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148th out of 498 books
—
1,033 voters
The Lost Summer
by
Kathryn Williams (Goodreads Author)
"I died one summer, or I almost did. Part of me did. I don't say that to be dramatic, only because it's true."
For the past nine years, Helena Waite has been returning to summer camp at Southpoint. Every year the camp and its familiar routines, landmarks, and people have welcomed her back like a long-lost family member. But this year she is returning not as a camper, but a
...moreHardcover, 253 pages
Published
July 14th 2009
by Disney-Hyperion
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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If you could capture summer in a book, this is it! Helena Waite is thrilled to be returning to her favorite place in the world, Southpoint. This summer she is coming back as a counselor but her best friend Katie Bell, having missed the cut-off by a few months, will have to spend one more summer as a camper. That tiny twist wreaks havoc on the girls’ tight bond and causes both to question what it means to be a child and what you have to give up to be an adult. The themes in this story are those t...more
Helena Waite loves her summer tradition of Southpoint. Since she was just a little girl, she has enjoyed the fun activities, familiar landscape, and spirit of sisterhood the summer camp provides and fosters. Now that Helena’s seventeen, she is no longer a camper, but a counselor. Unfortunately, her best friend Katie Bell, her seventeenth birthday just a few months shy of the cutoff, is still a camper. Helena’s decided to make the best of her situation; after all, she does have the best of both w...more
this book is really great because in the story it shows how to good friends started to separate when they got to south point camp.this was the camp that Helena and Katie bell had met and first started to become friends. but when Helena had turned 17 she could not be a camper anymore she had to become a camp counselor but Katie was only 16 and she was to young to become a counselor. but Helena and Katie did almost everything together.but when Katie found out she couldn't do everything with Helena...more
This is the story of Helena, 17-year-old camper-turned-counselor who grows up one summer-or at least that's how the story goes.
If you say that finally dating the guy you've had a crush on since you were ten; losing one's virginity; and, oh yeah, going into a coma for five weeks is what "growing up" is all about, then yes, Helena does grow up in this "Lost Summer".
The writing was good, I'll give it that. The characters were believable and the things that the characters did were completely human,...more
If you say that finally dating the guy you've had a crush on since you were ten; losing one's virginity; and, oh yeah, going into a coma for five weeks is what "growing up" is all about, then yes, Helena does grow up in this "Lost Summer".
The writing was good, I'll give it that. The characters were believable and the things that the characters did were completely human,...more
4.5 stars. I really liked this book. And to think, I'd never heard of the book before seeing it on the shelves at a bookstore! Helena is off to summer camp to be a counselor while her best friend, Katie Bell, who's a few months younger, has just missed the age cutoff and is forced to be a camper again one last time. At camp, Helena soon becomes caught up in all sorts of fun with the other counselors - pulling pranks, sneaking out late at night to meet with counselors from the boy's camp across t...more
I wanted a book that would be like a "beach read" while I was on vacation. Since I was on a plane for a few hours I read the whole book in one day. It started out okay, a little slow, but I kept reading. The characters were very flat, a brief discription once though the first meeting that was basically just hair color and body type. Of course the girl falls for the hunky guy that everyone likes, then there's sex girl drama with other camp counselors. You've admired this guy for years from afar,...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Summary: Summer for seventeen-year-old Helena Waite means, Southpoint.
Every July, she returns to the familiar routines, faces, and landmarks.
This year, will be different though.
Helena is returning as a counselor, not a camper like all of the years before.
The worst part is that her best friend, Katie Bell, is a camper for one more year.
Helena begins to see the difference between being a counselor and a camper.
The nights are now filled with things so different from sleep.
Late-night Pranks. Skinny-...more
Every July, she returns to the familiar routines, faces, and landmarks.
This year, will be different though.
Helena is returning as a counselor, not a camper like all of the years before.
The worst part is that her best friend, Katie Bell, is a camper for one more year.
Helena begins to see the difference between being a counselor and a camper.
The nights are now filled with things so different from sleep.
Late-night Pranks. Skinny-...more
Mar 29, 2012
Kirsten
added it
I thought this was a really good book. It was pretty easy for me to
relate to and I would definatly recommend this book to other
teenagers. Like I said it was easy for me to relate to, and it was
easy for me to compare the main character of this book to the main
character in the book Twilight. Hellena is kind of shy at first, but
once you get to know her she opens up to you. She also just likes to
have fun and enjoy her life. Hellena is also very simaliar to Bella
from the book Twilight. Bella is also...more
relate to and I would definatly recommend this book to other
teenagers. Like I said it was easy for me to relate to, and it was
easy for me to compare the main character of this book to the main
character in the book Twilight. Hellena is kind of shy at first, but
once you get to know her she opens up to you. She also just likes to
have fun and enjoy her life. Hellena is also very simaliar to Bella
from the book Twilight. Bella is also...more
Southpoint is a summer camp that Helena Waite has always love to go. Because she feels safe, happy and excited when she makes new friends, sharing thoughts, and most importantly she met her best friend Katie Bell in Southpoint. But Helena is turing 17 this year and supposed to be a camp counselor while Katie is only 16 and stays as a camper. Helena meets a sweet and lovely boy Ransome across the lake, they got a secret crash. At the same time, Helena Waite found out she had lost her best friend...more
When I read the flaps of the book, I was really excited.
I love camp stories especially since I never went to one and get to experience it in books.
This was just a disappointment though.
Yes, I read the book nonstop. But really I was just waiting for something not cliche to happen.
Ok ok, bitchy friends, cute boy, ok ok where's the good part? I was totally ready for Winn to be a murdering psychopath and that's how Helena would be dead or almost anyway. But no, not even close. I needed a little b...more
I love camp stories especially since I never went to one and get to experience it in books.
This was just a disappointment though.
Yes, I read the book nonstop. But really I was just waiting for something not cliche to happen.
Ok ok, bitchy friends, cute boy, ok ok where's the good part? I was totally ready for Winn to be a murdering psychopath and that's how Helena would be dead or almost anyway. But no, not even close. I needed a little b...more
NOTE TO SELF: DON'T TRUST A GUY WITH THE NAME OF RANSOME....the name speaks for itself!
okies, i liked this book but not quite it has its ups and downs. i loved that its a story on friendship and finding love at camp (i totally love camp stories, maybe its just the nature and camaraderie spirit in me) and finding yourself...a kid one day and all totally grown up the next.
FRIENDSHIP: i liked that it involves 3 friends (actually helena caught up between two of her friends). one side of helena wante...more
okies, i liked this book but not quite it has its ups and downs. i loved that its a story on friendship and finding love at camp (i totally love camp stories, maybe its just the nature and camaraderie spirit in me) and finding yourself...a kid one day and all totally grown up the next.
FRIENDSHIP: i liked that it involves 3 friends (actually helena caught up between two of her friends). one side of helena wante...more
Reviewed by Ashley B for TeensReadToo.com
Helena Waite is finally a counselor at Southpoint, a summer camp for girls. She's been going to camp for years, and it is all she looks forward to. The bad part is, Katie Bell, her best friend, missed the counselor age requirement by a few months, and is therefore stuck as a camper for another year.
Katie Bell and Helena swear camp will be the same. But Helena thinks it will be different. And it is. Helena leaves Katie Bell behind for her counselor friends...more
Helena Waite is finally a counselor at Southpoint, a summer camp for girls. She's been going to camp for years, and it is all she looks forward to. The bad part is, Katie Bell, her best friend, missed the counselor age requirement by a few months, and is therefore stuck as a camper for another year.
Katie Bell and Helena swear camp will be the same. But Helena thinks it will be different. And it is. Helena leaves Katie Bell behind for her counselor friends...more
This is something that most girls around Helena's age has experienced. That summer before "growing up" and feeling like you are leaving parts of your old life behind. For some of us it happened much earlier, and some much later. But in the end, it happens to everyone. We may not realize that we have grown up and are leaving things behind, but we do it's inevitable, and sometimes it can be very hard. For Helena this was seen all during her weeks at camp. Especially whenever she was around Ransome...more
For Helena Waite, this is the summer of change, a summer of growth. For the first time she will be going to Southpoint, not as a camper but as a counselor. Sadly, it also means leaving some things behind, such as her best friend Katie Bell.
From her very first day as a counselor, Helena knows this will be her summer. Winn, one of the coolest counselors, takes Helena under her wing and Helena's status goes from new, unknown counselor, to popular counselor. And not only does being a counselor give...more
From her very first day as a counselor, Helena knows this will be her summer. Winn, one of the coolest counselors, takes Helena under her wing and Helena's status goes from new, unknown counselor, to popular counselor. And not only does being a counselor give...more
I don't know about you, but I adore camp themed books. Maybe it's because I've never really gone to a true sleep away camp ( I'm not too found of nature, so I have no clue what I would do if I did go to camp every summer like Helena does) or beacuse I love summer.
The Lost Summer was a pretty decent book that I enjoyed a ton. I loved the descriptions of the camp actives all of them partake in to how we see what different things the counselors do "after hours".
The characters were for the most pa...more
The Lost Summer was a pretty decent book that I enjoyed a ton. I loved the descriptions of the camp actives all of them partake in to how we see what different things the counselors do "after hours".
The characters were for the most pa...more
I think I need to stay away from the camp books. It seems that every one I read never really leaves a deep and enjoyable impact.
The Lost Summer was good. Just not something I ever plan to reread. It has your basic girl meets guy, girl and guy hooks up type of premise, and yet a bit more.
It dealt with the issue of growing up. Of course you lose and gain friends as time goes by and The Lost Summer tells of this. Helena makes a rash decision to ditch her long time friend Katie Bell for the new an...more
The Lost Summer was good. Just not something I ever plan to reread. It has your basic girl meets guy, girl and guy hooks up type of premise, and yet a bit more.
It dealt with the issue of growing up. Of course you lose and gain friends as time goes by and The Lost Summer tells of this. Helena makes a rash decision to ditch her long time friend Katie Bell for the new an...more
I truly enjoyed this book, it's really defined what summer is. Especially the summer you realize suddenly you are growing up and there isn't really any turning back, although it still left some questions unanswered at the end about Katie Bell and Winn because perhaps there wasn't any answers along those lines. Even though it turned into a sad novel it was still a great, bittersweet book that's perfect for summer.
I just finished this book and I have to say. It took me a long time to get into it. It's kinda boring, for more younger readers id say. I'm 16 and it just wasn't all that great. The whole camp thing is kinda dumb. The end was good that's when I started getting interested in it. Took me 2 days to read. It's an easy read. But for me it was just boring.
If you loved Summer Sisters by Judy Blume, you will love this book! The story of Helena an her summer camp experience had me hooked. You feel the emotions she feels from the joy of returning to camp to her first heart break. You feel sorry for her in a way, especially after her accident. If you have ever been to summer camp you can relate to this book. I highly recommend.
Another "juvenile fiction" story. Reminds me of Forever by Judy Blume. Captured the life of a girl on the cusp of becoming a young woman and the heartbreak associated with relationships with friends and boys. Ending really happened fast and surprised me. Things were rolling along at a steady pace then BAMM the story's climax and end felt rushed.
(3.5 stars) Bringing together two of my favorite things: YA fiction and camp. In general this was pretty good, except two things:
1. Having a main character named "Katie Bell" (that was always referred to by 2 names) was so distracting. I thought about HP the whole time
2. The ending was a major WTF?!
1. Having a main character named "Katie Bell" (that was always referred to by 2 names) was so distracting. I thought about HP the whole time
2. The ending was a major WTF?!
This is plain awful. I just didn't get any sense from the book. It is so shallow. I finished it only because I paid for it using my own money and I had nothing to read. But reading it and witnessing the shallowness and stupidity of the main character was torture.
Meet two friends, Hells Bells (Helena and Katie) who share a very special last summer together at camp. An excellent story of friendship and first love. This story brought back so many of my own memories of Girl Scout summer camps and all the great friendships I shared growing up. The ending will surprise you.
This was four stars until I read the last paragraph. I'm such a sucker for a good, sappy ending. I just wish her and Ransome worked out but the ending seemed perfect anyway. Loved the idea of the whole book, the moving on and growing up bit. Quick, but keeps you reading.
This book is one of those that reminds you of your childhood & going to camp. I can honestly say that I only went to a camp like this once but it made me think back to that & want to go back.
Although it reminded me of tv shows that I watch, the book kept me reading and wanting to find out if this was going to be Helena's best summer yet. I really liked her (actually all of the characters) & think a lot of girls can relate even if they have never been to camp.
The writing was some wh...more
Although it reminded me of tv shows that I watch, the book kept me reading and wanting to find out if this was going to be Helena's best summer yet. I really liked her (actually all of the characters) & think a lot of girls can relate even if they have never been to camp.
The writing was some wh...more
Eh. This was ok. I love camp stories, but this one bored me in some places and kept trying to make some life lesson or something. And then an accident happens out of nowhere..
This was a cute, short read. Took me back to my days working as a summer camp counselor. Good book about how friendships grow and change as your life progresses.
couldn't finish this book. in fact, the first few chapters bore me and I just returned it to the library w/o finishing it. pity, I had high hopes for this book.
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I hate writing bios almost more than I hate writing thank you notes (they are about as stale), so I will try to make this interesting. I was born on a blustery spring day in [excised], a good year for Republicans and a bad year for zinfandels. I penned my first literary masterpiece in a pink Trapper Keeper soon after: a short story about a wild horse named Babbling Brook. Babbling Brook found hers...more
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“I found myself suddenly jealous of the time when things were simple, when days centered on creek walks and tetherball, and your biggest worry was whether you'd have riding or sailing. There were no boys, there were no secrets or rumors, and there were no regrets. Not even fear of regret. There was just a best friend and endless hours to fill with Pixy Stix and laughing so hard you couldn't breathe.”
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Mar 29, 2012 01:00pm