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Lisa Graff has captured audiences with her storytelling in the past. A Tangle of Knots, Umbrella Summer and Absolutely Almost were on mock newbery lists in the past, but did not win a Newbery. Does Lost in the Sun have Newbery potential?

Is this thread spoiler free? I forget how to hide spoilers.

This was a very good book. I will definitely be reading this book aloud to my students this next coming year. I think it will help students that feel like they are a screw-up like Trent and how he overcomes the things he fears.

This book is a companion to Umbrella Summer. I didn't even realize it was a companion until I was reading it and recalled the death of Annie's brother sounding familiar. I loved Umbrella Summer. This book was good, but not as much as Umbrella Summer. While I was reading the book, I was thinking, "This is a good story" and I would keep reading, but it was also a book I wasn't dying to read while I was away from the book. Does that make sense?

Newbery?? Honors--possible. The award--probably not.

Czechgirl wrote: "This was a very good book. I will definitely be reading this book aloud to my students this next coming year. I think it will help students that feel like they are a screw-up like Trent and how he ..."

Now I have to read Umbrella Summer! I loved this book. It was the subtle way it worked on my heart strings. I didn't like Trent at all through the first half of the book but his struggle to like himself and to share what he was going through was beautifully done. I loved the book of thoughts and all of his internal dialogue. I really enjoyed seeing him grow and change and I found it realistic. I agree Honors, probably not award. I really enjoyed her books Tangle of Knots and Absolutely Almost too. I think she writes believable kid characters.

I really liked Lost in the Sun. There were so many connections for children to make and a variety of themes: divorce, coping with low self-esteem, sibling relationships, and friendship. While sometimes I did not like Trent, nor his father, their behaviors were not unusual for their circumstances. Graff has a way of writing that helps you really know her characters and I wanted the story to continue after the last page. Newbery? I think it is a strong contender. (I am not familiar with Umbrella Summer - that will be my next library search!)

Lisa Graff is always a little hit or miss for me. Last year was a hit as I really wanted to see her earn an Honor for Absolutely Almost. This year might be a miss. Like many here I struggled with the first half of the book, mostly because I found the main character so negative and off-putting. While Graff does a lot of work in the second half of the book to redeem Trent and others around him, I'm not sure it was worth it. A lot of young readers might not persevere through the book to get to the ending.
I won't be surprised to see a lot of buzz about this book and I may have to give it a second read closer to award time. Personally, though, it was not my favorite and I can't think of one kid or adult I would recommend it to. I have to wonder if some skillful editing would have helped Graff to portray Trent's situation a little differently and kept the book more engaging.

I just stumbled on this group and I have read many of the books you are reading. Including this title, which I just finished it on Saturday night. I will start off saying that I had high hopes for "Tangle of Knots" but did not enjoy it. I read it a few years ago so I can't really placed why I felt like that, but I remember being disappointed. I haven't read "Umbrella summer" yet, but I may, since I did enjoy this book.

I was surprised by how much I liked this book. I thought Trent was a believable, real character. I thought his struggle was realistic and I just wanted to reach out and hug him. I really liked the friendship between Trent and Fallon too.

What I didn't like was Trent's father. I thought his character wasn't very realistic. I didn't like how he was supposed to be this supportive father by having dinner with his boys, but didn't seem to understand what Trent was going through. I didn't understand the scene with Trent's stepmother having problem with him holding his baby sister.

I immediately put it down and thought, who can I recommend this book to? I will put it in the hands of kids who really enjoyed "Wonder".
Overall, a good solid book.

I just booktalked this one to a teacher friend and said exactly what Tiffany said about wanting to hug Trent. While he is not a character I liked in his behavior, I know this is reality when he was in the situation of feeling responsible for his friend's death, his parents being divorced, and a new sibling. I, too, disliked his father but know enough divorced parents (sadly) that there are many parents who think they do so great as divorced parents when in reality, they need to do a lot of self-reflection. I found it very realistic and so sad at times. But I agree, a great book to recommend to boys!

I loved this book. Trent was very unlikable at times. you really felt his pain. I can see this being a newbery contender. The only thing that might work against it is that it was such a downer. also I wanted to know the whole story behind Fallon's scar.

I agree! I want to know the story of her scar too. Maybe in the next book!

I liked it, but didn't love it. I don't see it as a Newbery contender. I thought Trent was realistic, but I didn't care for the supporting characters. The conflict in the book seemed to be fixed too quickly at the end given all the issues he was having throughout the book.

Tiffany wrote: What I didn't like was Trent's father. I thought his character wasn't very realistic. I didn't like how he was supposed to be this supportive father by having dinner with his boys, but didn't seem to understand what Trent was going through. I didn't understand the scene with Trent's stepmother having problem with him holding his baby sister.

I completely agree! I really like Trent and Fallon, but what-the-heck his dad is a jerk for no apparent reason. Him and some of the other supporting characters just weren't all that impressive. Overall, I like the book well enough, but it wouldn't be my top choice for Newbery.

I don't think the unlikability of Trent's father is necessarily a negative for the book. There are quite a few dads who are like that, especially when the divorce dynamic is present. He wants to be seen as a good father - regularly meeting with his boys - but he doesn't want to do the work of being a good father, i.e., he doesn't want to take the time to try to deal with the son who is experiencing PTSD. He wants the "quick dinner and now I can get back to my own life."

In addition, he probably doesn't have the personal resources to deal with his son's trauma. He is dealing with his own trauma - a broken marriage, a new wife and baby, increased financial obligations. Not everyone knows how to make it through these life experiences well.

I think Trent's father is very realistic. As a substitute teacher, I see glimpses of these types of fathers fairly regularly.

I had read Umbrella Summer but could not remember the story or the characters. So I re-read it at the same time I was reading Lost in the Sun. Since it is the same characters dealing with the same death, it added dimension to my understanding of Lost in the Sun.
One of the things I particularly like is how Graff portrays characters who are so focused on their own internal turmoil that they don't realize that everyone around them is going through similar problems.

I thought Trent was great, even as a totally unlikeable, abrasive jerk. It made him more real in my mind. But really, what about the scar?! It'll drive me crazy.

For some reason I just knew we were not going to find out about the scar so it didn't surprise me. But it sure had me speculating about how it happened!

Perhaps the story of how Fallon got the scar will appear in a subsequent Graff novel.

Kate wrote: "Perhaps the story of how Fallon got the scar will appear in a subsequent Graff novel."

That is what I was thinking, also.

I just finished this one and really liked it. I found Trent realistic - it seems to me that many people dealing with a trauma like that would pull away and be unlikeable, at least for a while. I think his growth is realistic.

Newbery quality? I have given up trying to guess what the committee will decide, but I do think this one has some strengths in the character department.

I'm having a very tough time finishing this book. It's not because it's not well written. I think it is well written and will appeal to the Newbery Committee - but I'm probably wrong because I never seem to agree with them. And if it does win the Newbery then I have to deal with the language in the book: the hazards of being an elementary school librarian. I think the reason I'm having trouble finishing the book is that other than Fallon, I really haven't developed a liking for the characters. As a parent, and an educator my heart aches for Trent. I'm torn between really not liking him and wanting to take him home. For those who don't know Trent, his behaviour is a classic case of hiding what his true story is. But the adults in the book that I have encountered so far should know better. I will finish the book. I was considering it for my Mock Newbery Club at school, but I think rather than making it a group read I'll just add it to the list of extra books they can read between now and January.

Beverly wrote: "For those who don't know Trent, his behaviour is a classic case of hiding what his true story is. But the adults in the book that I have encountered so far should know better."

Contrarily, I liked the fact that the grown-ups did not all have their acts together. And the young people need to be clear about their own needs and wishes in order to get the adults to act responsibibly.
Trent learns several tactics, including "watering the plants" (helping an adult), approching an adult directly (as he did with Fallon's father) and asking for help (as he did when asking Ray to give him baseball tips).
I think it is important to let children know that they can take action to improve their own life even when the adults are faltering.

I just got to the watering the plants part. It's the dad I have the most problems with. But that's one of the things that make the story so good. It's real. In real life adults often don't have their act together. Based on your comments it looks as though things get better.

Czechgirl wrote: "This was a very good book. I will definitely be reading this book aloud to my students this next coming year. I think it will help students that feel like they are a screw-up like Trent and how he ..."
I NEVER made the connection to Umbrella Summer! Thanks for that!

I liked this one a lot but I wonder if most kids will be able to relate to the anger that Trent feels.

I'm half way through and having a hard time with this. It's frustrating to me that no adults have even bothered to really speak to this boy about a huge trauma. He's begging for it and his mother doesn't seem interested while his father just yells at him. That's bizarre to me because although it happens in the world, to me it doesn't make for a good story.

Cara wrote: "I'm half way through and having a hard time with this. It's frustrating to me that no adults have even bothered to really speak to this boy about a huge trauma. He's begging for it and his mother d..."

I agree 100%.

I didn't see Trent as a jerk. I saw him as an emotionally damaged boy. What was wrong with his dad?!? That made me angry. No idea if it's Newbery worthy, but I think it makes for good discussion.

I'm not sure that this is medal worthy. I feel that while Tent does wrestle with his anger issues and learn to overcome them, the characters are still a bit two dimensional. While I agree with many of the contributors about the role of the adults in this book I think their role is inconsequential. This, after all, targets a middle school audience.Adults do not matter. I enjoyed the book and I think kids will too. It just did not leave its mark on me as I expect from a Newberry candidate.

I am interested in your comment that "Adults do not matter." This is one thing I find different in quite a few of this level books written by Australian authors. Typically, parents are actually present in a lot of the realistic fiction books and are portrayed positively. Some older American and British books fit this description as well. But many of the American and British books lately somehow dispense with the parents, so that, plot-wise, the children can grow up a bit. I wonder about the differences.

While I liked this book, I could never read it aloud to a group. It's too sad and I'm a crier. One thing that struck me, having been a teacher, is how the 2 teachers in his life dealt with him. They let him grow in his own time with a few nudges along the way. We never know whose life we touch.

Off topic, but I can't resist: one time when I was substitute teaching, the lesson plan called for me to read a chapter from Where the Red Fern Grows. You guessed it - it was the saddest chapter and I had tears rolling down my cheeks. It was all I could do to keep from sobbing. Since then, I refuse to read aloud chapters from books that might have a similar problem. I would be fine reading it to kids as their regular teacher, but, as a sub, it puts me in a too vulnerable position.

I admit that I have a bias toward books that engage my emotions - and LOST IN THE SUN did, big-time!

This book read true to me: boys and men often have difficulty expressing their emotions, which build up and build up, and finally explode. Gets messy! Trent was distraught about the death he had caused, whether it was his "fault" or not, and he was unable to articulate how he felt.

But I liked the way that Trent was not absolved of responsibility for his bad behavior. With each grownup, he had to work hard to "speak truths" - and as a result, he began to take back control of his life.

The characters in this book were wonderful - those brothers pranking and smacking each other all the time; sweet, smart Fallon, who could have dealt with a trauma that was permanently emblazoned on her face by retreating into a shell, but instead reached out to help others; Fallon's tender-tough-guy of a father....I could go on and on.

I think the characters are so well-developed and distinctive that LOST IN THE SUN will be a contender for a Newbery honor - haven't read enough middle-grade fiction yet this year to say more than that but it is my favorite of our Books of the Month so far.

A note about the book design.....the book ends with the "as she told me the beginning of her story." In my copy, this is followed by an unusual number of blank pages (4 sheets, 8 blank sides). Is the reader being prompted to write - or simply imagine - his or her version of Fallon's story? That certainly was my response.

(Now that I know Graff has published another version of Jared RIchard's death - UMBRELLA SUMMER - I think we can look forward to her account of Fallon's mysterious injury. Hope so!)

Sweet story Laura

I liked the ending to the story. I thought it was more important to the reader to know that Fallon had finally trusted someone enough rather than knowing what happened to her.

I "read" the audio version of Lost in the Sun and enjoyed every minute of it. Graff does it again with a realistic middle school boy, whose life is far from perfect. I felt the characters were well developed and the relationships were believable. The ending to the book was perfect. I liked that it was not all wrapped up perfectly, but that Fallon finally trusted Trent to begin to tell her story. I can see it on the short list, but I thought that for Absolutely Almost as well.
I wish that the book would have been talked about at the ALSC notables discussion at ALA. The discussion around the potential notables was very informative to me. It definitely has made me think more critically about titles I've been reading.

When I was watching baseball on TV this month, I saw two players miss catching the ball because they lost it in the sun. Each time I thought of this book. Demonstrates how a baseball metaphor extends a story.

I enjoyed reading Lost in the Sun. Trent's struggle to recover from a tragic situation touched me. He was real and believable. Fallon was strong and to some degree, I think her strength helped Trent. Trent's dad was ... (How to word this??) not really a Dad. I think he just wanted out of the situation. He did not care about the boys. He cared about his new family. Loved the pranks the boys played on each other. Reminded me of my own boys when they were young. I would love to hear/read more about Fallon. I will look for her in the next book. Is this a possible Newbery? I think it has a chance.

I read this awhile ago, but I just found this group and am contributing my late two-cents.

I think it's interesting that many people disliked Trent and the Dad because they acted like jerks. Yet, Trent's behavior is completely understandable and characteristic of children who have experienced trauma and have deeper issues than meets the eye, and the Dad's behavior is, unfortunately, quite common in a divorced parent situation. As other people have pointed out, not all adults have their act together and not all adults are perfect parents. It was actually this realistic portrayal that made me enjoy the book and feel a connection to the characters. Even though I haven't gone through those situations, I have the same human emotions in me and could understand why Trent and the Dad were acting the way they did.

It was Fallon and the the teachers (the English teacher and gym teacher--can't remember their names at the moment) who felt unrealistic to me and thus, made me dislike the book. I thought they were nothing more than tropes--the quirky kid that doesn't quite fit in and acts as the unintentional hero, the severe-at-first-but-actually-kind-and-understanding teachers who help students grow without ever actually talking to them about their issues. That left me in a huff because I thought Lisa Graff was a better writer than that, and it's clear that she IS capable of going beyond tropes in the characters of Trent and the Dad, but having them juxtaposed next to Fallon and the teachers exposed the inconsistency.

Therefore, while I think it was a good story (and decently written, at least), I don't think it has the literary quality to be a Newbery contender. Instead, I'd lump it in with the Above-average Middle-grade Novel That Deals With Heavy Issues and Teaches a Lesson But Isn't Anything Special In Its Literary Quality category (do they give awards for that?). I'd recommend it to readers who enjoyed Wonder and Counting by 7s.

I found that Counting by 7s and Wonder had some of the same problems that you mention, in connection with Fallon and the teachers. Some of the less important characters seemed like tropes, but with some characteristics attached to them that were supposed to make them seem more realistic, but didn't quite make it for me. That is one difference I felt with this month's book The War that Saved My Life. For some reason, the characters there seemed to come to life for me - even the less important ones.

I agree with you about the characters of Trent and the Dad.