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4th out of 38 books
—
11 voters
Summerhouse Time
Every year a rented pink cottage full of family, swapping stories, and riding waves mean Summerhouse Time for Sophie. Best of all is sharing a room with her favorite cousin and laughing and trading secrets like two happy peas in a cousin pod. Sophie can't wait! But when she asks the now-a-teenager Colleen if she's looking forward to their time together, Colleen just says "...more
Hardcover, 224 pages
Published
May 22nd 2007
by Knopf Books for Young Readers
(first published 2006)
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Excitement builds for eleven-year-old Sophie as she anticipates her favorite time of year, summerhouse time. Every August her mother, father, aunts, uncles and cousin rent a beach house for a month. This year though, things are different. Her father seems troubled, her favorite cousin ignores her and the boy that she thinks that she’s in love with isn’t writing her back (no email at the summerhouse) and she’s learning Italian. Spinelli’s story is filled with warmth and a true love of family. She...more
Summerhouse Time
By Eileen Spinelli
When I was younger my family used to go and hang out at family get-togethers, cook out, and go to amusement parks. I had older cousins who were my BFFs, and then suddenly, it's like they outgrew me and didn't want anything to do with me; I never could understand that. And neither can Sophie. Every year her family joins the rest of her cousins and aunts and uncles at a beach house, and they pretty much party the summer away. But things are changing, and Sophie wo...more
By Eileen Spinelli
When I was younger my family used to go and hang out at family get-togethers, cook out, and go to amusement parks. I had older cousins who were my BFFs, and then suddenly, it's like they outgrew me and didn't want anything to do with me; I never could understand that. And neither can Sophie. Every year her family joins the rest of her cousins and aunts and uncles at a beach house, and they pretty much party the summer away. But things are changing, and Sophie wo...more
Apr 12, 2008
babyhippoface
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
4th grade girls
Shelves:
kids-fiction
A nice, quick read written in free verse and extolling the blessing of family to help you through the hard times.
Sophie is a terrific character--kind, patient with her younger cousin Tammy, just on the verge of "young love," and loving life. And what a terrific family. I realize the whole "extended family loves each other and all get along" scenario might seem a little "out there" to some people, but there really are families like that out there. Spinelli's is one, as she mentions on the back ja...more
Sophie is a terrific character--kind, patient with her younger cousin Tammy, just on the verge of "young love," and loving life. And what a terrific family. I realize the whole "extended family loves each other and all get along" scenario might seem a little "out there" to some people, but there really are families like that out there. Spinelli's is one, as she mentions on the back ja...more
A sunny, fun quick read filled with humor and just a touch of melancholy. Like a great big family reunion memory stuck between the pages. I did find it a little hard to keep track of all the relatives, but I suppose that is typical of any big family ;-) And although I liked the short, free verse poems that make up the story, sometimes I was left feeling like there were details I was missing. But all in all, a great summertime, beach blanket book!
Delightful juvenile novel in verse about a girl's favorite time of year: the summer, when she goes on a beach vacation with her extended family. Loved this, found it a quick read that reminded me of my own summer vacations with family, and am planning to read it with my library book club this August. I'm afraid the boys will stage a mutiny, however - there's a little bit of girly first love sort of stuff...
I just love the worlds that Eileen Spinelli creates through her writing... the cozy environments and the close bonds between family members she describes so simply and yet beautifully in her poems... the joyful feelings all of these mental images evoke in me. I truly cherished the time I got to spend with this book.
I can't quite remember when I read this, but it was an ARC from ALA 2007 that stayed on my bedside table for a little while...so I'm estimating.
Great story (in verse) about a favorite family tradition, how it changes as you grow up, and the particular worries and reliefs of one summer.
Great story (in verse) about a favorite family tradition, how it changes as you grow up, and the particular worries and reliefs of one summer.
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Jun 17, 2012
Linda
added it
I wish I go visit the Summerhouse and spend some time like this with family. Sounds like a blessed time. Thanks to my 8 year old granddaughter for recommending the book when she was here visiting me.
I loved this book. It is a great book about a summer vacation and family. I read it when I go to the beach each year. I never get tired of it!
For Laurel, but for later. The story is good, but I'd like L to be older before we talk about some of what happens here...
Jul 06, 2009
Green303
added it
It was a good book, though it was written in a unique way. An interesting book about families joining together and having fun. :)
I thought it was just a little boring though. I do reccomend it if you want to go to sleep.
This book is awesome! I've read it so many times and I still could read it again!
A full story, summery and true, narrated in verse.
I felt sort of neutral about this book as I was reading. I really like novels in verse, but after reading The Dancing Pancake a few months ago, this book didn't feel like it covered anything different. Both are stories of girls witnessing change in their lives and trying to cope with it. Bindi in The Dancing Pancake was perhaps more spirited and proactive than Sophie, but both girls experience similar emotions and challenges.
Read my full review on my blog: http://sharingsoda.blogspot.com/2011/.....more
Read my full review on my blog: http://sharingsoda.blogspot.com/2011/.....more
Recommend to Rachel.
Delightful.
what a great book!
this is a nice, light little poetry-prose book about a girl who is at that age when you realize that life isn’t always simple and easy. nothing really terrible happens to her, but she just notices that life isn’t perfect. i remember that summer in my own life. it was nice to read that perhaps the experience is universal. delightful summertime images as well.
This was a cute story.
i enjoyed this fun little book a lot and had my 8-year-old read it, too!
Jul 22, 2008
Katherine
added it
this is a great poetry book that i enjoyed at the beach!!
I LOVED this book, I just wish it had more of an ending.
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Eileen Spinelli, wife of famed children's author Jerry Spinelli, is an award winning children's book author from southeastern Pennsylvania.
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