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The Summer I Learned to Fly

3.76 of 5 stars 3.76 · rating details · 851 ratings · 192 reviews

Drew's a bit of a loner. She has a pet rat, her dead dad's Book of Lists, an encyclopedic knowledge of cheese from working at her mom's cheese shop, and a crush on Nick, the surf bum who works behind the counter. It's the summer before eighth grade and Drew's days seem like business as usual, until one night after closing time, when she meets a strange boy in the alley nam...more

ebook, 224 pages

Published July 12th 2011 by Wendy Lamb Books (first published July 10th 2011)

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Jan 05, 2012 Cara rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011, realistic-fiction

It's weird how I feel when I think about this book and now I'm coming to understand that Dana Reinhardt is not a predictable author. She is versatile in the best possible way. I like an author who can genuinely make me feel different for whatever reason.

In this particular story we witness one summer of a thirteen-year-old girl named Drew (formerly known as Robin Drew, and sometimes Birdie). She and her mother are attempting to start a new life now that they have lost Drew's dad. Her mother has o...more It's weird how I feel when I think about this book and now I'm coming to understand that Dana Reinhardt is not a predictable author. She is versatile in the best possible way. I like an author who can genuinely make me feel different for whatever reason.

In this particular story we witness one summer of a thirteen-year-old girl named Drew (formerly known as Robin Drew, and sometimes Birdie). She and her mother are attempting to start a new life now that they have lost Drew's dad. Her mother has opened up a cheese shop and Drew spends her days helping out at the shop and fawning over the heart of gold surfer, Nick, who works there too. (Side note: I LOVED this character.) She also owns a pet rat named Hum. Drew thinks her summer will be uneventful, but then she meets a boy. Not a typical boy either. He knows about rats, how to make paper cranes, and really is unlike anybody she has ever meet. The thing is, Drew can tell he's hiding something but he doesn't want to reveal what it is. She'll find out what his secret is and what follows is a summer she won't ever forget.

To appreciate this story you have to be willing to be patient and like coming of age stories. Drew and Emmett are both offbeat characters, but it works because they get and learn to understand each other. It also doesn't follow the conventional path of characters falling for each other, and events 1, 2, and 3 happening in this order. Where I felt like the book was lacking was the plot. The plot is fine but it would have been much stronger if there were more events following up to the climax.

Reinhardt is not an overly popular author, but that is one of the reasons why I like her because she isn't writing a story to make a profit off a trend. She seems to actually write stories she feels are important to tell, and I can admire and get behind that.

But back to this story, I really became attached to Drew and watching her come to terms with the loss of her father, trying to be okay with her mother going out with someone else, and most importantly seeing how one person can change your whole outlook on life. I was deeply moved by the ending and it gives you hope for things to work out for the best.(less)

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Mar 21, 2012 Joy (joyous reads) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: tbr

Nothing like a good cry first thing in the morning. Gah.

Birdie has her summer perfectly planned out:

Work at mom's cheese shop. Check.

Continue to ogle and sigh over Nick. Check.

Everything was at it was supposed to be...until Emmett Crane came into her life.

I'm not a big MG reader; I always think that I won't be able to relate with the characters because I'm old enough to be their mother. This book took me by surprise. It was refreshing to read something that did not involve much of the teenage a...more

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Sep 16, 2011 Tanja (Tanychy) St. Delphi rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: romance

It's nice story and nice reading, but it's not 5 stars book.

Story is about little girl growing up in little town. It's story about meeting and understanding people, finding friends. Descriptions in this book are really nice, and connections between characters are also very well written. But overall the thing I like the most in this book is the ending.

You'll enjoy reading this book, it's small and nice book.

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Apr 26, 2013 Mackenzie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult

The Summer I Learned to Fly was a really great book, and I enjoyed it immensly. This is a YA book about a girl named Drew Robin Solo, and is called Drew, Robin, or Birdie. Her summer is pretty much already planned for her, working at her mother's cheese shop, playing with her pet rat, Hum, and falling for the local surfer bum who works at the cheese shop with her, Nick. But when a mysterious boy named Emmett Crane comes to town, his cartoon like face lights up her world. Drew, her summer, and he...more The Summer I Learned to Fly was a really great book, and I enjoyed it immensly. This is a YA book about a girl named Drew Robin Solo, and is called Drew, Robin, or Birdie. Her summer is pretty much already planned for her, working at her mother's cheese shop, playing with her pet rat, Hum, and falling for the local surfer bum who works at the cheese shop with her, Nick. But when a mysterious boy named Emmett Crane comes to town, his cartoon like face lights up her world. Drew, her summer, and her whole life change before 8th grade; she goes from walking on the ground, to learning how to fly.

I rated this book a 4 out of 5 for a few reasons. It was a good book, but not the best I have ever read. I really enjoyed all the characters, and thought they were developed in a way that helped me understand the story. The main character, Drew was great. I loved Emmett, and thought the way he believed in miracles and legends was great, and showed that you never outgrow them. Nick's determination and resilience was very inspiring. The setting was a sleepy beach town near San Francisco. This helped Drew's character, the safe, never taken a risk girl in the city no one stays. I liked that it took place in the past (1986), but I really forgot what year it was, and feel it wasn't any different from 2013 (except there were no cell phones). This story was a YA coming of age story, and it fit that bill perfectly. I related to Drew on so many levels, since I am a young adult. It was great to hear her perspective on life. The one problem I had with the book was I felt that there were not enough big events leading up to the climax. It went a little slow to my liking. Also, I do not read alot of short books, and I wish this one was longer.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I read this during my end of the year testing, and it was good enough to hold my interest, but slow enough not to confuse me. I recommend this book to anybody who reads young adult fiction.

Favorite Quote: "Thank you. You saved me from drowning. Because of you, things are better."-Drew Robin Solo(less)

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Oct 17, 2011 Christina rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobooks, realistic

A sweet book about friendship and families. I know, that's vague. Let me start over. Thirteen year old Drew (aka Robin, aka "Birdy") is spending a nice summer working at her mom's cheese shop, where she hangs out with the adorable high school grad/surfer dude Nick while not revealing her crush on him. She wonders about her long-dead dad, what he might have been like, and worries about her mom always stressing over the business. But when her pet rat "Hum" leads her to meet a mysterious scruffy bo...more

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Sep 18, 2011 Dana JH added it · review of another edition

to seee my full review and others like it, go to danadoesread.com

The summer I learned to fly was so sweet and innocent I fell in love with it right away! Reinhardt's voice was light and cute, but there were still the undertones of deep subjects. Humboldt fog reminded me a lot of my late rat Oliver. I thought he went perfectly with the story, of course the irony of her owning a rat and a cheese shop, but also Drew just seems like a rat person you know? lol. Emmett was awesome, I think I'll name o...more

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Aug 29, 2011 Jane rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is a very small, beautifully written coming of age story by Dana Reinhardt. I loved the small town setting and the quirky individuals who inhabited Drew's world. Drew and her mother have always had each other, since Drew's father died when she was just three years old. When her mother opens a cheese shop during hard economic times, Drew finds herself adrift without friends or family during the summer before 8th grade. Drew has a crush on Nick, the gorgeous surfer who works in her mom's chee...more

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Jul 26, 2011 Caren rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ya

This is a lovely little book. I read it in one long gulp, happy to have met this cast of quirky, but thoroughly likeable people. The heroine, Drew, lives with her mother in a town on the coast in central California (an enviable place to be, if you ask me). The action takes place during the summer before Drew enters eighth grade, in the 1980s. Drew's father died when she was three, so her single mom has to struggle to support them both. She has opened a gourmet cheese shop and much of the story c...more

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Mar 11, 2013 Zooey Riveria rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: borrowed, family, friendship, melancholy, young-adult, travel

Wow. Just wow.

This is pure magic.

I can't even present my feelings in words. Let's just say if you're looking for a book, a hopeful book maybe, an unpredictable book perhaps, a book which will just make you speechless, Dana Reinhardt's novels are the one for you. It's beautiful, in the way she conveys the voice of Robin so well, and you just fall in love with Emmett in the "I want to hug him and love him because awwww" way. And Nick is just a wonderful optimistic side character and don't forget...more

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Dec 30, 2012 Nenia Campbell rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: x-2011s, ya-baby-ya, did-not-finish-or-skimmed, reviewed

You can read my reviews on my blog, The Armchair Librarian!

The Summer I Learned to Fly had all the ingredients for an awesome storyline--off-beat protagonist who works in a cheese shop called "Cheese Shop," mother having secret relationship, mysterious love interest who is quite possibly homeless, a pet rat named after a cheese with a royal title to boot.

I'll admit it, I was hoping for a cross between Stargirl and Sarah Dessen. That's not quite what I got, and since hell hath no fury like a book...more

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May 02, 2012 Audrey rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: juvenile-fiction, library, romance

This was a quick read, thanks in part to Reinhardt's lovely prose. That's what caught me up and carried me along for much of the novel, but underneath, there were little rumblings of "something's just not right here." By the end, I had determined that while Reinhardt's novel is a lovely read, the bones of the book are weak and end up really undermining the overall effect. Many of the characters are just one-dimensional, and despite all the lovely turns of phrase, we're told too often how we shou...more

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Jan 11, 2012 Phoebe rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ya, realistic-fiction

Drew lives with her mother and pet rat, Hum, and spends most of her time at her mother's gourmet cheese shop. Her father is long dead but Drew is consoled by his book of lists, found in a closet and cherished ever since. Her relationship with her mother begins to feel complicated when she discovers that her mother is spending after-work time with someone in a silver car; but Drew soon has her own secret to keep when she meets Emmett, an apparently homeless older boy who befriends her. Their inno...more

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Mar 21, 2012 Stevecrandell rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: grades-5-8, middle-school-girls

Robin Drew Solo is a wonderful 13-year-old girl. I love the way she talks and thinks. But I’m not as keen about all her actions. In a similar sense, this is a great feel-good story, except for those times when I want everyone to take a few deep and sensible breaths.

Then there’s Robin’s first-person narrative style. She repeatedly builds up and then draws back her hints of plot surprise, so much so that I start to feel almost as frustrated as I am anxious about the next twist of events. Robin’s...more

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Feb 05, 2013 Patty rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013, fiction, family, mothers-and-daughters, missing-children, ya-fiction, young-adult, women-writers, grief, summer, audiobook, california, middle-school, humor, coming-of-age

One of the joys of working at the public library is that if I need an audiobook, there are plenty to choose from. When my last talking book ended, I went to the shelf to see what was available. Reinhardt's story appeared to be a nice light interlude between heavier adult titles.

I enjoyed Robin's tale of her 13th summer. Reinhardt knows how to write about kids, much of the beginning of the story is very believable. Shannon McManus does an excellent job of sounding like it is her story - the narra...more

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Jan 11, 2013 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I'm just wondering how many young adults have a mother and father who are both still living and are still married to one another. The Summer I Learned to Fly is another YA book where the main character's father died and another character's father ran out on the family.

I really enjoyed the book, though. It's the second book I've read recently that included a Book of Lists--this one in a composition notebook whose cover looked like TV static. Drew's father had written down lists of some of his fav...more

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Apr 26, 2012 Milly rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: a-must-buy, contemporary-fiction, couldn-t-put-it-down, grief, coming-of-age, favorite-ya, feel-good

This is my first of reading books from Dana Reinhardt's and I am hooked! If I didn't see Markus Zusak's blurb on the cover of the book, I might not have picked it up right away. But, how could you question Markus' taste in books after reading his most exquisite book. And thankfully I did because I just adored this book! There's something about the characters that pull you in and linger with you long after you read the book. I don't know if it was their innocence or perhaps the courage that struc...more

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Jun 28, 2011 Nian rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011

I'm probably not the intended target audience, as this was a true coming of age story of a thirteen year old in the summer of changes. I'm not too fond of Reinhardt, actually, but The Summer I Learned to Fly was a bit different. The characters were quirky and humorous, albeit somewhat one-dimensional (the mother, Nick, even Emmett Crane at times), the setting was refreshing, and the story line a bit strange, falling in the fantasy genre. I did like this, until towards the second half, where thin...more

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Jul 23, 2012 Cathy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: coming-of-age, teen-book

Well done audiobook, as are most of Dana Reinhardt's that I've listened to. This quiet coming-of-age novel is about thirteen-year-old Drew who lives with her widowed mother and is spending her summer working at her mother's fancy cheese shop where she always brings her pet rat Hum,concealed from her mother of course. There's Nick, a handsome surfer, motorcycle guy, who works there that she crushes on, but he gets a girlfriend and she is hurt. Then she finds her father's book of lists, lists of h...more

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Jan 01, 2012 Madeline rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A well-written coming-of-age story, Dana Reinhardt crafts a vivid first-person point of view story that delves into the interworks of friendships between mother and daughter and boy and girl. I liked her offbeat personality, accentuated by her pet rat, Hum, her clothing choices, and the family cheese shop.

What I was most looking forward to while reading the book was the deceased father’s Book of Lists. It’s an unusual way to learn about Drew’s father while creating an interesting plot point, but...more

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Jul 13, 2011 Tara rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

ORIGINALLY POSTED http://hobbitsies.net/wordpress/2011/07/the-summer-i-learned-to-fly-by-dana-reinhardt/

The Summer I Learned to Fly is a simple but beautiful and captivating contemporary story about a girl growing up in a small town. Even though Drew and I are no where near in age, reading about her summer before the eighth grade really reminded me of mine. Drew is a very striking and classic character, one that could easily be connected to by people of any age.

I loved the setting of this book....more

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Dec 18, 2012 Brenda Lower rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorite-books

From my blog at: http://brensbookstoread.blogspot.com/

Drew Robin Solo is expecting to spend the summer at her mom's cheese shop, helping clean, cut cheese and make pasta with the wonderful Nick Drummond, the laid-back surfer that works for her mom. She also has her pet rat Hum to watch over and her dead dad's book of lists to pore over. While not the most exciting of plans, to Drew, it's life and perfection.

One night, Drew realizes that Hum is missing from his usual spot in her backpack. While f...more From my blog at: http://brensbookstoread.blogspot.com/

Drew Robin Solo is expecting to spend the summer at her mom's cheese shop, helping clean, cut cheese and make pasta with the wonderful Nick Drummond, the laid-back surfer that works for her mom. She also has her pet rat Hum to watch over and her dead dad's book of lists to pore over. While not the most exciting of plans, to Drew, it's life and perfection.

One night, Drew realizes that Hum is missing from his usual spot in her backpack. While frantically looking for Hum, she meets a boy, Emmett, behind the cheese shop. He sits, feeding Hum the rat pieces of leftover cheese and talking to him. Drew talks with him, and noticies he has a small scratch on his check. As they talk, they start find more in common than they realize.

This begins Drew's most amazing summer, full of adventure, new friends, worries and carefree afternoons. But, can she find out what Emmett is really doing in her town? And what's up with the silver car and what does it have to do with Drew's mom? And above all, can this little girl really learn how to fly?

So, this was simply amazing. I'm usually not big into realistic fiction (if you couldn't tell), but I had the hardest time putting this down to do other things. The story telling is excellent, Drew's voice coming through strong and clear. It's simple enough that late elementary kids would enjoy it as well, but I'm setting it for middle school more just for age interest. The things that Drew thinks and feels, I think middle school kids will enjoy more than the younger ones.

This book is all about Drew discovering not only the world around her, but also discovering truths about herself as well. She has to change, make decisions, break out of her shell, and sacrifice things that she holds dear. There was a spot near the end that she had to sacrifice something very near and dear to her in order to accomplish something else. That moment almost broke my heart. I think the reader really starts feeling for Drew, understanding her perdicaments, and inwardly urges her to go forth into this new teritory she faces.

Another huge theme in this book is perception versus reality, with truth tied in there as well. Drew has always seen things one way, and when Emmett arrives, he completely changes some of those perceptions. He really opens her eyes to not only the "real" world, but also to the amazing possibilities that she could never see for herself.

Overall, great book! Highly recommended to most kids. While I didn't tag this if boys, I think the right boy will enjoy this as well as girls. I would recommend this to ages 12 plus. Read this!!!!
(less)

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Mar 27, 2011 Mark rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult-literature, coming-of-age

"At school, with my classmates and friends, I had to decode the hidden meaning of words, to search for what Ms. Bethel in our English class called intentionality. There was what people said, and then there was what they were thinking. Take that first lunch at Antonio's when Georgia said Shut up, when what she really meant was Say more.

One thing I knew for sure was that boys never came out and told girls they liked them, and girls certainly never told this to boys.

'Good,' he said. 'I'm glad we go...more "At school, with my classmates and friends, I had to decode the hidden meaning of words, to search for what Ms. Bethel in our English class called intentionality. There was what people said, and then there was what they were thinking. Take that first lunch at Antonio's when Georgia said Shut up, when what she really meant was Say more.

One thing I knew for sure was that boys never came out and told girls they liked them, and girls certainly never told this to boys.

'Good,' he said. 'I'm glad we got that settled.'

I drained the pasta and grated the cheese over it. I slid the plate in front of him. For some reason I felt totally at ease. Even my sheep pajamas seemed less a crime against humanity.

'So will you blow off work and spend the day with me tomorrow?"

'Of course,' I said.

'All right!' He put his hand up for a high five and then caught my hand midslap and squeezed it tight. It was friendly. It lasted only a second. And it was the single most romantic moment of my life."

It's gotten to the point where I will put off pretty much everything for a new Dana Reinhardt novel. She never disappoints, and this title is no exception. Drew Robin Solo is a young girl caught just on the threshold of growing up. She lives with her mother, and spends most of her time helping in her mom's newly-opened gourmet cheese shop. There, she crushes on her older co-worker, Nick, cares for a pet rat named Hum, and meets a mysterious boy, Emmett Crane, one night in the alley behind the store. Drew has never imagined her life to be anything close to exciting, so she's drawn to Emmett by his stories, his kindness, and the need to know more about him. As Drew learns Emmett's background, and his reasons for being in town that summer, she learns the true meanings of sacrifice, family, and friendship.

This is a beautiful book, and one that Reinhardt has said is probably the closest to the one she's always wanted to write. In her more recent novels, she's tackled bigger issues (the war in Iraq, for one), but this is a quiet, easily-paced story of friendship and growing up. Drew and Emmett's relationship is enjoyable to watch, because while they teeter on the edge of romance, at the heart of their relationship is a developing trust and friendship. There are funny and heartbreaking moments in this book (I never thought I would tear up at the release of a pet rat), and at the end of the novel, Drew still has probably just as many questions as she has answers, about Emmett, her deceased father, and her relationship with her mother. But still, as I finished the book, I knew that Drew would be alright, and that I was in a better place for having read this novel. Reinhardt employs her usual simple, yet evocative description, and her pitch-perfect dialogue. Readers looking for a tremendous story of growing up will not be disappointed.(less)

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May 18, 2013 Librarian rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

VRC book. This book will really appeal to the middle school girls who are daydreamers and want a realistic fiction girl-meets-boy kind of book. It's about a 13 year old girl whose father died when she was three and she and he mom live together on the central coast of California. It's 80's and the mom opens a gourmet cheese shop in a small town. An intriguing boy enters the picture and the story takes off from there. Lots of interesting characters. Coming of age themes, dealing with adolescence a...more

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May 10, 2012 Mrs. Tongate rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: romance, teen

This is a sweet read. Topics: friendship, family, death, family issues, pet rats, cheese, mother-daughter relationships, first crush.

Robin, 13, lives in a small town with her mom who runs a gourmet cheese shop, "The Cheese Shop." Over the summer she meets Emmett,14, who eats the day-old bread and cheese her Mom's shop throws away in the alley each night. This summer she also finds her gorgeous crush, Nick, who works in the cheese shop, has a girlfriend and Robin is just heartbroken. Robin also f...more

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Mar 15, 2012 Jen Bigheart (I Read Banned Books) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Eighteen-year-old Drew recalls the summer she was thirteen when her best friend was a rat, her mother started telling her lies, and her life long crush finds his true love - who is not Drew. Hanging out at a gourmet cheese shop may not sound like a good time to most, but for Drew she enjoys spending every waking moment surrounded by stinky Gouda and pungent Swiss. Plus, her crush Nick works there and she is content to stare at him all day long. When a strange boy named Emmett shows up in the all...more Eighteen-year-old Drew recalls the summer she was thirteen when her best friend was a rat, her mother started telling her lies, and her life long crush finds his true love - who is not Drew. Hanging out at a gourmet cheese shop may not sound like a good time to most, but for Drew she enjoys spending every waking moment surrounded by stinky Gouda and pungent Swiss. Plus, her crush Nick works there and she is content to stare at him all day long. When a strange boy named Emmett shows up in the alley of the cheese shop, she begins to think that maybe hanging out with her pet rat in a cheese shop is a bit overrated.

Drew and Emmett (a rat enthusiast and master paper crane maker because his last name is Crane) are both quirky and odd, and they make good companions for each other. Don't expect them to fall madly in love and sneak kisses next to the cheddar. It doesn't happen, but they do have something very special and unique. Drew is only thirteen after all! There is an air of mystery around Emmett. He is quiet and isn't quick to open up about his past. Drew's innocence comes through when she misses the signs that maybe Emmett doesn't have a picture perfect life. Before long, she realizes that Emmett is the first true-blue friend she has ever had. Only problem is, she may have figured this all out too late.

The relationship I enjoyed hearing about most is that of Drew and her mother. Both ladies have a big life turning points during this time and they do not rely on the solid relationship they have with one another. Drew's mother starts to spend less time alone and Drew resents her for this. Secrets are started, lies are told, and soon the two are at a breaking point. By the end of the story, both Drew and her rewrite their mother/daughter contract. They realize just how important they are to each other and understand not to take each other for granted. Each of their voices is realistic and I had compassion for them both.

The story was read by Shannon McManus. She also provides the voice for Lola and the Boy Next Door. I enjoyed her portrayal of Drew and thought she was a fine fit. The story is quite short and a great choice for a four hour road trip with a middle schooler or young adult. This one isn't action packed, but the characters are endearing and when we jump back to eighteen-year-old Drew, we enjoy hearing what everyone is up to today. Well, almost everyone.(less)

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Jan 16, 2012 Jess (Gone with the Words) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, read-2011, female-narrator, ebook, contemp

Read this review on my blog! --> The Summer I Learned to Fly by Dana Reinhardt

What I liked about this story was the way it transported me to summer time as a 13 year old. It made me reminisce about bike rides around the neighborhood, with the sun shining on my face, trips to the local public pool and to the park...the feeling of freedom and innocence all rolled into this one book.

Drew was such a likable, sweet character. And this is the first summer of her life where she feels she’s missing...more

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Oct 20, 2011 Lori Cox rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: middle-school

Drew Robin Solo is a 13 year old girl, working in her mother’s cheese shop for the summer. She has a crush on a surfer boy named Nick, owns a pet rat named Hum, and is learning about her long dead father through his book of lists (discovered in her mom’s closet). Drew is a cautious girl, with not many friends, content in her small world. When discarding the old cheese out the back door, she meets a boy named Emmett Crane and her life changes. Beautifully written, coming-of-age story that deals w...more

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Sep 25, 2011 Maria rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Yeah...so what all of GoodReads viewers need to do right now is go out and get this book - and read it...like, right now!

This story is about a 13-year-old girl named Drew Robin Solo, and the summer she meets a boy named Emmett Crane. But that's just putting it mildly. So much happens to Drew in this story that is touching, emotional, and so beautifully written, that to tell you too much will give it all away.

Drew is your typical teenage girl, but she is also funny, intelligent, and incredibly lo...more

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Nov 09, 2011 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: coming-of-age, girls, crushes, runaways

Drew is 13 years old, and kind of a loner. Her dad died from a heart problem when she was younger, so she's always lived with her mom. They get along pretty well, and Drew helps out in her mom's gourmet cheese shop after school and on weekends. There's this guy Nick who works at the cheese shop, and Drew has a mad crush on him and his ability to make beautiful pasta. But Nick's older and not interested in middle school girls. Drew always puts the extra cheeses and breads in the alley behind the...more

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Mar 07, 2013 Readingkidslit rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: realistic, teamwork

13 year old Drew has a job this summer! She’ll be working with her older crush Nick at her mom’s gourmet cheese shop. Although Drew looks forward to the summer, the days tend to be a bit monotonous: she goes to the shop, goofs around with Nick, hangs out with her pet rat, and puts old cheese out in the alley behind the shop…until she notices something different. Somebody is taking the cheese she’s leaving—that somebody turns out to be Emmett Crane, a mysterious boy who keeps to himself. Emmett d...more

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About Dana Reinhardt

Why don't you have a bio section?

Because I hate writing about myself.

But wouldn't that be easier than answering a whole bunch of FAQs?

Maybe. Probably. Go on...

So where are you from?

I'm from Los Angeles, but now I live in San Francisco. Except for the summers where I go back to Los Angeles in search of the sun.

What are you doing when you aren't writing?

Laundry, usually. Sometimes dishes. And I re...more

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“There are days when I think I don't believe anymore. When I think I've grown too old for miracles. And that's right when another seems to happen.” — 23 people liked it

“When there's something or someone, when there's anything that makes you happy, you don't let a continent or an ocean or an empty pocket keep you apart” — 8 people liked it

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The Summer I Learned to Fly

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