Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
44th out of 75 books
—
117 voters
Sand Dollar Summer
Twelve-year-old Lise watches her safe world fall apart when her strong, self-reliant mom is injured in a car accident. To recuperate, Mom takes Lise and her bright little brother to live in a rattletrap house on the beach in Maine for the summer. Although her mother grew up there, this is Lise's first experience with the ocean. She's terrified by what may be lurking in the...more
Hardcover, 224 pages
Published
May 9th 2006
by Margaret K. McElderry
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
1,164)
I don't feel I can really give this book a rating, because it was written by the mother of one of my closest friends, and so I'm therefore biased. I'm also biased in the other direction, because I'm not in its target audience--it's for folks round about 13. I did enjoy it quite a bit, even though I was 18, and I think someone younger would really appreciate it.
Yesterday I finishes reading Sand dollar summer by Kimberly K. Jones. One word. Wow! I couldn't put this book down, it was fantastic. Yesterday I read until 12:05 at midnight. A book that can keep you up that late must be a good one. This book wasn't the best book I have ever read in my life. But I'm pretty sure it's the one which got me into reading in the first place. It struck me right in the heart. It was a book I can never forget. It's a really light and bleezy read. It is a children's book...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
3 likes
·
like
· see review
Draft review:
Worthwhile story-line about a girl whose mother has a car accident and they go to the beach for her to recuperate for the summer. But quite preachy, yet with a wisdom that is a little empty.
Mother goes from 'cool Mom' who is always entertaining her two kids, to 'weird lady' who talks to herself on the beach. Now they have to make their own fun, they get sick of building sand castles but in the process realise they can live without TV and malls etc, they talk to the neighbours, and t...more
Worthwhile story-line about a girl whose mother has a car accident and they go to the beach for her to recuperate for the summer. But quite preachy, yet with a wisdom that is a little empty.
Mother goes from 'cool Mom' who is always entertaining her two kids, to 'weird lady' who talks to herself on the beach. Now they have to make their own fun, they get sick of building sand castles but in the process realise they can live without TV and malls etc, they talk to the neighbours, and t...more
Sep 17, 2012
Anna
added it
Sand Dollar Summer By: Kimberly K. Jones
Fiction
206
The book I read for my optional summer reading book was Sand Dollar Summer. This book involves a girl named Lise,her little brother and her mom. Recently Lise's mom got in a car crash and was injured very badly with cuts and bruises. She is now going to have to be in a wheelchair for the rest of her life just because of one car crash.Once Lise's mom got in this accdent she decides she no longer wants to live in the place she called home. She want...more
Fiction
206
The book I read for my optional summer reading book was Sand Dollar Summer. This book involves a girl named Lise,her little brother and her mom. Recently Lise's mom got in a car crash and was injured very badly with cuts and bruises. She is now going to have to be in a wheelchair for the rest of her life just because of one car crash.Once Lise's mom got in this accdent she decides she no longer wants to live in the place she called home. She want...more
I thought the book Sand Dollar Summer by Kimberly K. Jones was good but I honestly do not think it was amazing. I only gave this book three stars mainly because it was super easy to read for my age. I think some in about middle school would enjoy it very much. I think it was main for middle school aged kids, but I just went ahead and read it anyways. I thought it was a good book but I don't think it was anything to brag about. I think the kind of reader that should read this book is someone who...more
I really liked this book! Madi recomended this book to me saying that it was really good and that she liked it and that I probably would too, well she was right. This book is about these little kids mom who got in a car accident and is in the hospital. The little girls leave there older sister and and take a taxi to the hospital so they can see there mom. The older sister finds out they left and she was so worried about them she started looking every where. She finally found them at the hosptal...more
Lise is twelve, she lives with her mom and her younger brother who doesn't talk. Her dad left long ago, but everything is going well until their mother is badly injured in a car accident. Lise, Free, and their mother go to live in an old house on a remote Maine beach for the summer so her mother can recuperate. Free and her mother love the ocean, but Lise is afraid. It's just so big! As the summer drags on Lise learns lessons about herself and overcomes her fear. A charming story for girls.
this book is about Lise's summer at her mother's hometown. The new thing for Lise is that the homwtown is covered by ocean. She is terrified because this is the first time she has the experience with the ocean. She feels so lost and desperate because of how her mother changes, and how her life is being turn up side down.
What a wonderful book! It started so smoothly and suddenly pulled me back. I could understand Lise's feeling when she first lived in Maine. It was totally different from what she...more
What a wonderful book! It started so smoothly and suddenly pulled me back. I could understand Lise's feeling when she first lived in Maine. It was totally different from what she...more
This books review on the sleeve of the cover does it absolutely NO justice. This book was WAY better than I thought it would be. Sure, now that I think about it, the story was kiiind of boring. But once you get into, boring or not, it's awesome!!
But if your thinking about getting it or checking it out of the library or anything like that, do NOT read the review for it (It totally makes the book seem EXTREMELY boring). Just go ahead and read the first few pages...it'll pull you in
But if your thinking about getting it or checking it out of the library or anything like that, do NOT read the review for it (It totally makes the book seem EXTREMELY boring). Just go ahead and read the first few pages...it'll pull you in
Lise is a 12 year-old girl with a mute brother and a mom who has just experienced a terrible car accident. They go to mom's hometown in Maine for the summer to recuperate. Lise, terrified of the ocean and upset to be away from her friends, is too wrapped up in her own feelings to see the pain and frustration her mom is expereicing. She befriends an old Indian down the beach whom she is able to confide in.
A good story of change and coping.
A good story of change and coping.
I enjoyed this book quite a bit. The story is about the relationships that the main character, Lise, has with her mother and brother; an old Native American man named Ben; and the ocean. Lise's mother takes her two children to the coast of Maine for the summer, where she grew up, after she is the victim of a serious car accident. There, Lise learns more about her mother, growing up, and letting go. The story is thoughtful without being preachy.
1 like
·
like
· see review
This is an incredible story about change and growing up and realizing that life isn't ever going to be easy and that you have to be prepared for whatever it throws at you. I really connected with the characters, especially Lise - she's confused about who she is and scared for her mom, scared that nothing will be the same again. I liked how she was afraid of the ocean at first but gradually learned to love it. I'm one of those sappy people who cries at the simplest things, so it might not mean an...more
Candice tossed this one my way when I yelled, "I need a book! I am sick and tired of reading professional literature!" it tells a sweet, realistic story of an 11 yr old girl, the 6 year old selectively mute brother she adores, and their beautiful, independent mom. I could totally remember feeling like Lise at that age, and now I can totally relate to mom's feelings as well. Ah.
A sweet story for twelve year old girls, I liked it. It has some great traditional elements of a YA novel - single mum, disappeared dad, long lost love, wise elder, quirky younger brother (Free, who doesn't speak at age 5 until he gets a big fright) and interesting/pretending to be fearless but really fearful young girl - but the story is lovely not formulaic.
May 19, 2012
Haley
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Angelina O, Molly, Christina Brown, Steve, Emory A, Megan A,
Recommended to Haley by:
Lassie E
Shelves:
book-talk-books
I LOVED it. It's my second favorite book,after So B It, of course. I often like emotional books, that get you riled up, then get sad, and make you cry. I also like books that make you say 'wow', such as this one. This book will utterly amaze you, play with your emotions, and give you a strange, strong feeling of hope and love, and an urge to read MORE, MORE, MORE!
I loved this book! I think it was the funniest, sadest,and some other stuff in there! I just loved it! It was a really cute book I think that is the word you say for that! It is sad for some parts just because well I wont be one of those people who spoil the book! No offense! Just saying! Well I think anybody should read this book! Well Pretty Please read it!
12 yr old Lise must spend the summer at Fiddle Beach Island since her mother was injured in a car accident & wishes to recover there. Lise hates it but her younger brother Free adapts well. The longer Lise spends there the more she wants to go back to her real life, real town, real friends. Until she meets her neighbor Ben, an older native american.
This book was SOOOOO good! It was incredibly sad; first the mom gets into a terrible accident, then they move to the most BORING place in the world for the whole summer, and then her good friend DIES during a horrible storm! But I'm not gonna tell you everything, YOUR going to have to read it! :) just not while your at the beach (too scary)!
Time: 2009
Place: Maine beach house
206 pages
Favorite Lines:
~ "Don't ever doubt that a mere second can change your life forever."
~ I said in what Mom calls my princess-wants-it-now voice.
Dislikes: It felt disjointed and superficial. The relationship Lise had with ben wasn't believable -needed to spend more time with that.
Place: Maine beach house
206 pages
Favorite Lines:
~ "Don't ever doubt that a mere second can change your life forever."
~ I said in what Mom calls my princess-wants-it-now voice.
Dislikes: It felt disjointed and superficial. The relationship Lise had with ben wasn't believable -needed to spend more time with that.
Dec 04, 2011
Avery
is currently reading it
This book is about a girl named Lise and she has a little brother named Free, but he doesn't talk. Their mother gets in a car accident, and decides to go back to the place she grew up for some fresh air. They find so many surprises there. This is a great book, I'm reading it for the second time. I get emotional every time I read it!
I loved this book. Although Annalise's mother grew up in Maine, this is her first experience with the ocean when they relocate there to live. Her mother has a very bad accident and choosed to pick up and move Annalise and her brother Free to the Ocean. They all face tough situations as they try to adjust to their new lives.
This book was okay, but after the first few chapters, it just got dull.
Lise and her family have to up and move to Maine, in a cabin. On the beach. With nothing to do. Lise learns the best way of thinking, which is positively, and that she mustn't waste her life on moaning and groaning.
Lise is a whiner. The first few chapters were wonderful, I liked how she was described as strong and wonderful, with patience. When they moved to main, though, she became one of the great whiners of the world. I co...more
Lise and her family have to up and move to Maine, in a cabin. On the beach. With nothing to do. Lise learns the best way of thinking, which is positively, and that she mustn't waste her life on moaning and groaning.
Lise is a whiner. The first few chapters were wonderful, I liked how she was described as strong and wonderful, with patience. When they moved to main, though, she became one of the great whiners of the world. I co...more
A fabulous book and a wonderful selection for our reading invitational program. The character Ben was introduced at the right time and was foundational to the story; my favorite character by far. I am so sorry I put it off for this long. Highly reccomended to anyone, but especially those dealing with a difficult time in life.
This was fun to read while at the beach. I read it in two days - not a long book. I would recommend to 5th-8th grade girls. It's a book about big changes in life. Although it was a good story, it left a few questions at the end, so it didn't tie up as nicely as books usually do. Still, I enjoyed it!
Enjoyed the story. Easy read. Author from Monkton, VT. Only had a problem with the message that suicide at an old age is acceptable. Also felt that the main character's summer wasn't really as awful as she thought but that could be because I'm not a preteen anymore:)
it was a woderful book. you saw how your life could be changed in an instant. it makes you look back on your own life you are living and how yours could be changed just like that. in a blink of the eye. it just made me want to cry... but in a good way.
I picked this book up at a local thrift store and began reading it as soon as I got home. I noticed that whoever read it before me left notes and underlined parts throughout the book which I am drawn to. It's almost like sharing the book with someone else =]
I thought it was a good chapter book, only 200 pages. Although it just kind of ends with the characters after she discovers who she is and who loves her. It doesn't end telling us what she's going on to do...will she move back or not?
A great summer beach book. You can read this in a day. A simple story with great lessons about growing up. Interesting twist at the end. Don't spend money on the book, it reads so quickly and is so basic it is not worth the money...
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Share This Book
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
“The time to quit is before you wish you had.”
—
7 people liked it
“They see her lips moving when she is all alone and they may think that she is muttering crazy, witchy thoughtd, but I know that she is singing.”
—
4 people liked it
More quotes…
Apr 23, 2012 01:23pm