Boys, Bears, and a Serious Pair of Hiking Boots by Abby McDonald

Oct 20, 2009 Wendy rated it 3 of 5 stars

None of you who know me will be surprised that this book caught my eye on a table of ARCs. I thoroughly enjoyed this story of a suburban-style environmentalist encountering small-town British Columbia. It's chick-lit to the max, and Jenna's super-perky voice can be hard to handle, but the supporting characters are interesting, real, and well-drawn. I loved that it took place in actual identifiable British Columbia instead of miscellaneous blandsville. I don't think we have enough books that high...more

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Mar 30, 2010 April rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review, ya, own, contemporary

Boys, Bears, And A Serious Pair Of Hiking Boots by Abby McDonald is pretty much exactly what it appears to be, a cute book about a girl who goes into the wilderness. To be honest, I thought this book did an excellent job of serving it's purpose. It kept me entertained, I awwwwed in the right places, and definitely enjoyed the romance as well as the twists.
Read the rest of my review here

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Jan 07, 2013 Ari rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2012

IQ "I don't ever think about death. Not really, no more than a flicker of anxiety when I'm trying to merge the highway or watching a news clip about some unfortunate girl my age. Even then, those are vague, passing ideas-not forty feet away with razor-sharp claws, and angry teeth. But standing here, shaking with fear, I suddenly grasp the truth of it: the blood racing in my veins, the sharp tingle of my chilled skin, the intensity of every breath." Jenna, pg. 194

I picked that quote because it i...more IQ "I don't ever think about death. Not really, no more than a flicker of anxiety when I'm trying to merge the highway or watching a news clip about some unfortunate girl my age. Even then, those are vague, passing ideas-not forty feet away with razor-sharp claws, and angry teeth. But standing here, shaking with fear, I suddenly grasp the truth of it: the blood racing in my veins, the sharp tingle of my chilled skin, the intensity of every breath." Jenna, pg. 194

I picked that quote because it illustrates the larger point of why I enjoyed this quick read, Jenna's coming-of-age closely mirrors the average teenage girl, including your first near-death experience. The moment where you finally have to really think about the fact that you could die at any moment, including the present moment you're faced with an extremely dangerous situation. I also loved the way the author characterized Jenna's love for the environment, its a cause she's passionate about but once she's in British Columbia's wilderness she has to readjust some of her views and learn how to compromise for the cause while still maintaining her ideals. Plus the issue of best friends drifitng apart and what to do when your best friend starts hardcore judging you, it happens, it sucks and Jenna handles it quite well. I was glad to see the issue addressed because realistically your best friend will probably change over time in high school.

I did find it hard to relate to Jenna all the time which is fine but a big issue for me was the fact that she kept avoiding her mother's phone calls. Not that particular part, but her reason for avoiding the phone calls struck me as silly sincei t was just putting off the inevitable. But then again, my personality is much more need-to-know-right-away, I hate being in suspense and leaving things unresolved. I also don't get the Reeve attraction. It felt like the romance kinda got thrown in there and Reeve was wooden and just meh. Ethan was much more interesting. I even wanted to know more about Grady than I did Reeve.(less)

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Sep 01, 2012 Willa rated it 3 of 5 stars

The book is about a city girl who is heavily involved in saving the environment and goes to Canada to get a real dose of the wilderness. Besides the stereotypical city girl persona and Canada (I mean really? There is wilderness in America too and even probably some around/in New Jersey), I thought the author did an admirable job portraying her experience in a small town. I also appreciated that Jenna was open to new experiences rather than avoiding hiking, kayaking, and other outdoor experiences...more The book is about a city girl who is heavily involved in saving the environment and goes to Canada to get a real dose of the wilderness. Besides the stereotypical city girl persona and Canada (I mean really? There is wilderness in America too and even probably some around/in New Jersey), I thought the author did an admirable job portraying her experience in a small town. I also appreciated that Jenna was open to new experiences rather than avoiding hiking, kayaking, and other outdoor experiences.

The plot seems pretty simple and obvious, a girl gets away from her parents to have adventure that involves boys. However, McDonald included other elements and depth to such a cookie cutter plot to make the book unique. Jenna is less of a misunderstood teen whose parents just don't understand her, who then has a transformation when she roughs it in Canada (snort), but rather her parents are having serious trouble with an impeding possible divorce. And she doesn't want to deal with that. She wants to run away it. So right off the story is less about the unfairness and misunderstood-ness about a ruined summer, but rather about a deeper emotional escape that Jenna seeks.

McDonald also adds depth when dealing with Jenna's involvement in environment activism. You would think that it's a passion that Jenna would have a new appreciation for when she actually lives in a ecological environment and that's right, but McDonald makes Jenna's environmentalism not about the cause, but rather about the community that one gains from being involved in such causes. By introduces this element McDonald makes Jenna more accessible to a wider audience. McDonald had Jenna grappling with loneliness and shows Jenna's motivation behind her cause is a basic human motivator - being lonely. That is not to say that the environment is not an important issue and that Jenna loses sight of that.

By adding in Jenna's loneliness and her desperate need to avoid her parent's break up, McDonald has made this book a worthy read.

I also appreciated that McDonald included Ethan's character profile. I think she could write another book solely on his experiences, expressing many of the same themes as this book, but with an entirely different plot line.

On the other hand, I, personally, am not a fan of basic plot structure that McDonald used to express the above elements. It's been done again and again. Not much new. Nice for an afternoon read and you don't want any surprises. I wouldn't read it again, which warranted the three star rating. (less)

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Jul 16, 2012 Isamlq rated it 2 of 5 stars

Perhaps it’s the fact that she’s way too perky/positive for me to love. The vibe she was sending out of 'why don’t we just all get along and let’s just keep things smooth on the home front' was nice… but left me wanting something more. A lot of the time, I found myself feeling it lacked that needed oomph. Simply, we witness Jenna being Jenna. She’s environmentally minded, sensitive to others… willing to do what needs be done to fit in. I enjoyed her having a definite position on certain things;...more Perhaps it’s the fact that she’s way too perky/positive for me to love. The vibe she was sending out of 'why don’t we just all get along and let’s just keep things smooth on the home front' was nice… but left me wanting something more. A lot of the time, I found myself feeling it lacked that needed oomph. Simply, we witness Jenna being Jenna. She’s environmentally minded, sensitive to others… willing to do what needs be done to fit in. I enjoyed her having a definite position on certain things; but what I liked more was though she is a good intentions, she didn’t always pull things off. Of course, there were those off and on moments of her being a brat. It’s that bit that proved that she’s not always wonderful. So that when one contrasts her to Fiona (who’s most definitely not always wonderful,) their personalities were not black-white, opposites. Both are capable of being something else... it just took them a long while before they showed they could

Her willingness to put herself out there is her biggest draw. She’s hell bent on doing something good, making nice and carving out a place for herself… that there were points that she’d miss out on what others felt about where she was coming from. So that slow opening of her eyes and acceptance tat note everyone saw things as she did was a relief. My main issue is that said shift is so drastic by books end. I wish she’d have stuck to her guns… but not as stubbornly as Olivia had. I wish she’s kept to some of what she’d initially been spouting. But again, the point as she’d learned is that not everything is cleanly defined. (I suppose that’s the point anyway.)

On her and the boys; there be three boys, the old one, the surly one and the approachable one. I found it cute how she attempted to fit in. I found it cute how they had their own thing and that with each attempt on her part one of them would thaw. Slow building up there… and it’s when most of the funny things took place. Overall, the romance was cute… if a bit insulting (seriously, it really was.) But if you factor in her going moon-y eyed and slack jawed over shirtless Reeve, well it was cute nonetheless.

2.5/5
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Mar 19, 2012 Lissa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Great teen romance book and I loved to see "environmentalism" addressed in such a thoughtful way!

During high school, we have the chance to redefine ourselves -- to distance ourselves from our parents and experiment with defining ourselves through our friends, our music, our activities, our beliefs.

In Boys, Bears and a Serious Pair of Hiking Boots by Abby McDonald, the author cleverly confronts the idealism of high school environmental activism in a real world situation, and we all learn from th...more Great teen romance book and I loved to see "environmentalism" addressed in such a thoughtful way!

During high school, we have the chance to redefine ourselves -- to distance ourselves from our parents and experiment with defining ourselves through our friends, our music, our activities, our beliefs.

In Boys, Bears and a Serious Pair of Hiking Boots by Abby McDonald, the author cleverly confronts the idealism of high school environmental activism in a real world situation, and we all learn from the experience.

More than anything, Jenna is a Green Teen. She leads the Green Teen group at her New Jersey suburban high school and spends her time organizing protests and writing letters to Congress, encouraging recycling, and protecting endangered species. She doesn’t understand why everyone else isn’t as passionate about the environment as she is. When she spends the summer with her godmother Susie in a remote town in Canada, Jenna’s love for the great outdoors and nature are challenged, repeatedly. A disastrous kayak experience, a few cold showers, and a frightening trip through the woods have Jenna sticking close to the house. Her best friend isn’t returning her calls, and Susie’s step-daughter Fiona is more sullen goth nightmare than fun roommate. The local boys are intruging, and two of them seem interested in Jenna, especially once she stop spouting environmentally-friendly advice and tries to just be friendly instead.

Will Jenna be able to distance herself from her Green Teen teachings and learn to live happily in the Canadian wilderness? Which of the small town guys really likes her, Reeve or Ethan? Will the summer end before Jenna can sort out her feelings about boys, avoid the bears, and break in her new pair of hiking books?

Check out Boys, Bears and a Serious Pair of Hiking Boots for a delightful eco-friendly romance -- it's available as a printed book in the YA Fiction section of the library and it's also available as an ebook for checkout and download from http://ebooks.tscpl.org.
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Jul 18, 2011 Barbara rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Seventeen-year-old Jenna is concerned about the environment, and she and her BFF Olivia have a serious commitment to the green movement. When her parents spend the summer in separate places, Jenna ends up in Canada with her godmother who is preparing to open a bed-and-breakfast business. Other than her, no one seems to be welcoming Jenna with open arms. When she finally makes a romantic connection, the boy in question prefers to keep their romance a secret, which Jenna says she is fine with. But...more

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Jun 19, 2011 Kerri rated it 3 of 5 stars

Boys, Bears, and a Serious Pair of Hiking Boots is a fun quick read. I enjoyed the many crazy situations that the main character Jenna finds herself in and the positive way that she faces each scenario head on. I also liked that she was a green teen but found that her hardcore environmentalist attitude was a little unbelievable for someone so young. I might have believed it had her parents been green enthusiasts and acting as her role models but they weren't and the book never really explains wh...more

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Jun 03, 2010 Debbie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Green Teen activist, Jenna, convinces her parents to let her go visit her godmother, Susie, in rural Canada in order to avoid spending her summer in Florida with her grandmother and the rest of her grandmother’s elderly friends. She is convinced that she will be able to commune with nature and view all of the things she has been fighting to protect. Jenna quickly finds that it’s not what she was expecting as she encounters bears, moose, her godmother’s goth step-daughter and a trio of handsome t...more

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Apr 26, 2010 Liz rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance, young-adult

After reading this book, I am a big fan of McDonald's writing style. Her ironic humor really sat well with me. The characters were very believable and did not seem forced (with the exception of Olivia... a rather minor character). And the moral of the story is shown without forcing it down the throats of readers.

So why did I give this book 3 stars? There were two things that really did not sit well with me. 1) A main character undergoes a major attitude shift in the book, but it happens too com...more

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Mar 21, 2010 Christina (Reading Extensively) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: chicklit, read2010, romance, ya

Jenna is a die hard member of Green Teen, her high school's conservation activist group. When faced with a summer at her grandmother's Florida retirement community, Jenna convinces her parents to let her go stay with her godmother Susie in Canada. This is her chance to put her eco-friendly ideals to work as Jenna tries to convince Susi's family and friends about the importance of conservation. Unfortunately the Stillwater community does not feel the same way, especially Susi's unfriendly stepdau...more Jenna is a die hard member of Green Teen, her high school's conservation activist group. When faced with a summer at her grandmother's Florida retirement community, Jenna convinces her parents to let her go stay with her godmother Susie in Canada. This is her chance to put her eco-friendly ideals to work as Jenna tries to convince Susi's family and friends about the importance of conservation. Unfortunately the Stillwater community does not feel the same way, especially Susi's unfriendly stepdaughter Fiona and her friends Ethan, Grady, and Reeve. Jenna is undeterred however and she does her best to make friends and try to make a difference.

Boys, Bears, and a Serious Pair of Hiking Boots is a funny and moving book about family, friendship, and finding out what you really believe. Jenna is such a great character and I enjoyed watching her evolve from this girl just blindly spouting ideals to this more mature young woman who has a greater understanding of herself and the world around her. Having Jenna go to Canada and observe life in a very different environment from her New Jersey suburb was an important part of her character's growth. It reminded me of my childhood experiences staying at friends' homes where I would see a different way of doing things or what it was like going off to college and being exposed to new ideas or having beliefs challenged. Susi is a fantastic godmother who allows Jenna to be herself but at the same time she is able to help Jenna see the truth about herself and what she believes. Fiona at first is only portrayed as this angry girl who listens to angry/depressing music and makes sarcastic comments but as the book goes on we see why Fiona is so unhappy and we see a depth to her character. The boys, especially Ethan and Reeve both play an important part in Jenna's growth. As Jenna goes on hilarious wilderness adventures with Ethan and as she develops a friendship (and maybe more) with Reeve she undergoes a change in her perceptions.

I thought this was an absolutely fantastic story. It has been compared to the novels of Sarah Dessen and I would have to agree. I would definitely recommend this book to fans of Sarah Dessen, Carolyn Mackler, and Elizabeth Scott. Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in return for an honest review.
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Mar 11, 2010 Meg rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2010, young-adult, sent-for-review

Abby McDonald’s Boys, Bears, And A Serious Pair Of Hiking Boots is a fun adventure centering around a strong-willed, sensitive and intelligent teen. Jenna is an assertive narrator who isn’t content blending into the pack — but isn’t a troublemaker, either. As a narrator, I appreciated her humorous and funny take on life in Canada, which is decidedly different from the halls of her New Jersey high school.

The progression of Jenna as a character is really what made this book for me. She wasn’t anno...more Abby McDonald’s Boys, Bears, And A Serious Pair Of Hiking Boots is a fun adventure centering around a strong-willed, sensitive and intelligent teen. Jenna is an assertive narrator who isn’t content blending into the pack — but isn’t a troublemaker, either. As a narrator, I appreciated her humorous and funny take on life in Canada, which is decidedly different from the halls of her New Jersey high school.

The progression of Jenna as a character is really what made this book for me. She wasn’t annoying or intolerant in the beginning — not exactly — but by the close of Boys, Bears, And A Serious Pair Of Hiking Boots, we can really see a change in who she has become. This all felt organic to me; I never felt like Jenna had suddenly morphed into someone new in the spaces between page turnings. The sweet love story that develops, centering around glances and barely-brushing fingertips, was really endearing, too.

I read this novel over the span of a few hours and really felt like I’d been dropped in a Canadian river alongside our narrator. I loved Susie and the bed and breakfast she and husband Adam were renovating, and I even came to love — shock of shocks — Fiona, our rebellious and fiesty friend. Each of the characters were well-drawn and, in addition to all the Johnson boys, I felt like I had gotten to know them well by the close of the book. And I have to make a special note of how much I loved and was satisfied with the ending! I couldn’t have asked for a better one.

Fans of young adult fiction will appreciate a heroine who isn’t a cookie-cutter cut-out of any other I’ve read, and the addition of environmental issues made this an interesting read without it becoming pedantic or heavy-handed. I never felt like McDonald was trying to pull one over on me by forcing me to change out my lightbulbs or recycle every can of soda I drink (though I do those things!). Basically, just a really fun and light summer story — a great read for lazy afternoon.(less)

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Jun 18, 2013 Marcia rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Der erste Satz
"Re-cycelt, re-duziert, re-generiert!"

Meine Meinung
Das Buch habe ich bereits seit letzten Winter bei mir auf dem SuB liegen. Ich wollte es aber partout nicht im Winter lesen, sondern lieber auf den Sommer warten. Und da war ja jetzt "Sommer" haben, habe ich gleich mal danach gegriffen, denn es war echt nicht so einfach das Buch nicht zu lesen. Aber was man nicht alles für das perfekte Lesevergnügen tut. Mir tut es nur ein bisschen für den cbj Verlag leid, weil die mir das zum Rezen...more Der erste Satz
"Re-cycelt, re-duziert, re-generiert!"

Meine Meinung
Das Buch habe ich bereits seit letzten Winter bei mir auf dem SuB liegen. Ich wollte es aber partout nicht im Winter lesen, sondern lieber auf den Sommer warten. Und da war ja jetzt "Sommer" haben, habe ich gleich mal danach gegriffen, denn es war echt nicht so einfach das Buch nicht zu lesen. Aber was man nicht alles für das perfekte Lesevergnügen tut. Mir tut es nur ein bisschen für den cbj Verlag leid, weil die mir das zum Rezensieren zur Verfügung gestellt haben und so lange auf die Rezension warten mussten. Aber besser später als nie... Ich habe das Buch übrigens erst gestern Abend begonnen und bin schon durch. Das sagt auf jeden Fall etwas darüber aus wie mir das Buch gefallen hat, aber lest doch am besten selbst was ich von dem Buch halte...

Die Geschichte hat mir schon gefallen, als ich mir nur den Klappentext durchgelesen habe. Zumal ich ein riesiger Kanada Fan bin und ich die Natur dort über alles liebe. Außerdem passt diese Geschichte natürlich mal wieder total in mein Beuteschema. Ich könnte echt nur noch solche Bücher lesen und damit wär ich super glücklich. Ich finde der cbt bzw cbj Verlag könnte eine Bücherflatrate machen, denn dann würde ich glaube fast alle Bücher kaufen :D Aber ich schweife mal wieder ab. Diese Geschichte hat wie gesagt total in mein Beuteschema gepasst, da sie darauf schließen lässt, dass sie eine angenehm, leichte Sommergeschichte ist, die den Leser zum Träumen bringt. Außerdem konnte man schon am Klappentext erkennen, dass dies eins der romantischen Büchern ist. Jetzt fragt ihr euch aber sicher worum es denn überhaupt geht (wenn nicht überspringt einfach die nächsten paar Zeilen :D). In der Geschichte geht es um die 17-jährige Jenna. Jenna lebt zusammen mit ihren Eltern in einer Vorstadt in New Jersey. In ihrem Leben gibt es ein großes Thema was ihren Alltag bestimmt: Umweltschutz, denn Jenna ist eine dieser Umwelttanten, die alles und jeden probieren zu retten und die alle anderen, die nichts für den Umweltschutz tun, von oben herab behandeln und denen Vorwürfe machen. Zusammen mit ihrer besten Freundin Olivia ist sie einer Umweltschutzgruppe an ihrer Schule beigetreten und zwar den Green Teens. Gemeinsam protestieren die z.B. dagegen, dass Wälder bebaut werden und dadurch Lebensräume zerstört werden. Sie ist die Anführerin dieser Truppe und steckt ihre ganze Freizeit in den Umweltschutz. In den Sommerferien wollte sie eigentlich ein Praktikum bei einer Firma annehmen, die sich auf Umweltschutz spezialisiert hat, aber dann kommt alles anders. Denn ihr Vater verkündet, dass er einen Job in Europa hat und dort die Ferien verbringen will und ihre Mutter möchte ihre Mutter besuchen und bei ihr im Resort die Ferien verbringen. Niemand möchte etwas davon hören, was Jenna denn eigentlich möchte, denn ihre Eltern halten diesen ganzen Umweltschutz für absoluten Mist. Jenna hat Angst, dass sich ihre Eltern trennen wollen, aber sie lässt den Gedanken gar nicht richtig zu, weil sie Angst hat, dass er sich dann bewahrheitet. Ihre beste Freundin kommt dann aber auf die Idee: Jenna könnte doch die Ferien bei ihrer Patentante Susie in Kanada verbringen, diese ist dort erst vor kurzem hingezogen, weil sie Adam geheiratet hat. Gesagt, getan. Jenna und Olivia können Jennas Eltern davon überzeugen wie toll es wär wenn Jenna nach Kanada reisen könnte und dort ihren Sommer verbringen könnte. Und schwupps befindet sie sich in dem kleinen Ort Stillwater, wo die Natur noch den größten Tein einnimmt und die Kauptstraße aus ungefähr 4 Geschäften besteht. Jenna sieht gleich ein neues Projekt, denn sie möchte die Einwohner dazu bringen mehr auf die Umwelt zu achten, doch dann geschehen ganz andere Dinge, denn sie hatte nicht mit der fiesen Stieftochter von Susie gerechnet, die ihr probiert das Leben zur Hölle zu machen und auch nicht mit den Stillwater-Jungs, die sie nicht so richtig akzeptieren wollen. Und dann ist da ja auch noch Reeve, der sie für die absolute Großstadttussi hält. Aber damit ist nicht genug, denn in Stillwater herrscht wirklich noch die Natur und da ist es nichts ungewöhnliches wenn man einem Bären oder einem Elch begegnet. Doch dann nimmt alles eine andere Richtung und dieser Sommer könnte Jennas perfekter Sommer werden. Doch da ist dann immer noch das Problem mit ihren Eltern, wovor sie sich möglichst lange verstecken möchte. Die Geschichte hat mich wirklich von der ersten Seite an gefesselt und das obwohl sie eigentlich gar nicht wirklich spannend war. Sie war einfach nur schön und total angenehm zu lesen. Ich wollte am liebsten in diese Geschichte mit hineinschlüpfen und auch alles miterleben. Ich kann euch das Buch wirklich nur für den Sommer empfehlen. Egal ob ihr selbst im Urlaub seid oder euren Urlaub auf Terasien oder Balkonien verbringt. Diese Geschichte hat mir immer wieder ein Lächeln auf meine Lippen gezaubert und ich wollte es wirklich gar nicht mehr aus der Hand legen. Die Geschichte ist einfach zum Träumen schön und überhaupt nicht kitschig. Besonders gut hat mir gefallen, dass hier der Umweltschutz als kleines Nebenthema behandelt wird, weil so etwas natürlich wichtig ist, aber diese Geschichte hat auch gezeigt, dass man auch bei der Rettung der Welt einige Kompromisse eingehen muss, um nicht nur die Welt zu retten, sondern auch den Menschen, die auf ihr Leben ihre Existenz zu lassen. Ich habe wirklich noch nie eine Geschichte gelesen, die den Umweltschutz behandelt und ich finde einfach, dass dieses Thema wirklich super in dieser Geschichte untergebracht wurde. Ich würde jetzt am liebsten sofort nach Kanada reisen und dort meine Sommerferien verbringen. Diese Geschichte ist einfach wie für den Sommer gemacht, weil sie romantisch, aber nicht kitschig, locker und leicht und einfach nur wunderschön ist.

Die Charaktere haben mir auch alle auf Anhieb gefallen. Auch wenn ich einen Charakter wirklich einfach am liebsten mal gegen die Wand klatschen würde. Ihr werdet gleich sicher merken wer das denn ist. Trotzdem habe ich auf jeden Fall alle anderen Charaktere in mein Herz geschlossen und finde sie echt super. Ich finde es toll, dass jeder Charakter auch seine schlechten Seiten hat, denn im echten Leben ist ja auch niemand perfekt. Das verleiht den Charakteren den vollkommenen Realismus. Ich könnte mir echt vorstellen, dass es diese Charaktere wirklich irgendwo gibt oder, dass sich die Autorin zumindest von Personen, die sie kennt, inspirieren lassen hat. Ach die Charaktere sind einfach perfekt durchdacht und passen sehr gut zu der Geschichte, aber lest selbst ;) Jenna ist 17 Jahre alt und lebt zusammen mit ihren Eltern in einem Vorort in New Jersey. Ihr Vater lässt sich nur selten zu Hause blicken, weil er so viel arbeitet, aber manchmal hat Jenna das Gefühl, dass er gar nicht nach Hause kommen möchte. In ihrer Freizeit angagiert sie sich sehr für den Umweltschutz und denkt, dass sie die Welt retten kann. Sie ist zusammen mit ihrer besten Freundin Olivia einer Umweltschutzgruppe an ihrer Schule beigetreten und ist inzwischen sogar die Leiterin. Diese Gruppe protestiert z.B. gegen den Bau von Gebäuden auf Wiesen. Jenna möchte einfach die Natur und Landschaft schützen. Deswegen freut sie sich auch sehr darüber, dass sie den Sommer in Kanada verbringen darf, weil es da ja noch so viel Natur gibt. Aber sie hat auch große Zweifel an den Gründen warum ihre Eltern den Sommer nicht gemeinsam verbringen. Doch sie will gar nicht daran denken, dass sich ihre Eltern trennen könnten. In Kanada angekommen würde sie am liebsten alles zu Gunsten des Umweltschutzes verändern, doch sie merkt ziemlich schnell, dass man auch beim Umweltschutz Kompromisse eingehen muss, um anderen Menschen nicht zu schaden. Jenna möchte am liebsten von allen in Stillwater sofort gemocht werden und setzt alles daran, dass sie dazu gehört, was sich allerdings schwieriger erweist, als sie gedacht hat. Ich muss ehrlich sagen, dass sie mir am Anfang ziemlich mit diesem ganzen Umweltschutz auf die Nerven gegangen ist, weil sie sich für ziemlich wichtig gehalten hat und von sich selbst gedacht hat, dass sie diejenige sein wird, die den Planeten rettet. So kam es mir jedenfalls vor. Aber als sie dann in Kanada angekommen ist, hat sich irgendwas in ihrer Denkweise verändert. Man merkt, dass sie realisiert, dass andere Menschen auch dadurch geschadet werden kann, wenn man sich für den Umweltschutz einsetzt. Sie merkt einfach, dass man auch mal Kompromisse eingehen muss. Selbst wenn es um den Umweltschutz geht. Nachdem sich ihre Denkweise so verändert hat, habe ich gemerkt, dass ich sie wirklich total gerne mag. Ich finde es toll, dass sie immer probiert alles zu geben und, dass sie den Leuten, die sie mag total gerne hilft. Sie ist halt einfach vollkommen hilfsbereit. Manchmal kann sie aber auch eine kleine Dramaqueen sein, aber sind wir die nicht alle mal ? Ich mag sie auf jeden Fall total gerne und finde sie echt total liebenswert. Außerdem hat sie mir einige Lachanfälle beschert, weil sie einfach manchmal ein bisschen tollpatschig ist und sich dann auch noch so schön darüber aufregt, wenn andere dann über sie lachen. Da lag ich teilweise echt am Boden. Sie passt einfach perfekt zu der Geschichte und ich könnte mir wirklich keine bessere Protagonistin vorstellen. Sie ist einfach toll und mir gefällt es, dass sie sich für etwas so angagiert, auch wenn sie es anfangs echt ein bisschen übertreibt. Reeve lebt schon sein ganzes Leben in Stillwater. Sein Vater hat die Familie verlassen und er möchte eigentlich aufs College gehen, aber er hat Angst seine Mama alleine zu lassen. Reeve ist ziemlich genervt davon, dass Jenna alles verändern will und das obwohl sie noch nicht mal weiß was das für Folgen für die Einwohner hat. Er hält Jenna einfach für eine oberflächliche Großstadttussi, die sich für ganz wichtig hält. Aber nach und nach merkt man, dass er Jenna doch sehr gerne mag, auch wenn ich immer nicht wusste, ob er sie nur als Freundin sieht oder auch als mehr. Ich mochte ihn auf jeden Fall von Anfang an und ich wusste auch gleich, dass er total nett ist. Er konnte halt einfach Jennas Ansichten nicht teilen und es hat ihn ziemlich wütend gemacht, dass sie da alles durchsetzten möchte ohne über die Folgen nachzudenken. Ich mag ihn einfach total gerne, vor allem weil er der total ruhige Typ eigentlich ist, aber manchmal doch Action braucht. Ach er ist einfach toll so wie er ist. Susie ist Jennas Patentante. Sie war die Zimmerbewohnerin ihrer Mutter auf dem College. Früher muss sie ein ziemlich wildes Leben geführt haben, denn sie hat nie auf einer Party gefehlt. Doch dann hat sie Adam kennengelernt, in den sie sich dann auch gleich verliebt hat. Die beiden haben geheiratet und sie ist mit ihm tatsächlich nach Kanada gezogen. Das Haus, in dem die beiden wohnen möchte sie gerne zu einer Pension umbauen, denn das ist ihr großer Traum. Deswegen macht es ihr auch nichts aus jede freie Minute zu arbeiten. Sie ist immer nett und lieb, auch wenn ihre Stieftochter sie total anmacht. Ich mag Susie wirklich total gerne, weil sie einfach so liebenswert ist.

Der Schreibstil hat mir wirklich sehr gut gefallen. Das Buch ist aus der personalen Ich-Perspektive von Jenna geschrieben, sodass man wirklich alles direkt mitbekommt. Ich finde, dass der Schreibstil wirklich super zu lesen ist und auch sehr gut zu der Geschichte passt. Ich musste echt oft so laut loslachen, dass mich mein Papa richtig komisch angeguckt hat. Der Schreibstil ist einfach total humorvoll. Er ist wirklich super angenehm zu lesen und die Seiten fliegen nur so am Leser dran vorbei. Außerdem passt er perfekt zu Jenna. Ich denke, dass jeder mit diesem Schreibstil super zurecht kommt, weil er einfach total locker und leicht ist. Eben der perfekte Schreibstil für ein Buch, dass man im Sommer liest, denn dann möchte man keinen besonders außergewöhnlichen Schreibstil. So geht es mir zumindest. Deswegen mag ich den Schreibstil einfach mal total gerne.

Der Titel gefällt mir wirklich sehr gut, weil der Sommer in Kanada sich zu dem perfekten Sommer entwickeln könnte (ob er denn wirklich perfekt ist, müsst ihr selbst herausfinden). Außerdem finde ich, dass er irgendwie schon auf eine Liebesgeschichte schließen lässt. Trotzdem muss ich ehrlich gesagt sagen, dass ich den Originaltitel noch besser finde. Den hätte man auch einfach auf deutsch übersetzen können, denn "Boys bears and a serious pair of hiking boots" passt vom Titel her einfach viel besser zu der Geschichte. Aber ich finde auch, dass der deutsche Titel gut passt. Daran kann ich echt nicht meckern, auch wenn ich manchmal ja echt nach Sachen suche, an denen ich meckern kann :D

Das Cover finde ich einfach nur total gelungen. Es macht sofort Lust auf Urlaub und passt einfach super zu der Geschichte. Zumal die Geschichte auch öfter an diesem See spielt und auch die Wanderschuhe (Hiking Boots) eine Rolle in der Geschichte spielen. Ich finde das Cover einfach schön und sehr passend gewählt.

Mein Fazit
"Mein perfekter Sommer" von Abby McDonald konnte mich in jeder Hinsicht komplett überzeugen. Die Geschichte regt zum Träumen an und ist einfach nur wunderschön. Man bekommt einfach sofort Lust auf Urlaub. Die Geschichte ist einfach wie gemacht für die Ferien. Auch die Charaktere, der Schreibstil, der Titel und das Cover sind einfach super. Ich kann wirklich an nichts meckern und kann euch das Buch wirklich für den Sommer ans Herz legen. Es ist wirklich super schnell zu lesen und man hat total viel Freude an diesem Buch. Einfach das totale Summerread !
(less)

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Feb 19, 2013 Amanda N. rated it 3 of 5 stars

Boys, Bears and a Serious Pair of Hiking Boots by Abby McDonald was basically an average YA novel. A teenaged girl named Jenna seeks refuge with her godmother in British Columbia for one summer to avoid the impending domestic disaster of her parents' divorce. Life in the small Canadian town of Stillwater is much different from Jenna's New Jersey home, and not exactly what she expected.

There are two major things I enjoyed about Jenna's story, which makes my rating 3/5 stars. First, I enjoyed read...more

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Sep 15, 2011 Audrey rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

Title: Boys, Bears, and a Serious Pair of Hiking Boots
Author: Abby McDonald
Genre: YA fiction
Publishing Information: 304 pages; April 13th, 2010 by Candlewick Press
Series: Stand alone

Where I got it: E-book from the library

One sentence: When Green Teen activist Jenna travels from New Jersey to Canada for the summer, she learns infinite amounts about wilderness survival, boys and compromise.

Themes: Summer, romance, environmentalism

Main character: 4/5
Jenna was a clever, smart and witty main charac...more

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Sep 08, 2011 Bridgid Gallagher rated it 3 of 5 stars

I was super excited to read this book. It's set in British Columbia, my second home, AND it involves a girl learning about boys, bears, and the great outdoors.

In general, the story didn't disappoint.

Main character, Jenna, is a suburban "Green Teen." She demonstrates with her other green teens, demanding environmental awareness, etc. with her best friend. Desperate to avoid a summer in Florida with her mom and grandma, Jenna heads to British Columbia, where her godmother is opening a bed and br...more

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May 31, 2012 Tiffany rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, chick-lit, too-much-fluff, cutesy, coming-of-age, contains-insta-love, summer

I was really impressed with Abby McDonald's Getting Over Garrett Delaney (as shown in my review), so I snagged her debut novel, hoping for a some more good chick lit.

Boys, Bears, and a Serious Pair of Hiking Boots is really about this Green Teen named Jenna who is an environmentalist extraordinaire. Jenna goes to live with her godmother for the summer and is all ready to paint the town with solar panels and recycling campaign when she meets real nature people. It sounded like a pretty hilarious...more

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Jul 20, 2010 Christi rated it 4 of 5 stars

Summary: Jenna is a Green Teen environmentalist from the Jersey ‘burbs. She and her friend Olivia have their whole summer planned out until Jenna’s parents decide otherwise. With her dad going to work in Europe for the summer and her mom moving to her grandmother’s house in Florida, Jenna opts to stay with her godmother Susie and her husband and stepdaughter in Canada. Susie is remodeling a bed and breakfast on a tight budget and has no time to listen to Jenna’s eco-friendly suggestions. Jenna a...more

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Sep 12, 2012 Ariel Avalon rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012-challenge, 4-stars, chicklit, relationships, reviewed, stand-alone

Review also posted at my blog

Jenna is a Green Teen activist from Jersey. She is all about saving the enviroment, but when her family decide that they will be staying with her grandma in Florida while her dad is on an overseas business trip, she decides that it's time to really become one with nature. Best way for her to do this, is to spend her summer in Canada at her Godmother Susie's home. She is excited to see the beauty of nature that her activism is so eager to save, and the hot boys are ce...more Review also posted at my blog

Jenna is a Green Teen activist from Jersey. She is all about saving the enviroment, but when her family decide that they will be staying with her grandma in Florida while her dad is on an overseas business trip, she decides that it's time to really become one with nature. Best way for her to do this, is to spend her summer in Canada at her Godmother Susie's home. She is excited to see the beauty of nature that her activism is so eager to save, and the hot boys are certainly not a downside either. She quickly realizes that her ideals are far from perfect, and that nature has a lot to teach her about herself.

After reading Getting Over Garrett Delaney, I was anxious to read something else by Abby McDonald and this was the first thing I could get my hands on. I was really worried I wouldn't like the story. I have no problem with conservation or activism, but they usually don't make for an entertaining read for me.

The characters were enjoyable. They weren't as fun as I had hoped they would be, but I did enjoy reading about them. The plot was really simple. Things kind of fell flat for me. The story seemed like it was going to have a real direction about it, and it ended up being just a coming of age story. It's like the summary was too hard to write for what the story was. Now, don't let that sell you off of it, because it was really fun to read.

I dislike how the best friend eventually got painted out to be the villain, but the way the story needed to go, it was kind of needed. It becomes obvious right away that the friendship will crumble based on this summer. It's sad to lose friends, but considering Jenna really found herself, which seems like it was something she didn't have before, it was worth losing a friend over. It has to be a horrible thing to realize that you were trying so hard to fit in somewhere that you lost yourself, but Jenna handles the realization with her head held high.

So while not as cute as Getting Over Garrett Delaney, it was a really cute story that I enjoyed reading. Really probably a 3.5 star book, but I'm feeling generous. (less)

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Feb 12, 2010 Christina (Confessions of a Book Addict) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, young-adult

Once I saw the cover of this book, I knew I would enjoy it. I don't think I've read a YA book that has focused this much on nature. I applaud Abby McDonald as it was such a nice change of pace. After reading a few pages, I was instantly fond of the main character, Jenna. In my opinion, compared to many of the other female protagonists out there, Jenna is such a good role model for young women and is extremely easy to relate to. When Jenna arrives in Canada, it's like another world for her. Altho...more Once I saw the cover of this book, I knew I would enjoy it. I don't think I've read a YA book that has focused this much on nature. I applaud Abby McDonald as it was such a nice change of pace. After reading a few pages, I was instantly fond of the main character, Jenna. In my opinion, compared to many of the other female protagonists out there, Jenna is such a good role model for young women and is extremely easy to relate to. When Jenna arrives in Canada, it's like another world for her. Although she may be an environment activist at home, this is a whole new experience for her in Canada. She is thrown into a new situation and must adapt. Plus, she initially shares a room with her godmother's spiteful stepdaughter, Fiona, whom at first I'm convinced is Satan's spawn. Jenna must also try and make friends with the locals, which proves to be a daunting task since they view her as a silly city girl. Under all this is the sub plot of her parents and their possible impending divorce. I think that many young adults will really appreciate this book's message, but also enjoy the fun experiences that Jenna is involved in, such as white water rafting, hiking, mountain biking, fly fishing and rock climbing. And of course, there are ruggedly handsome Canadian boys.

There are a few things that I especially liked about this book. I loved Abby McDonald's references to a book that Jenna finds at a quirky bookstore. It's called the Modern Mountain Man's Survival Guide. Throughout the novel, McDonald references various parts of this Survival Guide, which can be applied to everyday life and not just hunting. This Survival Guide becomes Jenna's bible not only when dealing with wildlife, but also with people. I thought this was a great touch. I also loved the fact that Jenna was a strong female character. It's not often we see this in YA literature. Without giving too much away, Jenna becomes even more admirable when contrasted with her best friend, Olivia. Olivia defines herself by her boyfriend, which unfortunately happens a lot in high school and she essentially takes Jenna's friendship for granted.

Finally, this novel covers many life lessons and ultimately leaves Jenna thinking about the path she is on and her own belief system. Many of her beliefs are challenged and she is asked to think from a different point of view. Jenna essentially learns about herself through this experience. I sigh happily, because isn't that what all good young adult novels should do? With that said, I think that this book is the perfect accessory to any beach bag or trip to summer camp. It's the epitome of an enjoyable summer read.(less)

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Aug 22, 2012 Lisa rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: audiobooks, ya

Oh my dear friend, Abby McDonald, what happened here? I picked this because I really enjoyed listening to Sophomore Switch, and because I wanted a "light listen"...But this book was just blah. It had no real conflict. I didn't like the main character enough to root for her. It was obvious from the start which boys she was going to be with: brooding asshat, and which one she wouldn't: guy who was too nice. The plot twist (view spoiler) was pretty inconsequential. It w...more

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Apr 12, 2010 Raquel rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-for-work

I was a very environmentally-minded teen. I majored in Marine & Environmental Science at my vocational High School and was even co-president of the Environmental Science club. I was big into wolves, the World Wild Life fund, hiking, conservation, recycling, etc. Unlike Jenna, the protagonist of this book, I was into nature AND into environmentalism. You can't really separate the two. And Jenna did. Her enthusiasm arose out of a need to protest; to be passionate about something.

I wouldn't hav...more

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Mar 06, 2013 Rayna Bhikha rated it 4 of 5 stars

I decided to read this book because it sounded like the kind of book i would like to read,it talked about romance, holidays and the envirnoment.This book is about a 17 year old girl who is from the city of New Jersey but goes to the wilderness of Canada for the summer. Jenna leaves with high hopes but ends up falling for the least expected guy in the town and finds herself figuring out her life with a survival guide.
The category on the bingo board this book ticks off is the Female Main Character...more

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Jun 01, 2010 Tammy Dahle rated it 4 of 5 stars

My thoughts:
When I read the first chapter I was a little worried that Jenna would be an eco-terrorist and the whole book would be about Green Teen saving some back woods town from itself. Well I am happy to say that there was so much more to this book and Jenna then that.
Jenna and her best friend Olivia have their hearts set on spending the summer taking up environmental issues with Earth Now as interns. Then Jenna learns that her dad has accepted a job overseas and her mom wants them both to l...more

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Apr 29, 2010 Carla rated it 2 of 5 stars

When you first pick up a book, it's all exicitng, you get to meet these new characters your going to spend hours getting to know. You feel all giddy inside and nervious about how the book is going to speak to you as a reader. This is how this book made me feel for the first hundred pages. For the main part, I loved the beginning, the girl travelling to the wilderness, the scenery almost coming to life on the page, the new characters you want to be friends with. But then, it just flipped. I start...more When you first pick up a book, it's all exicitng, you get to meet these new characters your going to spend hours getting to know. You feel all giddy inside and nervious about how the book is going to speak to you as a reader. This is how this book made me feel for the first hundred pages. For the main part, I loved the beginning, the girl travelling to the wilderness, the scenery almost coming to life on the page, the new characters you want to be friends with. But then, it just flipped. I started to get agitated with the characters, the story line left a lot to be desired and I was sat wondering how a book can go from being so atmospheric and alive, to just feeling like a dead weight in my hands.

Now, I don't want this review to sound nasty, because I know a lot of people really have loved this book and really connected the characters. This is just my opinion and I am most probably in the minority. As a reader, I found myself jarrring out of the scenes that were supposed to have emotional impact, that were supposed to reel me in instead of pushing me out. I think this is mainly because I found too many serious issues were added to the mix and were not given the attention they deserve. One character in particular had a character trait that needed to be looked into more, it needed to be represented so much more than it was, it deserved to be represented more, not glossed over like it was. This made me angry, it made me think that this had been put into the book unnecessarily. Also, the protagonist eluded all of her issues, putting them to one side, which was quite immature.

The environmentalism stuff really did not float my boat. Yes, I understand that global warming is real and that people like to partake in demonstrations to help the environment. I know this is a serious issue, one everyone, no matter who they are needs to show an interest in, because the world will turn into something we don't recognise sooner than we think. However, Jenna didn't really seem that interested, even though she was a member of Green Teens. Like with Life Swap, I don't really understand why this was added to the mix, if the girl is not going to explore it throughout the novel. You can't add a character trait that gets deserted half way through the novel. I think I gave this book my best shot and I finished it even though I lost interest. For me, a hot boy an amazing book does not make.
(less)

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Apr 10, 2010 Kelsey rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arcs

I remember when I first read the synopsis of this and thought- ohhh this sounds so good! Well, it was! Abby McDonald definitely did not disappoint with Boys, Bears, and a Serious Pair of Hiking Boots. Jenna was a terrific main character and narrator- readers could understand and relate to her and she was someone I would love to know in real life. All of the characters were very well developed and likable, although some went through big changes- whether going from nice to mean, or mean to nice,...more I remember when I first read the synopsis of this and thought- ohhh this sounds so good! Well, it was! Abby McDonald definitely did not disappoint with Boys, Bears, and a Serious Pair of Hiking Boots. Jenna was a terrific main character and narrator- readers could understand and relate to her and she was someone I would love to know in real life. All of the characters were very well developed and likable, although some went through big changes- whether going from nice to mean, or mean to nice, by the end of the book you know the characters real personalities. This book contained some of my favorite characters in any YA novel. It also had an awesome plot. From page one I was intrigued by Jenna's environmentalism and vegetarianism. These are topics rarely tackled in YA books and some most important to me. I really liked how McDonald emphasized the importance of each environmental/animal rights issue, but encouraged you not to push your opinions on others in a negative way. Jenna learned a lot about what she really believed in by the end of the novel.

In addition to Jenna, there were other AWESOME characters. The boys of Stillwater were all great. Although hostile at first, the reader quickly realizes there's a lot more to them then you first though! I really liked Reeve and Ethan. They were my favorites of all the guys. Reeve because he was the perfect guy for Jenna and Ethan was just always really nice to her, unlike her supposed best friend Olivia. I don't want to give anything away but let me tell you- Olivia does a complete 180 by the end of the book, she was so awful I just wanted to push her in the lake! Fiona was another character that changed in a complete 180, but in her case it was for the better. She was one of my favorite characters by the end! I also loved Susie and Adam, the couple Jenna was staying with in Canada. This was a very character driven novel and that made me love it that much more.

There were times when I laughed out loud (the moose encounter for example) and others when I wanted to cry (the Olivia-Ethan scene). Boys, Bears, and a Serious Pair of Hiking Boots was definitely not the light read I was expecting- it was so much more. Although the ending was a bit too rushed and a few loose ends were left untied, I think this was a great sophomore novel by Abby McDonald. I definitely want to check out her debut, Sophomore Switch now!

In the end, I definitely recommend picking up a copy of Boys, Bears, and a Serious Pair of Hiking Boots- there are great characters, an awesome plot, sweet romance, environmental awareness, and important messages all tied together in this great book. I wish there really was a Bramble Lane Bed and Breakfast up in Canada I could visit!

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars(less)

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Jun 13, 2012 Lindsey Russell rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: chick-lit, summer-stories, reviewed

I think the only thing I really disliked about this book was the views environmentalism? I get that the author was trying to show you can help the environment, but people matter too, or something, and that's great and something I agree with! I just didn't care much for the way she went about it. I got the vibes that she was almost putting down environmentalism. As if she was saying "it isn't as important as you think" and I didn't much agree with that. I do see how Olivia was a little too extrem...more

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Jul 12, 2012 Captaincow rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: g-young-adult, g-romance, g-realistic-fiction, t-coming-of-age

Bewertung: 4.5 / 5.0

Meinung:
Obwohl sie sich häufig sehr ähnlich sind, kann ich doch nicht genug von ihnen kriegen. Gerade wenn das Wetter nicht so richtig mitspielt, man aber trotzdem die eigentlich so warme Jahreszeit genießen möchte, sind Sommerbücher die perfekte Methode die vielen Wolken am Himmel zu ignorieren und sich stattdessen eine schön sommerliche Umgebung vorzustellen. Auch von „Mein perfekter Sommer“ erhoffte ich mir diesen Effekt.

Schon beim Lesen des Klappentextes wird klar, dass m...more Bewertung: 4.5 / 5.0

Meinung:
Obwohl sie sich häufig sehr ähnlich sind, kann ich doch nicht genug von ihnen kriegen. Gerade wenn das Wetter nicht so richtig mitspielt, man aber trotzdem die eigentlich so warme Jahreszeit genießen möchte, sind Sommerbücher die perfekte Methode die vielen Wolken am Himmel zu ignorieren und sich stattdessen eine schön sommerliche Umgebung vorzustellen. Auch von „Mein perfekter Sommer“ erhoffte ich mir diesen Effekt.

Schon beim Lesen des Klappentextes wird klar, dass man es hier nicht mit dem typischen Sommer-Sonne-Strand-Buch zu tun hat. Denn die Protagonistin Jenna fährt über den Sommer zu ihrer Patentante, die in einem kleinen von Wäldern und Wildnis umgebenen Kaff in Kanada wohnt. Jenna versucht damit der Ehekriese ihrer Eltern zu entgehen und außerdem wollte sie als begeisterte Umweltschützerin schon immer mal der Natur näher kommen als es bei den Parkbesuchen in ihrem Heimatort der Fall ist. Die rauhe Natur ist allerdings ganz anders, als sie es sich erträumt hatte, und auch das Freunde finden ist nicht so einfach wie erhofft. Schließlich halten sie alle für eine Großstadttussi und sind genervt von ihrem Weltverbesserungswahn.

Es dauerte nicht lange, bis ich von Jenna und ihren Bemühungen für die Umwelt beeindruckt war. Zunächst hielt ich sie für etwas übertrieben dargestellt, doch schon nach ein paar Seiten empfand ich Jenna als erfrischend neuartige Hauptfigur für so ein Sommerbuch. Eigentlich ist sie nämlich ziemlich gewöhnlich, nur durch ihre Ideale unterscheidet sie sich von vielen altbekannten Heldinnen. Es fällt nicht schwer, sich in sie hineinzuversetzen. Bodenständig ist Jenna in jedem Fall, auch wenn mich ihre etwas unsensible Ader am Anfang doch häufiger gestört hat. Aber wie heißt es so schön? Es gibt keine Rose ohne Dornen und genau das ist hier der Fall.

Auch wenn man sich die anderen Figuren ansieht, findet man viele Porzellanseiten, die hier und da von Ecken und Kanten durchbrochen werden. Keiner der von Abby McDonald erschaffenen Figuren ist perfekt, allerdings auch nicht langweilig oder überkandidelt und so macht es wahnsinnig viel Spaß sie langsam zu ergründen und die vielen Kabbeleien mit Jenna mitzuerleben.

Die Handlung setzt sich größtenteils aus Jennas Fortschritten in der kleinen kanadischen Stadt zusammen. Atemberaubend ist der Plot zwar nicht, aber ihre Bemühungen waren genug, um mich bei Laune zu halten. Es sollte einem eben bewusst sein, dass man hier ein Jugendbuch frei von Fantasy vor sich hat und die Geschichte dementsprechend auch nicht von vielen überraschenden Twists und Turns lebt. Vielmehr bezieht sich die Autorin auf Jennas Entwicklung und die ist tatsächlich gut dargestellt. Auch ihre Gefühle konnte ich sehr gut nachvollziehen. Dabei kann man Abby McDonalds Schreibstil nicht mal als außergewöhnlich gefühlsbetont oder poetisch beschreiben. Er ist locker, voller jugendsprachlicher Ausdrücke und beschreibt ziemlich schlicht, was in und um Jenna vor sich geht. Allerdings macht dieser Stil das Buch auch zu sommerlich leichter Lektüre.

Dass so ein aktuelles Thema wie der Umweltschutz in einem eher leichten Buch für Teenager angesprochen wird, hat mich tatsächlich überrascht. Allerdings ist die Thematik auch nicht aufdringlich, sondern vielmehr gut in die Coming-of-Age-Geschichte um Jenna eingebettet. Man merkt eindeutig, dass schwarz-weiß-Malerei selten zutrifft und man viele Kompromisse eingehen muss. Wie die Autorin ihre Hauptfigur diese Tatsache allmählich realisieren lässt, ist außerordentlich gut gelungen. Auch ich hatte am Ende das Gefühl, aus diesem Buch so einiges mitgenommen zu haben. Und deshalb kann ich nicht anders, als dieses Buch mit einem Lächeln in Erinnerung zu behalten.

Fazit:
„Mein perfekter Sommer“ ist Sommerlektüre der besseren Sorte – sympathische und authentische Figuren, ein einfacher Schreibstil und lebensnahe Situationen zeichnen das Buch aus. Dass Umweltschutz, der Kampf für die eigenen Ideale und die damit oftmals verbundenen Kompromisse eine so große Rolle spielen, ist das Tüpfelchen auf dem i. Die Neugierde auf Abby McDonalds weitere Werke wurde bei mir geweckt und deshalb kann ich nicht anders, als euch diese mal lustige, mal traurige, sehr sommerliche Geschichte ans Herz zu legen!(less)

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Jul 15, 2010 Adriana rated it 4 of 5 stars

Boys, Bears, and a Serious Pair of Hiking Boots was a really fun, adventurous read with a few more serious matters thrown in.

Jenna is a 17 year old girl who grew up in the suburbs of New Jersey. She's a member of a Green Teen, a club for environmentalists who hold protests and spends her free time sending letters to government officials to protect the environment. Over summer she chooses to spend time with her godmother, Susie, Susie's new husband, and his daughter Fiona in Canada wilderness.

Whe...more

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Sep 08, 2012 Emma rated it 5 of 5 stars

I actually really enjoyed this book! It sounds a little cheesy, but I like the relationships between the characters.

Basically it's about a girl named Jenna, and she is totally GREEN and ECO FRIENDLY. Her parents are on the verge of seperation/divorce (her dad is always visiting some great country). Jenna's mom decides to spend her summer with her mother in California, and because Jenna finds it somewhat boring, she stays with here godmother up in a small town in Canada. It seems like a great ide...more

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