having a hard time rating this because it started off rocky for me with a lot of frowning and raised eyebrow moments followed by a strong middle that ended on a bit of a whimper. It took a great deal of empathic calisthenics on my part (yes, there's such a thing) to get along with the heroine because some parts of her story had the potential to be devastatingly heart wrenching one moment, only to be off-set by questionable actions and hazy rationale in the next turn.
For the last three years, Frankie "Beans" Schnell has been carrying the guilt of her younger brother, Simon's drowning and, by extension, the gradual ruin of her family. A distant, apathetic mother, a father who may or may not be fooling around with their Angelina Joliesque neighbor mixed with the perfect gorgeous best friend with the perfect gorgeous boyfriend she secretly covets� it's going to be an interesting summer. But apparently, not interesting enough, as in one of her stakeouts trying to catch her dad and the neighbor, she meets a young boy Frankie "Sky" Schyler who reminds her of Simon a little too vividly.
Okay, NOW it's going to be an interesting summer.
Beans and Frankie Sky's friendship played around with paranormal and religious themes but wasn't really the point of interest of the story (for me anyway). Save for Frankie Sky's propensity for lolspeak (I had a bit of trouble not imagining him as a lolcat at times) and some research lapse on pediatric cardiology I found their story sweet and the role each of them played in each other's growth (especially Beans') was truly touching. But my favorite storyline was that of Beans' family. I liked how Polisner depicted each member's hurt over Simon's death, how they acted on it and how it impacts each other. I found it the emotional core of this book, especially Beans' relationship with her father and the dilemma their situation brings.
Maybe that's what I'm secretly hoping for. Because if Dad could make such a huge, horrible mistake and still be a good person, then that would mean, technically I could be too. I could still be worthy of loving, even if I let my brother drown.
There's a raw hurt and desperation in Beans' thoughts as she comes to terms with her father's possible fallibility. Because fully functional parents, in our eyes, always start from that pedestal, that plane that makes you believe they hang the moon and have the answers to everything. Some paths to adulthood starts with seeing them as mortal and imperfect as you are, Beans is on that one. Every scene that is tangentially related to her issues with her parents were brilliant especially and some of the ambiguity will probably piss a lot of people off but it is called The Summer of Letting Go for many reasons.
What I could not let go is how Beans figures in the Bradley-Lisette story line. I can't remember where I've seen/read how it doesn't really matter what we think or feel, it is in what we do that we measure the worth of a person and I found myself trying to isolate Beans' thoughts from what she actually does just to make this plot line tolerable. It's hard enough to stand by and listen to Frankie Beans' mental litany of her insecurities against Lisette but to actually suffer through her mooning over her best friend's boyfriend while being (slightly) guilty over it will certainly test your patience and empathy. I would've probably been more forgiving if her longing wasn't introduced as early as the first, freaking scene in the book or if the entire kerfuffle was resolved in a different, less unimaginative manner but as it echoes a message that I'm not entirely comfortable with, I can't make myself see anything else beyond what Beans did. I don't even get the fuss over Bradley, because, seriously? Crab-talk? Crab claws? THAT'S what turns you on?
This had a good story at its core but you'd have to forage through the cheap tricks of juvenile love games, inane crab talk and lolspeak without a lolcat to get to it. And your enjoyment of the story will probably hinge on how much of that you're willing to let go.
(See what I did there? ;p)
ARC provided by Algonquin Books thru NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Quotes may not appear in the final edition.
October 21, 2013
I know you've all heard me speak of The Pull of Gravity over and over again, and how much I love it and how perfect it is. Hopefully I've already gotten you to read it (if not, no time like the present!).
But why am I talking about Gae Polisner's first book in a review of her second? Because as much as I loved The Pull of Gravity, this book is even better.
Francesca blames herself for her brother Simon's death. She was supposed to be watching him the day he drowns, and ever since, her family has completely splintered. Everyone fell apart and they did so in different directions.
And when she meets a little boy, Frankie Sky, and becomes his babysitter, her life turns around. She won't tell anyone because she knows how ridiculous it sounds but she thinks that maybe Frankie Sky has a little bit of her brother's soul. The more she researches reincarnation, the more possible it seems.
But as interesting as that is, it isn't the point of the story.
The point is how Francesca (or Beans, as she is known to her family, best friend and beloved Frankie Sky) learns how to stop blaming herself for what happened to her brother, as well as the relationship she forges with Frankie Sky. And oh, how I love Frankie Sky. That little boy is pure magic and every scene with him was an absolute delight.
This entire book was an absolute delight.
I cannot possibly say enough good things about this book, so I will just say this: buy it when it comes out in March. Buy it from Amazon or Barnes & Noble or whatever bookstore you frequent. Buy a copy for a friend, so you have someone to discuss it with. (Or talk about it with me; I'd love that.) This makes an excellent present, as well. Do with that information as you will.
Highly, highly recommended.
But why am I talking about Gae Polisner's first book in a review of her second? Because as much as I loved The Pull of Gravity, this book is even better.
Francesca blames herself for her brother Simon's death. She was supposed to be watching him the day he drowns, and ever since, her family has completely splintered. Everyone fell apart and they did so in different directions.
And when she meets a little boy, Frankie Sky, and becomes his babysitter, her life turns around. She won't tell anyone because she knows how ridiculous it sounds but she thinks that maybe Frankie Sky has a little bit of her brother's soul. The more she researches reincarnation, the more possible it seems.
But as interesting as that is, it isn't the point of the story.
The point is how Francesca (or Beans, as she is known to her family, best friend and beloved Frankie Sky) learns how to stop blaming herself for what happened to her brother, as well as the relationship she forges with Frankie Sky. And oh, how I love Frankie Sky. That little boy is pure magic and every scene with him was an absolute delight.
This entire book was an absolute delight.
I cannot possibly say enough good things about this book, so I will just say this: buy it when it comes out in March. Buy it from Amazon or Barnes & Noble or whatever bookstore you frequent. Buy a copy for a friend, so you have someone to discuss it with. (Or talk about it with me; I'd love that.) This makes an excellent present, as well. Do with that information as you will.
Highly, highly recommended.
October 25, 2013
Not even the ocean can drown our souls.
This book could have been one big cliche. It could have been condensing and schmaltzy.
Thank God it wasn't. Instead, it was warm, real, and a beautiful journey. The slow burn of hope, ignited by a precocious little boy, brought life to a family living in the shadow of devistating loss.
There were interesting echoes in this book. It was reminiscent of Sarah Dessen in that the teens were written with reverence and respect, and were not caricatures of Teen archetypes. I also saw John Green's ability to write angst and self-blame without becoming annoying. What Gae Polisner did that these others aren't quite as polished in, was move your heart without manipulating your emotions overtly. The subtlety of this book is lovely. There is some resolution, but not everything is fixed at the end.
Also, as almost an afterthought, I really liked how the parents in this book had to learn how to be parents again. This is definitely a book about becoming human again after tragedy. So recommend.
This book could have been one big cliche. It could have been condensing and schmaltzy.
Thank God it wasn't. Instead, it was warm, real, and a beautiful journey. The slow burn of hope, ignited by a precocious little boy, brought life to a family living in the shadow of devistating loss.
There were interesting echoes in this book. It was reminiscent of Sarah Dessen in that the teens were written with reverence and respect, and were not caricatures of Teen archetypes. I also saw John Green's ability to write angst and self-blame without becoming annoying. What Gae Polisner did that these others aren't quite as polished in, was move your heart without manipulating your emotions overtly. The subtlety of this book is lovely. There is some resolution, but not everything is fixed at the end.
Also, as almost an afterthought, I really liked how the parents in this book had to learn how to be parents again. This is definitely a book about becoming human again after tragedy. So recommend.
October 30, 2018
Crying so hard right now! More to come later, closer to publication. But this is definitely one of the best books I've read this year!
Actual Review
This book was wonderful and a very emotional reading experience. I always enjoy Gae Polisner's writing style and her characters are so easy to identify with, so easy to catch feelings for their situations in life. I loved the relationships between Francesca & Simon and Francesca & Frankie Sky. The only thing I wasn't so hot on was the resolution of the romance with the boy Francesca and her friend were fighting over. Overall, so worthwhile.
"I let go and stare at him as he whips past me in circles, his blond curls like Simon's blowing free in the wind. Simon. Is Frankie Sky part of him? Or is that totally crazy? I sit on the ground and close my eyes against the dizzying circles that spin in front of me and inside my head."
This. Jeez this is hitting me right in the heart! (My general reaction the whole time I was reading this book!)
I received a review copy from NetGalley in exchange for review, which in no way influenced my opinions. Thanks NetGalley!
Actual Review
This book was wonderful and a very emotional reading experience. I always enjoy Gae Polisner's writing style and her characters are so easy to identify with, so easy to catch feelings for their situations in life. I loved the relationships between Francesca & Simon and Francesca & Frankie Sky. The only thing I wasn't so hot on was the resolution of the romance with the boy Francesca and her friend were fighting over. Overall, so worthwhile.
"I let go and stare at him as he whips past me in circles, his blond curls like Simon's blowing free in the wind. Simon. Is Frankie Sky part of him? Or is that totally crazy? I sit on the ground and close my eyes against the dizzying circles that spin in front of me and inside my head."
This. Jeez this is hitting me right in the heart! (My general reaction the whole time I was reading this book!)
I received a review copy from NetGalley in exchange for review, which in no way influenced my opinions. Thanks NetGalley!
November 22, 2013
This book is aimed at the teen market, and the love story component certainly suits that market. But 'The Summer of Letting Go' is such a touching and beautiful story it should be read by everyone. There is a Charlie St. Cloud feel to the story as Franky Schnell tries to deal with the death of her brother, but it differs in the quest to discover the link between Simon and her new charge Frankie Sky. Is Frankie Sky Simon reincarnated, are all the links truly coincidences? These questions and many others around Simon's tragic drowning are woven beautifully around daily life and interesting relationships between the characters. I really enjoyed this book. I was given a copy of this book to read and give my honest opinion.
March 18, 2014
4.5 Stars
A YA coming-of-age story about grief, moving on, and life's beautiful surprises. This book is well-written and the water is a character in itself. The characters are realistic and even though this novel is set during contemporary times, the story is timeless (at times, I imagined it taking place in earlier decades). A really touching book.
Net Galley Feedback
A YA coming-of-age story about grief, moving on, and life's beautiful surprises. This book is well-written and the water is a character in itself. The characters are realistic and even though this novel is set during contemporary times, the story is timeless (at times, I imagined it taking place in earlier decades). A really touching book.
Net Galley Feedback
October 25, 2013
(nb: I received an Advance Review Copy from the publisher via NetGalley)
It’s summertime, to paraphrase the song, and the livinâ€� ²¹¾±²Ô’t easy, not for Francesca “Frankieâ€� Schnell. It’s the summer she turns sixteen, and it’s supposed to be filled with frivolity and magic, but Frankie is sullen. She’s healthy, yes. She’s reasonably pretty, in a string-bean, not-busty way, and she has her best friend, Lizette Sutter to share adventures.
The first problem is named Bradley Stephenson. He’s hot, and he’s Lizette’s boyfriend. This means Lizette is always busy. It’s even worse, because Frankie has always had a huge crush on Brad. The situation—even when the three go out as friends—is nigh on untenable.
Problem two is that Frankie is convinced her father is having an affair with the sexy woman across the street.
Problem three…problem three is the killer. During a family beach outing four years ago, Frankie’s little brother, Simon, was swept away in a strong current when Frankie was supposed to be watching him. She just walked back to the family beach blanket to get snacks, and when she turned back around, Simon was out in the water. She did her best to save him, but it was for naught. Ever since that horrible afternoon, Frankie has felt crushing guilt that it was her fault, and that her mother has ever since blamed her for Simon’s death.
The bright spot in Frankie’s life is the part-time job she falls into. She takes on a role as a mother’s helper. The little boy is also named Frankie, which amuses him to no end. Young Frankie is a handful. He loves living dangerously, climbing trees, diving into the deep end of the pool, swinging impossibly high on the playground swing set. He’s an energetic and smart little boy, and he looks exactly like Simon. He’s even the age Simon was when he died.
As if juggling all the drama of her best friend, her best friend’s lusted-after boyfriend, her father’s apparent affair, and the ever-present guilt about Simon’s death weren’t enough tsuris for one girl, Francesca begins to wonder if there isn’t some sort of connection between Frankie and Simon, something beyond her comprehension. As she investigates, her world becomes an Etch-a-Sketch, with clearly demarcated lines and forms, which disappear as her summer moves toward its ending, as if The Universe shakes it. Then new lines and forms appear, and Francesca’s world changes.
This book is totally addictive; I read it in one sitting. In Francesca—who narrates—Gae Polisner has created a young woman who can’t seem to catch a break. Circumstance torments her, and all she wants is normalcy in her life, the normalcy she used to have. She needs it in order that she can grieve properly, then let go of her guilt. She needs it now.
I also like that Ms. Polisner gave Francesca the surname “Schnell,� which means “quickly� in German. She’s suffered enough, and Francesca wants the status quo with her mother to change quickly. She wants her grief to resolve itself quickly. She wants a boyfriend quickly. She wants answers to difficult questions quickly.
And by the book’s end, things do change. The ending isn’t necessarily what I expected or wanted, but by damn, it’s the ending that fits. The malleability of the human soul—and the innocent spark of a little kid—bring that ending to fruition. “The Summer of Letting Go� is the perfect title for this book. It’s a gem, filled with the mixed emotions we all feel: joy and pain, hope and despair, all contrapuntal, and the relief we feel when we let go the negative. Francesca finds her place on The Universe’s Etch-a-Sketch. Here’s hoping we all do, as well.
Most Highly Recommended
It’s summertime, to paraphrase the song, and the livinâ€� ²¹¾±²Ô’t easy, not for Francesca “Frankieâ€� Schnell. It’s the summer she turns sixteen, and it’s supposed to be filled with frivolity and magic, but Frankie is sullen. She’s healthy, yes. She’s reasonably pretty, in a string-bean, not-busty way, and she has her best friend, Lizette Sutter to share adventures.
The first problem is named Bradley Stephenson. He’s hot, and he’s Lizette’s boyfriend. This means Lizette is always busy. It’s even worse, because Frankie has always had a huge crush on Brad. The situation—even when the three go out as friends—is nigh on untenable.
Problem two is that Frankie is convinced her father is having an affair with the sexy woman across the street.
Problem three…problem three is the killer. During a family beach outing four years ago, Frankie’s little brother, Simon, was swept away in a strong current when Frankie was supposed to be watching him. She just walked back to the family beach blanket to get snacks, and when she turned back around, Simon was out in the water. She did her best to save him, but it was for naught. Ever since that horrible afternoon, Frankie has felt crushing guilt that it was her fault, and that her mother has ever since blamed her for Simon’s death.
The bright spot in Frankie’s life is the part-time job she falls into. She takes on a role as a mother’s helper. The little boy is also named Frankie, which amuses him to no end. Young Frankie is a handful. He loves living dangerously, climbing trees, diving into the deep end of the pool, swinging impossibly high on the playground swing set. He’s an energetic and smart little boy, and he looks exactly like Simon. He’s even the age Simon was when he died.
As if juggling all the drama of her best friend, her best friend’s lusted-after boyfriend, her father’s apparent affair, and the ever-present guilt about Simon’s death weren’t enough tsuris for one girl, Francesca begins to wonder if there isn’t some sort of connection between Frankie and Simon, something beyond her comprehension. As she investigates, her world becomes an Etch-a-Sketch, with clearly demarcated lines and forms, which disappear as her summer moves toward its ending, as if The Universe shakes it. Then new lines and forms appear, and Francesca’s world changes.
This book is totally addictive; I read it in one sitting. In Francesca—who narrates—Gae Polisner has created a young woman who can’t seem to catch a break. Circumstance torments her, and all she wants is normalcy in her life, the normalcy she used to have. She needs it in order that she can grieve properly, then let go of her guilt. She needs it now.
I also like that Ms. Polisner gave Francesca the surname “Schnell,� which means “quickly� in German. She’s suffered enough, and Francesca wants the status quo with her mother to change quickly. She wants her grief to resolve itself quickly. She wants a boyfriend quickly. She wants answers to difficult questions quickly.
And by the book’s end, things do change. The ending isn’t necessarily what I expected or wanted, but by damn, it’s the ending that fits. The malleability of the human soul—and the innocent spark of a little kid—bring that ending to fruition. “The Summer of Letting Go� is the perfect title for this book. It’s a gem, filled with the mixed emotions we all feel: joy and pain, hope and despair, all contrapuntal, and the relief we feel when we let go the negative. Francesca finds her place on The Universe’s Etch-a-Sketch. Here’s hoping we all do, as well.
Most Highly Recommended
October 12, 2013
Hands down the best book I've read this year! <3
November 11, 2013
Full review to come closer to pub date :)
November 30, 2013
This is a sweet and wonderful book. Full review to come closer to the release date.
June 6, 2022
*2.5 stars
Okay, so partially, I feel like it's my own fault for picking up this book without really reading the synopsis. Chances are pretty good I would have steered clear if I'd actually read it.
The majority of this book was Frankie wanting to kiss her best friend's boyfriend, telling herself she shouldn't, and then doing it anyway. Which just... isn't fun to read about, in my opinion. I did enjoy the parts of the story involving Frankie Sky, but I'm not generally a fan of "reincarnation" type plots anyway so...
Also, I am so. tired. of secular books' portrayals of pastor's kids. Like, sure, I know I'm not necessarily in the majority as someone who grew up with a pastor for a father and still loves Jesus. But it's just tiring to read over and over again, you know?
So yeah, overall, just not for me. Which is fine, just disappointing. I will say there was one conversation that did make me tear up, and the discussions of grief were great. But just... no. Not for me.
Okay, so partially, I feel like it's my own fault for picking up this book without really reading the synopsis. Chances are pretty good I would have steered clear if I'd actually read it.
The majority of this book was Frankie wanting to kiss her best friend's boyfriend, telling herself she shouldn't, and then doing it anyway. Which just... isn't fun to read about, in my opinion. I did enjoy the parts of the story involving Frankie Sky, but I'm not generally a fan of "reincarnation" type plots anyway so...
Also, I am so. tired. of secular books' portrayals of pastor's kids. Like, sure, I know I'm not necessarily in the majority as someone who grew up with a pastor for a father and still loves Jesus. But it's just tiring to read over and over again, you know?
So yeah, overall, just not for me. Which is fine, just disappointing. I will say there was one conversation that did make me tear up, and the discussions of grief were great. But just... no. Not for me.
October 28, 2013
This is what I think might have happened after . Lordy, do you now how hard I cried after that one? Still, this was like that but less sharp because it is “the after� we’re made to deal with: how her mother for all intents is absent; how her father maybe, might be, could be not the guy she wants (needs) him to be. And how maybe, might be, likely she’s less in her own estimation as well. So things are sad and heavy, but not completely because we know it’s all going on and being felt� it’s all just left unsaid.
There’s one aspect in this that I would have loved a bit more of: her finding that unexpected connection. Lo! It’s not the romantic one that propels her out of her rut to face what’s become of her familial unit. Anyway, it is through that connection that the odd, yet sweet, comes in to play. There’s a boy, see? But it’s fact that there WAS as a boy in their past that makes the current one stand out all the more. Simon’s memory drives her forward while keeping her family rooted so that there’s a growing gap between her and the rest of them with her trying to piece the possibilities together of who Frankie could beâ€� at the same time grappling with the realities of who her parents ·É±ð°ù±ð²Ô’t.
If those things weren’t enough (and I think this is where my problems with SoLG began... because those two things up there? Well, they’re enough, believe me,) we have this side story of our lead girl as best friend but pining after her bestie’s boyfriend. So, there is in fact a Boy. See? The typical drama of ‘will I ever� and ‘why not me� run their course here making her head space all the more complicated yet not one ounce more interesting because let’s face it� it’s drama that we’ve all seen before. Except if I’m being honest, there’s one actual moment in this side of the story that had me feeling Polisner’s words. It’s that bit on growing up then apart; wanting and not wanting it simultaneously. There’s truthin how it was said, and it had me sad-sighing:
There’s one aspect in this that I would have loved a bit more of: her finding that unexpected connection. Lo! It’s not the romantic one that propels her out of her rut to face what’s become of her familial unit. Anyway, it is through that connection that the odd, yet sweet, comes in to play. There’s a boy, see? But it’s fact that there WAS as a boy in their past that makes the current one stand out all the more. Simon’s memory drives her forward while keeping her family rooted so that there’s a growing gap between her and the rest of them with her trying to piece the possibilities together of who Frankie could beâ€� at the same time grappling with the realities of who her parents ·É±ð°ù±ð²Ô’t.
If those things weren’t enough (and I think this is where my problems with SoLG began... because those two things up there? Well, they’re enough, believe me,) we have this side story of our lead girl as best friend but pining after her bestie’s boyfriend. So, there is in fact a Boy. See? The typical drama of ‘will I ever� and ‘why not me� run their course here making her head space all the more complicated yet not one ounce more interesting because let’s face it� it’s drama that we’ve all seen before. Except if I’m being honest, there’s one actual moment in this side of the story that had me feeling Polisner’s words. It’s that bit on growing up then apart; wanting and not wanting it simultaneously. There’s truthin how it was said, and it had me sad-sighing:
“I miss us. I know I was just at her house, but were not quite us anymore. Something is off between us. There’s a crack turning into a chasm. It keeps stretching wider and wider.�
January 30, 2014
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Algonquin Book and Edelweiss.)
15-year-old Francesca/Frankie still feels guilty over the fact that she was supposed to be watching her brother when he got swept out to see and drowned. When she meets a little boy at the swimming pool who looks just like her dead brother, and was even born the day that Simon died, she begins to wonder if this little boy (also called Frankie) is the reincarnation of Simon.
But does Frankie even believe in reincarnation? And is it really a good idea to start looking after Frankie, after her negligence caused her younger brother’s death?
This was an okay story about a girl searching for peace and acceptance after her younger brother’s death.
Frankie was an okay character, although I was surprised that she took on a job looking after a child when she was the one looking after her little brother when he drowned. I was even more surprised though when it seemed that she hadn’t learned her lesson, and didn’t watch Frankie properly at the swimming pool!
The storyline was okay, but I did get bored at points. I was also quite surprised at the direction the storyline took with regards to reincarnation! There were a couple of other things going on, but the thing with Simon and Frankie was the main storyline.
There was some romance, but not a lot, and we did get a bit of a love triangle going on. I wasn’t 100% impressed with the way this romance progressed, crushing on your best friend’s boyfriend is one thing, but acting on it is certainly another!
The ending was okay, but I just didn’t really love this book.
Overall; okay YA contemporary,
6 out of 10.
15-year-old Francesca/Frankie still feels guilty over the fact that she was supposed to be watching her brother when he got swept out to see and drowned. When she meets a little boy at the swimming pool who looks just like her dead brother, and was even born the day that Simon died, she begins to wonder if this little boy (also called Frankie) is the reincarnation of Simon.
But does Frankie even believe in reincarnation? And is it really a good idea to start looking after Frankie, after her negligence caused her younger brother’s death?
This was an okay story about a girl searching for peace and acceptance after her younger brother’s death.
Frankie was an okay character, although I was surprised that she took on a job looking after a child when she was the one looking after her little brother when he drowned. I was even more surprised though when it seemed that she hadn’t learned her lesson, and didn’t watch Frankie properly at the swimming pool!
The storyline was okay, but I did get bored at points. I was also quite surprised at the direction the storyline took with regards to reincarnation! There were a couple of other things going on, but the thing with Simon and Frankie was the main storyline.
There was some romance, but not a lot, and we did get a bit of a love triangle going on. I wasn’t 100% impressed with the way this romance progressed, crushing on your best friend’s boyfriend is one thing, but acting on it is certainly another!
The ending was okay, but I just didn’t really love this book.
Overall; okay YA contemporary,
6 out of 10.
April 10, 2014
One of the things that most parents lay awake at night fearing, is that inevitable moment when your child will face the kind of loss that could break even an adult. You hope, of course, that your child never has to face those kinds of things.
I can remember the first time I realized that my dad's two younger brothers had died in a car crash when he was sixteen. My dad was speaking about it to a large group of people and broke down in tears. I was sixteen, myself, at the time, and I can remember thinking, "wow, he's still really broken up about it. Hasn't he, like, dealt yet?"
Of course, some things are very hard to deal with. So I approached this book with a fair amount of trepidation- both because as a parent, I resist the idea of children suffering, and because watching my own father deal with his childhood suffering, I still feel a bit of woundedness for his sake. (I learned to feel wounded once I got over being a self-involved brat of a teen- something that is very hard to do.)
The Summer of Letting Go starts several summers after the protagonist, Frankie (sometimes known as "beans") loses her brother to drowning. Frankie is still dealing with a lot of heaviness that she doesn't know how to carry, but when she finds herself wanting to be strong for a young boy who seems like the shadow of her brother, she learns that she is far more capable than she'd allowed herself to believe.
It's a story about love, about loss, about fear and uncertainty, but most of all about letting go of pain enough to hold on to faith. I don't want to write too much more because I would hate to spoil the simple beauty of it. Suffice it to say I found myself holding my breath with Frankie many times, I found my heart absolutely broken in the most piercing and lovely ways, and at the end of the book I felt the pounding of hope in my chest and it was such a delicious relief.
Throughout the book there is this line, "even the ocean cannot drown our souls." I have a tattoo of the Latin word for "mercy" on my back, but I'm tempted to add that line to it.
So poignant, beautiful, understated and absolutely moving.
Highly recommended.
I can remember the first time I realized that my dad's two younger brothers had died in a car crash when he was sixteen. My dad was speaking about it to a large group of people and broke down in tears. I was sixteen, myself, at the time, and I can remember thinking, "wow, he's still really broken up about it. Hasn't he, like, dealt yet?"
Of course, some things are very hard to deal with. So I approached this book with a fair amount of trepidation- both because as a parent, I resist the idea of children suffering, and because watching my own father deal with his childhood suffering, I still feel a bit of woundedness for his sake. (I learned to feel wounded once I got over being a self-involved brat of a teen- something that is very hard to do.)
The Summer of Letting Go starts several summers after the protagonist, Frankie (sometimes known as "beans") loses her brother to drowning. Frankie is still dealing with a lot of heaviness that she doesn't know how to carry, but when she finds herself wanting to be strong for a young boy who seems like the shadow of her brother, she learns that she is far more capable than she'd allowed herself to believe.
It's a story about love, about loss, about fear and uncertainty, but most of all about letting go of pain enough to hold on to faith. I don't want to write too much more because I would hate to spoil the simple beauty of it. Suffice it to say I found myself holding my breath with Frankie many times, I found my heart absolutely broken in the most piercing and lovely ways, and at the end of the book I felt the pounding of hope in my chest and it was such a delicious relief.
Throughout the book there is this line, "even the ocean cannot drown our souls." I have a tattoo of the Latin word for "mercy" on my back, but I'm tempted to add that line to it.
So poignant, beautiful, understated and absolutely moving.
Highly recommended.
Read
November 20, 2013It's been four years since Francesca's little brother Simon drowned. It was an afternoon at the beach when the tragedy changed her family's world. The guilt Francesca feels has changed her relationship with her mother and changed her normally outgoing personality.
With summer beginning Francesca knows her friend Lisette will be expecting her to hang out, but Francesca knows things will be uncomfortable since she has a secret crush on Lisette's boy friend. To complicate matters, Francesca is fairly certain that her father is having an affair with a woman who lives across the street. She knows that following the death of her brother, her father's affair is the last thing her fragile mother needs.
One afternoon Francesca follows the neighbor woman to the local country club sure that her father is planning to meet the woman there. She doesn't see her father, but she does meet a little four year old boy named Frankie. To her surprise, several days later, she has a job as a mother's helper watching over the active young boy.
As the summer passes, Frankie and Francesca become inseparable. Frankie's behavior and often random comments seem so much like Francesca's little brother that she begins to believe he may be the reincarnation of Simon. When her feelings about Frankie collide with family and friend problems, Francesca has more than she can handle. Can she deal with the powerful emotions that threaten to overwhelm her or will this confusing summer end up helping her put her life back together?
Author Gae Polisner explores love and loss and the reality that life goes on. THE SUMMER OF LETTING GO is the inspirational story of one girl's attempt to make sense of heartbreaking tragedy. Be sure to watch for its release in March of 2014.
With summer beginning Francesca knows her friend Lisette will be expecting her to hang out, but Francesca knows things will be uncomfortable since she has a secret crush on Lisette's boy friend. To complicate matters, Francesca is fairly certain that her father is having an affair with a woman who lives across the street. She knows that following the death of her brother, her father's affair is the last thing her fragile mother needs.
One afternoon Francesca follows the neighbor woman to the local country club sure that her father is planning to meet the woman there. She doesn't see her father, but she does meet a little four year old boy named Frankie. To her surprise, several days later, she has a job as a mother's helper watching over the active young boy.
As the summer passes, Frankie and Francesca become inseparable. Frankie's behavior and often random comments seem so much like Francesca's little brother that she begins to believe he may be the reincarnation of Simon. When her feelings about Frankie collide with family and friend problems, Francesca has more than she can handle. Can she deal with the powerful emotions that threaten to overwhelm her or will this confusing summer end up helping her put her life back together?
Author Gae Polisner explores love and loss and the reality that life goes on. THE SUMMER OF LETTING GO is the inspirational story of one girl's attempt to make sense of heartbreaking tragedy. Be sure to watch for its release in March of 2014.
April 28, 2016
I have read this book more than once and have enjoyed it more each time I get to meet these characters again. Frankie Schnell is finishing up her exams and preparing for summer. She is harboring a serious crush on her best friend's boyfriend and is also struggling with guilt over her brother's death. This story offers readers a glimpse into life after loss, how relationships shift, and how we can, hopefully, move forward.
Polisner gets so much right here. I was really impressed with the authentic voice she was able to create for a young boy named Frankie Sky. The narrative voice of the protagonist was also well crafted. This is a novel that all my 7th grade readers love reading each year.
Polisner gets so much right here. I was really impressed with the authentic voice she was able to create for a young boy named Frankie Sky. The narrative voice of the protagonist was also well crafted. This is a novel that all my 7th grade readers love reading each year.
Want to read
November 4, 2013I would put this on the "want to read" shelf, but I don't know if I could read something like this and ever stop crying.
December 5, 2013
Great for a light read. I would recommend it to any teenage girl.
January 6, 2024
I reread this book almost every summer! love love the story
May 23, 2014
Beautifully written. I love the supporting characters -- who could not love Frankie Sky -- and all of main character Frankie's thoughts.
Review originally posted on
I told myself I needed to take a break from books about grief and then I started The Summer of Letting Go and could not let it go. Immediately I felt for Francesca, aka Frankie, aka Beans, who is still distraught over the death of her baby brother four years ago. She believes it’s her fault that he drowned in the ocean, and her mom’s incredible coldness toward her solidifies that her belief is the truth. With her dad secretly cavorting with their neighbor, Frankie’s family is falling apart and she doesn’t know how to fix it. She loves her dad and wants to believe her accusations are false so she follows their neighbor to the country club where an unexpected little fellow pops into her life � Frankie Sky � an adorable 4-year old who is so strikingly like her little brother that it takes Frankie some time to recover.
It seems that our Frankie has also struck a chord with Frankie Sky because he wants her to be his baby-sitter for the summer; this works out in the best interest of many people. Our Frankie needs to be kept occupied while her best friend, Lizette, is constantly spending time with her boyfriend and Frankie Sky’s mom has been stunted by her own grief and is not always entirely capable of taking care of her son.
There’s a lot of heavy sadness in The Summer of Letting Go, for sure, but bright lights like Frankie’s personality, enthusiasm for life, and his fitting dialogue paired with this anchor created by Frankie and Lizette’s friendship let so much hope into the story that I could not put it down. Even as Frankie went over and over again in her head the possibility of Frankie Sky being a reincarnation of her brother, as unbelievable as that was, I felt myself working through it alongside her as she was finally allowing herself come to terms with this tragic event that broke her family four years before. At 16 years old, she was making an active decision to be happy and move forward and live her life. This could not be easy for anyone to do, especially after watching her parents struggle in different ways as well.
The Summer of Letting Go is about those little miracles in our lives � sometimes a period of time, or in this case a person � who open our eyes to the past and also (maybe without them knowing) nudge us toward the future. Frankie Sky was that person for Frankie and I loved watching as their friendship grew over the summer. How protective she was of him, but at the same time how Frankie Sky helped Frankie to let go a bit and have faith in people, in nature, and in life.
I have to mention the incredible best friendship between Frankie and Lizette as well. It’s not easy when you want your best friend’s boyfriend, and it’s especially difficult when you feel like your best friend is everything you aren’t. It’s an interesting summer for the two of them because they don’t spend a lot of time together throughout the story, but for Frankie, Lizette is on her mind a lot. So many changes are already blossoming between them and I admired the loyalty and devotion these two had for one another. Even when things got tough and situations got messy and Frankie’s grief drove her to a lonely place, Lizette was there. Their differences never drove them from one another, but they also didn’t push and knew the importance of space.
There hasn’t been a book that broke my heart and put it back together quite like this one has. The Summer of Letting Go is so much about confronting truths from the past (even when they are uncomfortable) and finding the strength to heal. It’s about those small moments and people who come into our lives and turn everything upside down, teaching us more about ourselves then we ever could have thought. It’s about remembering those warm summer days at the beach with your best friend, the speed of your heart racing when the boy of your dreams looks your way, and making your home a safe and welcoming place once again.
Review originally posted on
I told myself I needed to take a break from books about grief and then I started The Summer of Letting Go and could not let it go. Immediately I felt for Francesca, aka Frankie, aka Beans, who is still distraught over the death of her baby brother four years ago. She believes it’s her fault that he drowned in the ocean, and her mom’s incredible coldness toward her solidifies that her belief is the truth. With her dad secretly cavorting with their neighbor, Frankie’s family is falling apart and she doesn’t know how to fix it. She loves her dad and wants to believe her accusations are false so she follows their neighbor to the country club where an unexpected little fellow pops into her life � Frankie Sky � an adorable 4-year old who is so strikingly like her little brother that it takes Frankie some time to recover.
It seems that our Frankie has also struck a chord with Frankie Sky because he wants her to be his baby-sitter for the summer; this works out in the best interest of many people. Our Frankie needs to be kept occupied while her best friend, Lizette, is constantly spending time with her boyfriend and Frankie Sky’s mom has been stunted by her own grief and is not always entirely capable of taking care of her son.
There’s a lot of heavy sadness in The Summer of Letting Go, for sure, but bright lights like Frankie’s personality, enthusiasm for life, and his fitting dialogue paired with this anchor created by Frankie and Lizette’s friendship let so much hope into the story that I could not put it down. Even as Frankie went over and over again in her head the possibility of Frankie Sky being a reincarnation of her brother, as unbelievable as that was, I felt myself working through it alongside her as she was finally allowing herself come to terms with this tragic event that broke her family four years before. At 16 years old, she was making an active decision to be happy and move forward and live her life. This could not be easy for anyone to do, especially after watching her parents struggle in different ways as well.
The Summer of Letting Go is about those little miracles in our lives � sometimes a period of time, or in this case a person � who open our eyes to the past and also (maybe without them knowing) nudge us toward the future. Frankie Sky was that person for Frankie and I loved watching as their friendship grew over the summer. How protective she was of him, but at the same time how Frankie Sky helped Frankie to let go a bit and have faith in people, in nature, and in life.
I have to mention the incredible best friendship between Frankie and Lizette as well. It’s not easy when you want your best friend’s boyfriend, and it’s especially difficult when you feel like your best friend is everything you aren’t. It’s an interesting summer for the two of them because they don’t spend a lot of time together throughout the story, but for Frankie, Lizette is on her mind a lot. So many changes are already blossoming between them and I admired the loyalty and devotion these two had for one another. Even when things got tough and situations got messy and Frankie’s grief drove her to a lonely place, Lizette was there. Their differences never drove them from one another, but they also didn’t push and knew the importance of space.
There hasn’t been a book that broke my heart and put it back together quite like this one has. The Summer of Letting Go is so much about confronting truths from the past (even when they are uncomfortable) and finding the strength to heal. It’s about those small moments and people who come into our lives and turn everything upside down, teaching us more about ourselves then we ever could have thought. It’s about remembering those warm summer days at the beach with your best friend, the speed of your heart racing when the boy of your dreams looks your way, and making your home a safe and welcoming place once again.
April 15, 2015
This book is an eye opener. I recently lost my father about four months ago. The concept of "Transmigration" in this novel becomes an obsession for Frankie. It distracts from everyday life and allows her to throw all of her energy into finding out whether or not it is truly possible that when her baby brother, Simon, drowned one day at the beach under her watch, his soul was transferred to the little boy Frankie Sky who Francesca begins to look after the summer before her junior year. Aside from being well written, heartbreaking at points(I won't include any spoilers for those who want to read or are still finishing the book), but I will say that Francesca's friendship as well as bond with this little guy Frankie Sky is one of a kind. Frankie Sky loves frogs as her brother Simon did, he's reckless and loves to dive into the pool at the country club Franchesca frequents the days she babysits Frankie Sky, his way of speaking cracked me up a couple of times and made me say "Aww" far too often. I love the author's descriptions of things. From a neighbor who depicts Angelina Jolie and is fooling around with Francesca's dad to what I pictured as the shimmering gold curls and bright blue eyes of Frankie Sky... the only thing I have disliked so far is Francesca's naivete. She has an unusual interest in her best friend Lissette's boyfriend Bradley, she's curious and spies on her neighbor Mrs. Merrill all the time because she is desperate to catch her father and Mrs. M in the act-but it's like she could totally just confront her dad and Mrs. Merrill if she's that concerned about it- also to me, Lissette may show some signs of being a really good friend, but for the duration of the book so far she's kind of nonexistent and always with her boyfriend. To me, all I see Lissette representing is a girl with a pretty face who has a hot boyfriend. I didn't get much personality from her, she was like a cardboard cut out of the utlimate girl next door type. Also I love Mrs. Sky, she's got a lot of depth. I like Frankie as a protagonist, I think she's got a great imagination, but she's far too concerned with inane things that don't really affect her. You know, she's got to stop comparing herself to other people, speak her mind more often, refrain from blaming herself for the death of her little brother(she shouldn't have left him alone, yeah but it was an accident). Anyway, you guys should read this book. Sorry that my review isn't really well written. It's kind of half assed because I didn't finish the book yet, but I am halfway there. :) Enjoy!
March 22, 2014
The Summer of Letting Go by Gae Polisner - Realistic Fiction, Middle School/High School � Anticipate!!: Book Released: March 18, 2014 � This is a beautiful book where you face a world of guilt through the eyes of a teenager, Francesca, whose little brother drowned. Her family was devastated a few years after his death and desperately in need of something to help one another heal� Through a little love, humor, caring, coincidence, and some curious situations, Francesca brings you through quite the beautiful life experience as she learns to forgive herself and let go.
Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ Summary: “Still reeling from her little brother’s drowning death, a girl finds her herself holding back â€� from summer trips to the ocean, friendship, budding romance â€� till she meets another young boy who may be her brother’s reincarnation, which awakens her to new possibilities.â€�
Thoughts on this beautiful book with a vocabulary book teaser list:
My lovely reader friends who have the future opportunity to read this powerful book, please locate and find the powerful connections to these words within The Summer of Letting Go:
1. Pelican
2. Reincarnation
3. Research
4. Connections
5. Transmigration
6. Nicknames
7. History
8. Gods
9. Christmas Island
10. Sand dollar
I adored how Gae incorporated Frog and Toad by Arnold Lobel into the story, really found it was a special connection. She additionally tugged at my heart touching on topics of alcoholism, neglect, and good intentions.
Books I’d partner with this book: See you at Harry’s by Jo Knowles and Emerald Star by Jacqueline Wilson.
Quotes that I loved:
“…could I forgive myself, just a little…�
“� it’s hard to be with Frankie because it hurts too much to think about being without him.�
“One single yew tree can give birth to so many new trees that the seed of that first tree may span all of time and history…�
Finally, a side note:
I blame Gae Polisner and her inquisitive, knowledgeable nature for leading me to a disgusting fact finding mission after reading part of the book, I never wanted to know about crazy killer ants, but boy do I know more now�
Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ Summary: “Still reeling from her little brother’s drowning death, a girl finds her herself holding back â€� from summer trips to the ocean, friendship, budding romance â€� till she meets another young boy who may be her brother’s reincarnation, which awakens her to new possibilities.â€�
Thoughts on this beautiful book with a vocabulary book teaser list:
My lovely reader friends who have the future opportunity to read this powerful book, please locate and find the powerful connections to these words within The Summer of Letting Go:
1. Pelican
2. Reincarnation
3. Research
4. Connections
5. Transmigration
6. Nicknames
7. History
8. Gods
9. Christmas Island
10. Sand dollar
I adored how Gae incorporated Frog and Toad by Arnold Lobel into the story, really found it was a special connection. She additionally tugged at my heart touching on topics of alcoholism, neglect, and good intentions.
Books I’d partner with this book: See you at Harry’s by Jo Knowles and Emerald Star by Jacqueline Wilson.
Quotes that I loved:
“…could I forgive myself, just a little…�
“� it’s hard to be with Frankie because it hurts too much to think about being without him.�
“One single yew tree can give birth to so many new trees that the seed of that first tree may span all of time and history…�
Finally, a side note:
I blame Gae Polisner and her inquisitive, knowledgeable nature for leading me to a disgusting fact finding mission after reading part of the book, I never wanted to know about crazy killer ants, but boy do I know more now�
December 29, 2013
Francesca’s life is complicated. She has a crush on her best friend’s boyfriend. She blames herself for the drowning of her younger brother, and her father may be having an affair with their neighbor. Gae Polisner’s excellent story-telling gives us what starts off seeming to be a breezy, summer-at-the-beach romance, but turns out to be a heartfelt exploration of how to recognize what lasts forever and how to let go of the things that cannot be kept. Every character in The Summer of Letting Go is authentic, and while some of the coincidences are at first hard to accept, that turns out to be the point—we cannot always make rationale sense out of the surprises that life gives us, but we can respond to the surprises with compassion for everyone involved, including ourselves.
October 7, 2015
Forgot for a moment that I had read this book. It wasn't bad, but I didn't find it overly memorable.
Sad story of a family trying to come to terms and deal with the accidental death of the son. The book takes place a few years later as you see the family disintegrating as each surviving member tries to cope on their own.
Decent ending that at the time I read it felt realistic.
I may have blocked the book out due to the subject matter. I'm not a fan of stories with young children dying.
Not a bad book, but not quite a good fit for me.
Sad story of a family trying to come to terms and deal with the accidental death of the son. The book takes place a few years later as you see the family disintegrating as each surviving member tries to cope on their own.
Decent ending that at the time I read it felt realistic.
I may have blocked the book out due to the subject matter. I'm not a fan of stories with young children dying.
Not a bad book, but not quite a good fit for me.
August 11, 2015
This book was extremely interesting and the way the author has made the characters was very very hooking! the story line was also great! i would recommend this book to almost anyone who likes a bit of mystery with drama :)
October 28, 2015
The Summer of Letting Go is a wonderful book. One of the best books I have ever read.
Read
December 30, 2015Abandoned this book because it wasn't as interesting as I hoped. I was sort of weirded out by the whole 'reincarnation' thing.
May 24, 2016
4.5 Stars
May 12, 2014
beautiful. just... beautiful. That is all i'm going to say as I try to order my thoughts coherently. because I'm pretty sure you'll like this review better if they're coherent.
Let me just start by saying this: I should not read books that invoke cases of the feels (which is pretty much all of them) out in public. I may like all the warm gooey/sad feelings that books bring out. People in public may not appreciate my random laughter that a book can bring if they don't understand the book.
But the book itself. Here's what hit home hardest (and it surprisingly wasn't the amount of guilt Frankie felt for her brother's death): it was the fact that her mother was no longer a proper mother to her. I don't know if it's because I read this book on mother's day, or because I don't know what I'd do if my mother suddenly wasn't the mom I know and love, but it just hit home. Their relationship, or lack thereof, just made me want to cry.
Their relationship can basically be described like this: "I don't know the last time I went out like this for hours on end. Maybe she trusts Lisette and Alex, or maybe these are freedoms that come from being almost sixteen. Or maybe she doesn't care where I am" ... I mean. A teenager should not be feeling that way about parents. And she feels that way. repeatedly. Hence, the feels and cases of heart breaking come in.
So, let's face it. Frankie's mom isn't paying attention. Her dad isn't, either. She can get away with practically anything. and pretty much does (not that she does anything horrible, mind you). She just has all this free reign with her life, and she uses it wisely for a teen.
She's a great friend, for the most part. and she worries about it. a lot. Along with being worried about parents, she's worried about how great a friend she is or someday will be. that is just awesomesauce.
Then there's Brook. I kind of felt that she was the adult version acting out whatever Frankie was internalizing, only for different reasons. Maybe that's just me? Anyways. The two of them together helped the other heal. Brook accepted Frankie for who she, and Frankie helped Brook move forward. That was neat watching the two of them move forward together.
It was also cool watching Frankie come out of her shell. Ever watch the movie sleepover? Kind of like that, only more and louder. I only wish that this book can be turned into a movie so I can watch that long yelling tirade Frankie gives to her mother towards the end about everything. seriously.
Lastly, I will briefly mention that I didn't entirely want the relationship between Frankie and who she ends up with to happen. I deff WAS NOT A FAN of how it went down. I kind of wanted her with Peter at first, hoping she'd realize how foolish her crush was on Bradley. Yeah, that changed. still not a fan of how it went down. But that's just my opinion.
And goodness. I could just keep going on and on and on. I really really want to. There's just so much to say. So, I will leave some quotes that I liked, because man. This book had plenty of them.
"I'm not sure I wanted to kill myself exactly. All I knew is that I wanted to be gone. To be invisible, to slip away. I wanted to feel the opposite of how I felt, which was solid and weighted and frozen. I felt my own inescapable presence in every breath, every step, which seemed totally cruel and unfair"
"Most of the time we're giggling, but partly I'm secretly overcome with this terrible sense of loss, this thought that Lisette is ending things and moving on without my permission"
"But one thing that my parents had done, and done well, was protect me from the world knowing that I was the one responsible. In that one way, my mother had looked out for me and spared me public shame. She may hate me, but she doesn't want other people to."
"I want all of it so bad. To be kissed by a boy. And touched. To feel whatever Bradley makes Lisette feel. To be wanted. I want that more than anything" --- this takes some explaining, I guess. This struck home mostly because in my teenage years, I didn't go chasing after guys. I had better things to do like make it out of high school alive. But now that I'm a bit older, there are just some days where I feel like this.
"How awesome would it be to be a bird and just fly away." --- This also takes some explaining. There is no question mark, so it left me wondering if she already knew how awesome it would be to be a bird, or if she was actually questioning her thoughts.
"But somehow, Mrs. Schyler seems different from my mother. Like she has the same dark moments my mother has, but around them she's cheerful and light. As opposed to my mother, who seems like she has no memory of how to be light"
"I think of my mother coming in here every week to vacuum and to wipe off all of Simon's old things, and it makes me sad. It makes me feel sorry for her. Who is she keeping it clean for? It's not as if Simon is ever coming back. I wish she's raze the room, empty his things, turn it into something new and cheerful and productive."
"And I can see it now clearly, how happy Lisette is, and how sad I am, even when I think I'm celebrating. I stare at the girl on the screen. At me. I'm not Lisette, not blond and curvy and carefree. But I'm not bad: maybe even I'm pretty. But my eyes are so very sad"
"I don't know who I am. Or maybe I do know and I just can't take the truth: that I am no longer just the girl who let her baby brother die. I'm moving on, even if it means moving on to being someone bold and fearless and wrong, who sneaks into places and steals other people's boyfriends. And if I'm perfectly honest with myself, I'd rather be that. Let me like and thieve and screw up until I rot away in hell, but just don't let me no one, nothing, except that other girl. Because that other girl, the sad-eyed one staring back from the photograph on my computer, I don't want to be her anymore" --- it's like that one line from One Tree Hill where one of the characters says "How many moments can you look back and say, that's when it all changed?" ... well, this was Frankie's.
"Life is hard, Francesca; you of all people know that. It's full of tragedies. Some big, some small. People hurt, they get lonely, they make mistakes. Even grown people. That's not an excuse, I'm just telling you how it is. I'm not saying it makes it okay. Understand that. I'm not making excuses for anyone"
"It's hard, I know, but you try anyways, Francesca, you promise me? You keep on trying the best you can. And you know what? Sometimes life surprises you and rewards you for it more than you know. You never actually know what life will bring"
"But it doesn't matter how much you tell me if I don't believe it myself" --- Frankie to Lisette on beauty.
... and end my beautiful review of this book.
Let me just start by saying this: I should not read books that invoke cases of the feels (which is pretty much all of them) out in public. I may like all the warm gooey/sad feelings that books bring out. People in public may not appreciate my random laughter that a book can bring if they don't understand the book.
But the book itself. Here's what hit home hardest (and it surprisingly wasn't the amount of guilt Frankie felt for her brother's death): it was the fact that her mother was no longer a proper mother to her. I don't know if it's because I read this book on mother's day, or because I don't know what I'd do if my mother suddenly wasn't the mom I know and love, but it just hit home. Their relationship, or lack thereof, just made me want to cry.
Their relationship can basically be described like this: "I don't know the last time I went out like this for hours on end. Maybe she trusts Lisette and Alex, or maybe these are freedoms that come from being almost sixteen. Or maybe she doesn't care where I am" ... I mean. A teenager should not be feeling that way about parents. And she feels that way. repeatedly. Hence, the feels and cases of heart breaking come in.
So, let's face it. Frankie's mom isn't paying attention. Her dad isn't, either. She can get away with practically anything. and pretty much does (not that she does anything horrible, mind you). She just has all this free reign with her life, and she uses it wisely for a teen.
She's a great friend, for the most part. and she worries about it. a lot. Along with being worried about parents, she's worried about how great a friend she is or someday will be. that is just awesomesauce.
Then there's Brook. I kind of felt that she was the adult version acting out whatever Frankie was internalizing, only for different reasons. Maybe that's just me? Anyways. The two of them together helped the other heal. Brook accepted Frankie for who she, and Frankie helped Brook move forward. That was neat watching the two of them move forward together.
It was also cool watching Frankie come out of her shell. Ever watch the movie sleepover? Kind of like that, only more and louder. I only wish that this book can be turned into a movie so I can watch that long yelling tirade Frankie gives to her mother towards the end about everything. seriously.
Lastly, I will briefly mention that I didn't entirely want the relationship between Frankie and who she ends up with to happen. I deff WAS NOT A FAN of how it went down. I kind of wanted her with Peter at first, hoping she'd realize how foolish her crush was on Bradley. Yeah, that changed. still not a fan of how it went down. But that's just my opinion.
And goodness. I could just keep going on and on and on. I really really want to. There's just so much to say. So, I will leave some quotes that I liked, because man. This book had plenty of them.
"I'm not sure I wanted to kill myself exactly. All I knew is that I wanted to be gone. To be invisible, to slip away. I wanted to feel the opposite of how I felt, which was solid and weighted and frozen. I felt my own inescapable presence in every breath, every step, which seemed totally cruel and unfair"
"Most of the time we're giggling, but partly I'm secretly overcome with this terrible sense of loss, this thought that Lisette is ending things and moving on without my permission"
"But one thing that my parents had done, and done well, was protect me from the world knowing that I was the one responsible. In that one way, my mother had looked out for me and spared me public shame. She may hate me, but she doesn't want other people to."
"I want all of it so bad. To be kissed by a boy. And touched. To feel whatever Bradley makes Lisette feel. To be wanted. I want that more than anything" --- this takes some explaining, I guess. This struck home mostly because in my teenage years, I didn't go chasing after guys. I had better things to do like make it out of high school alive. But now that I'm a bit older, there are just some days where I feel like this.
"How awesome would it be to be a bird and just fly away." --- This also takes some explaining. There is no question mark, so it left me wondering if she already knew how awesome it would be to be a bird, or if she was actually questioning her thoughts.
"But somehow, Mrs. Schyler seems different from my mother. Like she has the same dark moments my mother has, but around them she's cheerful and light. As opposed to my mother, who seems like she has no memory of how to be light"
"I think of my mother coming in here every week to vacuum and to wipe off all of Simon's old things, and it makes me sad. It makes me feel sorry for her. Who is she keeping it clean for? It's not as if Simon is ever coming back. I wish she's raze the room, empty his things, turn it into something new and cheerful and productive."
"And I can see it now clearly, how happy Lisette is, and how sad I am, even when I think I'm celebrating. I stare at the girl on the screen. At me. I'm not Lisette, not blond and curvy and carefree. But I'm not bad: maybe even I'm pretty. But my eyes are so very sad"
"I don't know who I am. Or maybe I do know and I just can't take the truth: that I am no longer just the girl who let her baby brother die. I'm moving on, even if it means moving on to being someone bold and fearless and wrong, who sneaks into places and steals other people's boyfriends. And if I'm perfectly honest with myself, I'd rather be that. Let me like and thieve and screw up until I rot away in hell, but just don't let me no one, nothing, except that other girl. Because that other girl, the sad-eyed one staring back from the photograph on my computer, I don't want to be her anymore" --- it's like that one line from One Tree Hill where one of the characters says "How many moments can you look back and say, that's when it all changed?" ... well, this was Frankie's.
"Life is hard, Francesca; you of all people know that. It's full of tragedies. Some big, some small. People hurt, they get lonely, they make mistakes. Even grown people. That's not an excuse, I'm just telling you how it is. I'm not saying it makes it okay. Understand that. I'm not making excuses for anyone"
"It's hard, I know, but you try anyways, Francesca, you promise me? You keep on trying the best you can. And you know what? Sometimes life surprises you and rewards you for it more than you know. You never actually know what life will bring"
"But it doesn't matter how much you tell me if I don't believe it myself" --- Frankie to Lisette on beauty.
... and end my beautiful review of this book.
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