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Secrets of the Cicada Summer
by
Andrea Beaty (Goodreads Author)
Now in paperback!Lily has read every Nancy Drew book in the library. She’s great at spying clues and keeping secrets. She has to be. She has secrets of her own that no one can ever find out.
When summer brings lying, stealing Tinny Bridges to town, Lily must depend on her own wits to keep ahead of this sly newcomer. Tinny takes candy from the general store and blames Lily....more
When summer brings lying, stealing Tinny Bridges to town, Lily must depend on her own wits to keep ahead of this sly newcomer. Tinny takes candy from the general store and blames Lily....more
Paperback, 176 pages
Published
May 1st 2010
by Harry N. Abrams
(first published May 1st 2008)
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Cicada Summer is a lovely first time novel from Andrea Beaty, who is better known for her picture books.
Lily doesn't speak and she doesn't look people in the eye. People in town whisper "brain damage" but that isn't it. Lily doesn't want to talk or have people pay attention to her. She has made herself invisible because of something bad that happened. One day a mysterious girl named Tinny comes from Chicago. She sees Lily and begins trying to learn her secrets. But Tinny has lots of secrets of...more
Lily doesn't speak and she doesn't look people in the eye. People in town whisper "brain damage" but that isn't it. Lily doesn't want to talk or have people pay attention to her. She has made herself invisible because of something bad that happened. One day a mysterious girl named Tinny comes from Chicago. She sees Lily and begins trying to learn her secrets. But Tinny has lots of secrets of...more
Lily finds herself in the middle of her very own Nancy-Drew-like mystery in the small sleepy Illinois town she lives in. When Tinny arrives, Lily immediately dislikes her. Lily hasn't spoken in two years and everyone thinks she is brain damaged, but Tinny discovers that Lily can read when they first meet. Tinny begins taking over places where Lily felt comfortable, where she was safe and invisible. Tinny is far from invisible and seems to revel in making Lily feel very uncomfortable. But Tinny h...more
Virginia Readers' Choice (elementary). Realistic Fiction. Published in 2008 for grades 4-8. Themes include: Families, death, siblings, emotional issues, and mysteries. Lily is 11 years old and has not spoken a word since her brother's death from carbon monoxide poisoning. The town thinks she has brain damage from the accident. She loves reading Nancy Drew novels and no one else knows that until Tinny comes to town. Tinny will not leave Lily alone and she also begins to steal from the store and b...more
Mar 08, 2013
Jessica Mitchell
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Older people (19-21)
Jessica Mitchell, 11
Cicada Summer
4 stars
At first I hated the main character. In the beginning she said she didnt use her words or look anyone in the eyes because 'she didn't want anyone to know anything about her'.
And I thought that was pretty pathetic, actually, i wanted to smack her in the face right then. Because, um. Ya know, it sounds very stuck up..I hated the main character right then. Didn't like Tinny at all, even at the end.
But, when I found out why the main character didn't use her...more
Cicada Summer
4 stars
At first I hated the main character. In the beginning she said she didnt use her words or look anyone in the eyes because 'she didn't want anyone to know anything about her'.
And I thought that was pretty pathetic, actually, i wanted to smack her in the face right then. Because, um. Ya know, it sounds very stuck up..I hated the main character right then. Didn't like Tinny at all, even at the end.
But, when I found out why the main character didn't use her...more
Twelve year old Lily hasn't talked in years. Not to her father. Not to her classmates. Not even to Fern, the grandmotherly owner of the small town's general store. Most people assume that she has brain damage, a resulting from the events of "that night", an assumtion that Lily doesn't bother to correct. In truth, she just wants to be invisible, vowing to silently keep guard over the dark and tragic secret of what really happened "that night" .
Lily's invisibility is challenged when Fern's grandn
...more
Jun 30, 2010
Sandra Stiles
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
middle-grades,
mystery
Lily loves reading Nancy Drew books. She loves them so much that she sneaks them out of the library to read them. Why does she sneak them out? Ever since an accident that took her voice, people have considered her brain damaged. She has let them. It is easier to handle the pain. Things change when a young girl named Tinny comes to town and discovers Lily's secret. She blames Lily when she steals from her great aunt. Lily is not the only one hiding something. Lily is sure Tinny is up to no good a...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Mar 17, 2011
Michelle
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Young teenage females
Shelves:
own-it,
speech-stuff
This is a young-adult book with a first person female narrator. After her brother dies, she stops speaking and people in the town mistakenly think she is brain damaged....but really, she just likes to solve mysteries!
If you have a thirteen year old female in your life, this would be a good gift.
If you have a thirteen year old female in your life, this would be a good gift.
Quick, great read. Beaty does a wonderful job of intertwining the story with bits and pieces of reality to bring the reader into the action. Twelve year old Lily does not speak. Not because she can't, it's because she chooses not to. Not since some terrible accident that everyone thinks has left her brain damaged. Due to this opinion, she is left on her own, a silent witness to the world around her. Without giving away the storyline, I would like to mention I particularly liked the father finger...more
This was a good, easy read, which I would recommend for ages 8 and above. Great to read with a parent, and lots to talk about.
rated 3.5
Lily has read every Nancy Drew book in the library. She's great at spying clues and keeping secrets. She has to be. She has secrets of her own that no one can ever find out. When summer brings lying, stealing Tinny Bridges to town, Lily must depend on her own wits to keep ahead of this sly newcomer. Tinny takes candy from the general store and blames Lily. She tries to steal Lily's friends and even her father's affection. Worst of all, she seems to know Lily's secret. When Tinny goes mi...more
Lily has read every Nancy Drew book in the library. She's great at spying clues and keeping secrets. She has to be. She has secrets of her own that no one can ever find out. When summer brings lying, stealing Tinny Bridges to town, Lily must depend on her own wits to keep ahead of this sly newcomer. Tinny takes candy from the general store and blames Lily. She tries to steal Lily's friends and even her father's affection. Worst of all, she seems to know Lily's secret. When Tinny goes mi...more
I really enjoyed this book and found the last few chapters difficult to put down. (I wouldn't recommend starting to read the last fourth of the book late at night!) My daughter and I both read this book, and she liked it, too. She's a little young to have understood everything -- I'd recommend the book to 4-6th graders -- but it prompted a good discussion about the reality of "bad" people and sad events and how these things can either bend or break us, to use a cliche. Also, I liked the small to...more
Lily has been keeping a secret for years, one that she can never tell, one that has kept her completely mute for years. Until Tinny comes to town and Lily's world is turned inside out. Tinny is also 12 but she's from the big city, not a tiny town, and she was brought up to steal and lie. She worms her way into the affections of everyone Lily cares about but when she disappears, Lily is the only one who understands why and where. It was a sweet novel but too much is left undiscussed, particularly...more
Grades 4-7
Lily has been invisible for the past two years. She doesn't talk, she won't look people in the eyes, and the townspeople think that she's brain-damaged. She's not, but she's content to have them think that and leave her alone. She sits unresponsively in school, but when nobody is around, she loses herself in Nancy Drew mysteries. Tinny, the new girl in town, unexpectedly stumbles across the fact that Lily can read, and makes it her mission to torment Lily with the knowledge. But Tinny...more
Lily has been invisible for the past two years. She doesn't talk, she won't look people in the eyes, and the townspeople think that she's brain-damaged. She's not, but she's content to have them think that and leave her alone. She sits unresponsively in school, but when nobody is around, she loses herself in Nancy Drew mysteries. Tinny, the new girl in town, unexpectedly stumbles across the fact that Lily can read, and makes it her mission to torment Lily with the knowledge. But Tinny...more
Even though I really enjoyed Andrea's previous (and hilarious!) middle-grade book, The Attack of the Fluffy Bunnies, I was a bit hesitant to begin this when I first received it in the mail for review. Thankfully, Secrets of the Cicada Summer proved to be one of my favorite middle-grade books of the year so far thanks to Andrea's rich and lyrical writing and the mysterious, Nancy Drew like plot she provided right along with it.
In Secrets of Cicada Summer, Lilly's expecting another quiet and smoth...more
In Secrets of Cicada Summer, Lilly's expecting another quiet and smoth...more
My librarian gave me this book to help her decide which library it should go in, the middle school's or ours (4th/5th). I think it could go in either.
Is this the best book I've read in awhile, no. Is it a good book, yes. I love the way Beaty wrote. I felt for Lily, for her silence. I felt for Lily when she met Tinny who blamed things on her. Who was this girl, Tinny? Why did she act the way she did? I cared about the characters in this book and can't wait to recommend it.
Is this the best book I've read in awhile, no. Is it a good book, yes. I love the way Beaty wrote. I felt for Lily, for her silence. I felt for Lily when she met Tinny who blamed things on her. Who was this girl, Tinny? Why did she act the way she did? I cared about the characters in this book and can't wait to recommend it.
Mystery type kids book. If I'm comparing to other Sunshine state books, it was really good, but compared to good books I've read, it was just pretty good. It was about this girl Lily and a new girl that comes to town named Tinny. We find out thru flashbacks that Lily lost her older brother, so she doesn't talk anymore. This line struck me, when asked if Tinny missed her father she said, "she missed him a lot sometimes, but sometimes she didn't too much. She figured it made her a bad person, but...more
I saw this title appear on possible winner's of the Newbery Award. Lily loves Nancy Drew books and thinks she's a little like the book sleuth herself. Only no one would know that because she hasn't spoken a word in two years. Like the book character, Lily knows the importance of keeping secrets. A new girl in town, Tinny discovered that Lily isn't as simple minded as others think and likes to make Lily squirm. Could Tinny discover Lily's secret?
Apr 23, 2012
Vicki
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
read-aloud-greats,
tween
it's not easy to go on when your brother who is 2 years older than you dies, and you feel it is your fault. But that is how Lily feels, so she stops talking. She has read every Nancy Drew book in her school library and observes everything in her silent way. However when Tinny comes to town (the local store owners granddaughter), Tinny unwittingly/or not brings circumstances to a head and forces Lily to speak and live again. Good
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I really liked the way the story unfolded, with sections about what's happening in the present and sections that are clearly her memories. This method of pacing really helps us come to the truth of what happened in that serious accident two years prior and in a way that prepares the reader for the shock of the accident, with great timing for Lily's recovery. I also enjoyed reading about Lily's favorite parts of her life because even though her life is far from perfect, the way she describes them...more
This book brought back memories for me of the cicadas that would come out in the summertime while we were living in Georgia. I remember seeing the shells of the cicadas all over the trees. This was a wonderful story of a little girl growing in confidence in herself after a tragic accident in her life. It is definitely a must read!
I admit to being a bit of a slacker with updating my goodreads books. I read this probably about three months ago. In a word this book was "forgettable". Most of the other books I am finally taking the time to update I can remember and comment on the content, style etc. but this one, not so much.
11-year-old Lily has a secret she has to protect at all costs, which is easy because she doesn't talk anymore. This sweet story tackles heavy topics
One of the 15 Florida Sunshine State Reader Award books for 2010/11 school year.
Summary: Twelve-year-old Lily mourns her brother, and has not spoken since the accident she feels she could have prevented; but the summer Tinny comes to town she is the only one who realizes Lily's secret.
Summary: Twelve-year-old Lily mourns her brother, and has not spoken since the accident she feels she could have prevented; but the summer Tinny comes to town she is the only one who realizes Lily's secret.
Lily learns to live in her small town, to deal with the death of her brohter, and to make a friend. I found the flashbacks very confusing i this book. I don't think students for the age this is written will be able to keep track. The change in font is not always consistent.
Don't be confused by the fact that this book goes by The Secrets of the Cicada Summer as well - it certainly confused me! That being said this was an excellent read recommended by a member of our parent/child book discussion group. The last chapter really got me!
Pretty good, but it could have used a bit more elaboration and it could have been a bit more fast. I personally am glad I read this book but it might not be everyones cup of tea. I liked the pace but it could have been faster.I hope they do make a second book of this.
Jan 08, 2012
Jean
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
mg-fiction,
giardina-kids-books
Read this charming book aloud with Grant.
The only thing that would have made it better would have been to actually read it in summer, instead of the dead of Chicago winter. I miss the cicadas.
My favorite thing about reading aloud with Grant is seeing his reactions to plot twists in these older MG books. He is genuinely shocked and thrilled with each turn of the story.
The only thing that would have made it better would have been to actually read it in summer, instead of the dead of Chicago winter. I miss the cicadas.
My favorite thing about reading aloud with Grant is seeing his reactions to plot twists in these older MG books. He is genuinely shocked and thrilled with each turn of the story.
Aug 18, 2010
Kristen Gurri
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
2010,
5-middle-grade-readers
Loved Beaty's writing from the first sentence.
The front half of the book was really strong. Beautiful rhythm.
It tumbled towards the end a bit, but mysteries do that.
Still in love with Beaty's prose though.
The front half of the book was really strong. Beautiful rhythm.
It tumbled towards the end a bit, but mysteries do that.
Still in love with Beaty's prose though.
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I was raised in a big family in a tiny town in southern Illinois. Our small house was jammed with 6 kids, 2 adults, a variable number of cats, 1 dog and thousands of books. It was great. Since I grew up in the 60's and 70's, I didn't have the internet or cable TV to keep me amused, but I had something much better--my siblings. We spent our days watching bad TV (B-movies, Gilligan's Island, the Bra...more
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Jun 01, 2012 05:45am