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Saving Sailor: A Quirky Girl, A Faithful Dog, and One Unforgettable Summer (A.J. #1)
by
Renee Riva (Goodreads Author)
The year is 1968. After spending the first half of summer vacation driving her Italian family crazy with her fake southern accent, 10-year old A.J. finds a soul mate on the other side of the island to divert her attention.
She is intrigued to learn that Danny shares her same burning desire to know God and realizes that few people her age think as deeply as the two of them d...more
She is intrigued to learn that Danny shares her same burning desire to know God and realizes that few people her age think as deeply as the two of them d...more
Paperback, 224 pages
Published
May 1st 2007
by River Oak
(first published April 20th 2007)
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This might have been a cute book but the author tried too hard to be cutsie, so that she ended up with an unnaturally forced cutsie. She also tried too hard for the quirky, making it an unnaturally forced fakey quirky. I really love coming of age books told from the kid's point of view if the kids come off as real and natural, but this one was just forced, false, fake, and phony. The forced and phony were tolerable, but what was with all that disgusting ridiculousness about the kid's faked South...more
This might have been a cute book, but the author tried too hard to be cutsie, so that she ended up with an unnaturally forced cutsie. She also tried too hard for the quirky, making it an unnaturally forced fakey quirky. I really love coming of age books told from the kid's point of view if the kids come off as real and natural, but this one was just forced, false, fake, and phony. The forced and phony might have been tolerable since the saccharine fakey stuff decreased as the author got more int...more
A refreshing change-of-pace (no junkies, dandies, demons, unemployed actors or glove manufacturers) : it's the idyllic adventures of an enviably strong Italian family as they enjoy - and share - their own private Idaho of 1968.
Now, most Americans have had at least one youthful summer that they carry around in their soul as they would a prize firefly in a mason jar under their arm, and Riva stays true to that Bradburian summer.
And for most sane folk, it's not the one that resembles an MTV reali...more
Now, most Americans have had at least one youthful summer that they carry around in their soul as they would a prize firefly in a mason jar under their arm, and Riva stays true to that Bradburian summer.
And for most sane folk, it's not the one that resembles an MTV reali...more
2 likes · like · see review
I first read this book when i was ten. it reminded me so much of my family and of myself that i instantley fell in love with everything in it. like Aj i have 4 siblings and 2 parents who love eatch other verry much, my life just seemed so close to this girls that i had a instant love for this book. saving sailor is a very refreshing story, yet it has its hard moments to. i know that there are some people who dont like this book very much and they say its to cutsie for them but honestly it is cut...more
"Saving Sailor" is a very sweet and heartwarming story about two kids who become "soul mates" and deal with some family drama with the help of each other and the help of God. It was sweet because the kids had fun and quirky personalities, and the setting was pretty idyllic. I also love stories about dogs. I'm not too big on stories about God, because I'm an atheist. I feel that people are stronger than they think they are and can be strong completely without belief in a supernatural being. But I...more
1 like · like · see review
Saving Sailor by Renée Riva takes the reader to Indian Lake, Idaho 1968 where A.J. Degulio and her family spend every summer. A.J. loves hanging out in the canoe with Sailor, her dog, and drifting. She torments her family by speaking in a Southern accent, even though she’s Italian.
Another family is spending the summer at the lake and A.J. meets her soul mate, Danny Morgan, who shares her love of star-gazing and God. But Danny’s family is falling apart. His father’s had an affair and Danny just...more
Another family is spending the summer at the lake and A.J. meets her soul mate, Danny Morgan, who shares her love of star-gazing and God. But Danny’s family is falling apart. His father’s had an affair and Danny just...more
I enjoyed reading this book. I thought the author did a great job expressing the thoughts of a 10-year old girl as she and her very close knit family spent a carefree summer on an Idaho island in 1968. It was fun to feel like you were there, either drifting in the row boat or partaking in the summer evening outdoor family gatherings. A little like the movie "Christmas Story", this time it is narrated by a young girl and the setting is a family summer vacation. A nice book to "escape into".
Wonderful free Kindle read ~ coming of age story set in the summer of 1968 ~ delightful writing narrated by a 10yr old girl savoring summer and the beauty around her. Loved her 'pretend' southern accent and her parents and all the characters in the story were a treat to be with for the duration. Happy to know there are a few others by this author with the same family.
I got this free on the Kindle and wanted a nice, short book to read before I got into the next club book. This was a really sweet book about a girl and her adventures one summer. This is extremely clean, somewhat religious, and just a feel-good read. I enjoyed it.
Free ebook from Barnes & Noble. It was a cute, mostly entertaining story. It was not really a book that I HAD to finish, though. At times I was able to put it down and not come back to it for several weeks. But it was a fun story about a summer of growing up.
This was a free book from Kindle. Thought I would try it out on my iPhone!!! Loved the book and I am even more in love with Kindle.
The main character is so quirky and adorable. It is truly a fun and easy coming of age story to read.
The main character is so quirky and adorable. It is truly a fun and easy coming of age story to read.
Got this for from one of Nook's Free Friday deals. Great bargain! It's a nice little story with some humor and some drama about a 9/10 year old's summer with her family and friends. Nicely written and a nice diversion from my usual 'dead bodies' books I like to read! ;)
Enjoyed reading this book. Set in Idaho during the 60s, the main character was a girl born near the same year as me. A trip down memory lane, nostalgic, sweet.
This book lead me to read the other two, Taking Tuscany and Heading Home. I found this to be a good summer read and I loved all the characters.
Loved it. A refreshing book that is different in its own way. I definitely enjoyed it and got really into it. Not cutesy at all.
I wrote it! It was about growing up in the 60's with my big Italian family and I love the memories! Thank you for your reviews. :O)
1 like · like · see review
Aug 10, 2012
Donna Daniel
is currently reading it
This is/was a free kindle book. So far, a young girl in the late 60's with a quirky family. I'm really enjoying it.
Pretty good book for a free eBook from Barnes and Noble. While a bit more on the religious side that I normally care for, it was still a good book to read with a lot of good lessons.
Sweet Christian young adult fiction. I really enjoyed this book and plan to read the other 2 in the series.
I laughed throughout the entire book. I could see my kids (at times). It was a nice easy short read.
This was a charming tale of a young girl and the summer she turned 10, and learned about true forgiveness, and finding God. It was an enjoyable read.
more religion than I usually like, but a lovely story with truly charming characters and a happy ending :)
Jul 29, 2011
Marilyn
added it
Cute and funny account of a young girl in her spiritual growth. A little overly preachy close.
Loved this book - Cute, quirky and really pretty funny. Its told from an 11 yr olds perspective.
A sweet book - sort of quirky. I enjoyed it until the end when the author tried too hard to be "preachy". Still, A.J. was interesting and there were times when I laughed out loud.
Could not get past the way the character talked...too distracting; didn't finish.
A nostalgic look at a young girl and her eccentric family... Lighthearted and a great read!
Local Richland author. Set in the summer of 1968 from the perspective of 10-year-old AJ.
Just O.K. For me, too preachy at the end, but a good book for good little Christian kids.
Light-hearted and happy with a nice Christian message. Makes you wish you were 9 again.
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Renee Riva has been writing humorous stories ever since she won her first writing contest in second grade. A former greeting-card verse writer and popular speaker, Renee has written articles that have appeared in Guidposts and Catholic Family Magazine. She and her husband reside in Washington State with their three daughters, a dog, a cat, and a European black bear albino hamster, often found spee...more
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“God didn't give us minds to be able to understand everything. That's part of the mystery. Now, you can drive yourself crazy tryin' to understand something you were never meant to figure out down here, or you can just trust Him 'til He's ready to let you in on it. 'Til then, just enjoy the mystery.”
—
7 people liked it
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Aug 06, 2012 10:31pm