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A Summer to Die
Thirteen-year-old Meg envies her sister Molly's beauty and popularity, and these feelings make it difficult for her to cope with Molly's illness and death.
154 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1977
187 people are currently reading
6279 people want to read
About the author
Lois Lowry
143 books22.9k followersTaken from Lowry's website:
"I’ve always felt that I was fortunate to have been born the middle child of three. My older sister, Helen, was very much like our mother: gentle, family-oriented, eager to please. Little brother Jon was the only boy and had interests that he shared with Dad; together they were always working on electric trains and erector sets; and later, when Jon was older, they always seemed to have their heads under the raised hood of a car. That left me in-between, and exactly where I wanted most to be: on my own. I was a solitary child who lived in the world of books and my own vivid imagination.
Because my father was a career military officer - an Army dentist - I lived all over the world. I was born in Hawaii, moved from there to New York, spent the years of World War II in my mother’s hometown: Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and from there went to Tokyo when I was eleven. High school was back in New York City, but by the time I went to college (Brown University in Rhode Island), my family was living in Washington, D.C.
I married young. I had just turned nineteen - just finished my sophomore year in college - when I married a Naval officer and continued the odyssey that military life requires. California. Connecticut (a daughter born there). Florida (a son). South Carolina. Finally Cambridge, Massachusetts, when my husband left the service and entered Harvard Law School (another daughter; another son) and then to Maine - by now with four children under the age of five in tow. My children grew up in Maine. So did I. I returned to college at the University of Southern Maine, got my degree, went to graduate school, and finally began to write professionally, the thing I had dreamed of doing since those childhood years when I had endlessly scribbled stories and poems in notebooks.
After my marriage ended in 1977, when I was forty, I settled into the life I have lived ever since. Today I am back in Cambridge, Massachusetts, living and writing in a house dominated by a very shaggy Tibetan Terrier named Bandit. For a change of scenery Martin and I spend time in Maine, where we have an old (it was built in 1768!) farmhouse on top of a hill. In Maine I garden, feed birds, entertain friends, and read...
My books have varied in content and style. Yet it seems that all of them deal, essentially, with the same general theme: the importance of human connections. A Summer to Die, my first book, was a highly fictionalized retelling of the early death of my sister, and of the effect of such a loss on a family. Number the Stars, set in a different culture and era, tells the same story: that of the role that we humans play in the lives of our fellow beings.
The Giver - and Gathering Blue, and the newest in the trilogy: Messenger - take place against the background of very different cultures and times. Though all three are broader in scope than my earlier books, they nonetheless speak to the same concern: the vital need of people to be aware of their interdependence, not only with each other, but with the world and its environment.
My older son was a fighter pilot in the United States Air Force. His death in the cockpit of a warplane tore away a piece of my world. But it left me, too, with a wish to honor him by joining the many others trying to find a way to end conflict on this very fragile earth.
I am a grandmother now. For my own grandchildren - and for all those of their generation - I try, through writing, to convey my passionate awareness that we live intertwined on this planet and that our future depends upon our caring more, and doing more, for one another."
"I’ve always felt that I was fortunate to have been born the middle child of three. My older sister, Helen, was very much like our mother: gentle, family-oriented, eager to please. Little brother Jon was the only boy and had interests that he shared with Dad; together they were always working on electric trains and erector sets; and later, when Jon was older, they always seemed to have their heads under the raised hood of a car. That left me in-between, and exactly where I wanted most to be: on my own. I was a solitary child who lived in the world of books and my own vivid imagination.
Because my father was a career military officer - an Army dentist - I lived all over the world. I was born in Hawaii, moved from there to New York, spent the years of World War II in my mother’s hometown: Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and from there went to Tokyo when I was eleven. High school was back in New York City, but by the time I went to college (Brown University in Rhode Island), my family was living in Washington, D.C.
I married young. I had just turned nineteen - just finished my sophomore year in college - when I married a Naval officer and continued the odyssey that military life requires. California. Connecticut (a daughter born there). Florida (a son). South Carolina. Finally Cambridge, Massachusetts, when my husband left the service and entered Harvard Law School (another daughter; another son) and then to Maine - by now with four children under the age of five in tow. My children grew up in Maine. So did I. I returned to college at the University of Southern Maine, got my degree, went to graduate school, and finally began to write professionally, the thing I had dreamed of doing since those childhood years when I had endlessly scribbled stories and poems in notebooks.
After my marriage ended in 1977, when I was forty, I settled into the life I have lived ever since. Today I am back in Cambridge, Massachusetts, living and writing in a house dominated by a very shaggy Tibetan Terrier named Bandit. For a change of scenery Martin and I spend time in Maine, where we have an old (it was built in 1768!) farmhouse on top of a hill. In Maine I garden, feed birds, entertain friends, and read...
My books have varied in content and style. Yet it seems that all of them deal, essentially, with the same general theme: the importance of human connections. A Summer to Die, my first book, was a highly fictionalized retelling of the early death of my sister, and of the effect of such a loss on a family. Number the Stars, set in a different culture and era, tells the same story: that of the role that we humans play in the lives of our fellow beings.
The Giver - and Gathering Blue, and the newest in the trilogy: Messenger - take place against the background of very different cultures and times. Though all three are broader in scope than my earlier books, they nonetheless speak to the same concern: the vital need of people to be aware of their interdependence, not only with each other, but with the world and its environment.
My older son was a fighter pilot in the United States Air Force. His death in the cockpit of a warplane tore away a piece of my world. But it left me, too, with a wish to honor him by joining the many others trying to find a way to end conflict on this very fragile earth.
I am a grandmother now. For my own grandchildren - and for all those of their generation - I try, through writing, to convey my passionate awareness that we live intertwined on this planet and that our future depends upon our caring more, and doing more, for one another."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 957 reviews
August 27, 2007
I haven't read this book since I was eleven or twelve, but I bought a used copy because I have such extremely fond memories of it. My copy has new cover art, so I got all nostalgic seeing the thumbnail of the old cover here.
It's funny how much of this book I remembered vividly and how much I'd forgotten all together. It's a beautiful story, though, through and through, the kind that makes me happy to be alive.
I recall relating to Meg so much as a kid, so I was surprised to find myself relating to her even more as an adult, both in retrospect and present-day ways. It makes me happy to think I read this back when I was still figuring out who I was; if this book informed current me at all, I couldn't thank Lois Lowry enough.
This time around I was irritated with the parents for not giving Meg more information about what was going on with Molly. I also wish Ben and Maria hadn't been married and that everyone had learned a beautiful lesson about nontraditional relationships. But these are honestly small quibbles. I love this book, and I treasure it.
It's funny how much of this book I remembered vividly and how much I'd forgotten all together. It's a beautiful story, though, through and through, the kind that makes me happy to be alive.
I recall relating to Meg so much as a kid, so I was surprised to find myself relating to her even more as an adult, both in retrospect and present-day ways. It makes me happy to think I read this back when I was still figuring out who I was; if this book informed current me at all, I couldn't thank Lois Lowry enough.
This time around I was irritated with the parents for not giving Meg more information about what was going on with Molly. I also wish Ben and Maria hadn't been married and that everyone had learned a beautiful lesson about nontraditional relationships. But these are honestly small quibbles. I love this book, and I treasure it.
May 29, 2009
This book is "unofficial" because I read it many times as a child, though haven't seen it in probably ten years. What I can't believe is that it's actually out of print! Fortunately there are enough copies of this wonderful book floating around to make it easily findable.
I just learned that A Summer to Die was actually Lois Lowry's first young adult novel, written in the 1970s, well before the Anastasia books and Number the Stars and The Giver and basically being one of the most important writer of children's books, ever. But it is also one of the best books she's written.
There is a quality to some children's literature that is very hard to find in other books. It is also hard to find in much of the recent kid lit being published, although maybe I'm not looking in the right places. You can find it also in Louis Sachar's There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom and From The Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E Frankweiler and most of Katherine Paterson, and I don't even know how to describe it doing it justice.... It is kind of like sadness, but more complex. Children's sadness is underrated. And adults who write about children often forget it, or reduce it too simplistically.
Anyway, I love this book, a whole lot.
I just learned that A Summer to Die was actually Lois Lowry's first young adult novel, written in the 1970s, well before the Anastasia books and Number the Stars and The Giver and basically being one of the most important writer of children's books, ever. But it is also one of the best books she's written.
There is a quality to some children's literature that is very hard to find in other books. It is also hard to find in much of the recent kid lit being published, although maybe I'm not looking in the right places. You can find it also in Louis Sachar's There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom and From The Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E Frankweiler and most of Katherine Paterson, and I don't even know how to describe it doing it justice.... It is kind of like sadness, but more complex. Children's sadness is underrated. And adults who write about children often forget it, or reduce it too simplistically.
Anyway, I love this book, a whole lot.
August 31, 2007
This was the first book that made me cry! I can remember being on my bed crying my little 11yr old eyes out and loving every minute of it. This is a book that everyone should read, especially if you have a sister!
August 28, 2016
This book has stuck with me for so long, and I remember reading it in my mom's car, with The Beach Boys' "God Only Knows" playing in the background. The title eluded me until I was hunting around on here, and I am glad to have finally figured it out!
March 11, 2009
A gift from Amy! Thank you Amy! I finished reading this at 2:30am this morning when I couldn't sleep.
I almost didn't want to read this because it is like a little dandelion poof of a book, it is so super small I was like, I'll blink and I'll miss it! What if I hurt it! I'd never read it before because as a kid I was snotty about the kill-me-now melodramas of Lurlene McDaniel and ilk. (Please see Somewhere Between YA Lit and Death.) However, this meant I overlooked a lot.
The handling of these experiences of death is so elegant here. I liked how most of the biggest information is told not through first-person dialogue (declaration, reaction) but by simple narrative statements, sometimes right in the middle of a chapter. The news itself is important and dramatic enough to make impact in a few sentences. And I liked how once it was clear Molly was dying, her disease still wasn't named for a while -- this isn't a book about leukemia, it's a book about Meg and Molly and their family and neighborhood.
The jaw-drop factor came from the birth scene, for which I am giving the book an extra eleventy stars though GoodReads only shows 5. It is just... it is just. The detail is incredible, and everything that is said couldn't be more perfect. The symbolism of this entire subplot is perfect, but this is a 100% perfect chapter of book.
The ending is also perfect: not just leaving us with a meaningful moment in Meg's connection to her sister, but viewing Meg having a personal lesson that is just as important.
I almost didn't want to read this because it is like a little dandelion poof of a book, it is so super small I was like, I'll blink and I'll miss it! What if I hurt it! I'd never read it before because as a kid I was snotty about the kill-me-now melodramas of Lurlene McDaniel and ilk. (Please see Somewhere Between YA Lit and Death.) However, this meant I overlooked a lot.
The handling of these experiences of death is so elegant here. I liked how most of the biggest information is told not through first-person dialogue (declaration, reaction) but by simple narrative statements, sometimes right in the middle of a chapter. The news itself is important and dramatic enough to make impact in a few sentences. And I liked how once it was clear Molly was dying, her disease still wasn't named for a while -- this isn't a book about leukemia, it's a book about Meg and Molly and their family and neighborhood.
The jaw-drop factor came from the birth scene, for which I am giving the book an extra eleventy stars though GoodReads only shows 5. It is just... it is just. The detail is incredible, and everything that is said couldn't be more perfect. The symbolism of this entire subplot is perfect, but this is a 100% perfect chapter of book.
The ending is also perfect: not just leaving us with a meaningful moment in Meg's connection to her sister, but viewing Meg having a personal lesson that is just as important.
November 23, 2014
I have two sisters and we all read this book. I think having sisters really brings this book to a new level. My sisters and I don't always get along, especially when we all lived in the same house. However, when something happens to a sister, we are excited or sad depending on the situation. I have read this book again and again because it reminds me that even though I might not like my sister today, I still love her. This book has made me cry on multiple occasions. Once, I picked it up and started crying at the first chapter and did not stop for the entire book (I read it in one sitting). It is very well written and perfect for young girls who have sisters.
September 11, 2022
Libro per ragazzi, la lacrimuccia c’è stata e anche il magone alla fine. Credevo fosse una serie e sapere che non c’è seguito peggiora il magone.
Leggerò molto volentieri altro dell’autrice!
Leggerò molto volentieri altro dell’autrice!
August 18, 2017
I remember really enjoying this book. What can I say: I love stories about people with cancer, especially young people. And, as an only child, I also love reading about families/siblings, and this is a great sister story.
December 29, 2015
A small, spare book with a big message - this is a story of 2 sisters and yes, the older sister dies of leukemia (that's not a spoiler if you read the title). Cancer is not really a character however - this is more about the relationship between Meg and Molly. Molly is the older sister - more accomplished, prettier, at least in Meg's eyes. Meg is the child for whom nothing has been easy. Yet it is Molly who sickens and eventually dies. This was a well-written testament to the the relationship between sisters - the fights and bickering as well as the closeness and care. I see some of the relationship with my sister in this as well as the relationship between my 2 daughters before my younger daughter became ill with osteosarcoma, a rare bone cancer, and died. My only criticism, and it is minor, is that Meg seems younger than 13, perhaps because this book was originally written in the late 70s.
Quotes to remember:
Time goes on, and your life is still there, and you have to live it. After a while you remember the good things more often than the bad. Then, gradually, the empty silent parts of you fill up with sounds of talking and laughter again, and the jagged edges of sadness are softened by memories.
Somehow, magically, mercifully, I no longer remember her ill. That's because mostly what is real is the way life continues, and the way people become able to absorb loss, to value memories, and to say goodbye.
Quotes to remember:
Time goes on, and your life is still there, and you have to live it. After a while you remember the good things more often than the bad. Then, gradually, the empty silent parts of you fill up with sounds of talking and laughter again, and the jagged edges of sadness are softened by memories.
Somehow, magically, mercifully, I no longer remember her ill. That's because mostly what is real is the way life continues, and the way people become able to absorb loss, to value memories, and to say goodbye.
May 27, 2025
The clue is in the name: someone is going to die. Knowing that going into the book didn’t make it any less sad when the character did die.
Told from the point of view of the younger sister, it hit home for me when
There were some strange aspects like the young couple wanting a 10 year old girl to photograph their child’s birth whilst it was happening. I think that would be scarring for anyone at any age!
I did like the photography angle though, it went well with the profundity of life in the face of
Told from the point of view of the younger sister, it hit home for me when
There were some strange aspects like the young couple wanting a 10 year old girl to photograph their child’s birth whilst it was happening. I think that would be scarring for anyone at any age!
I did like the photography angle though, it went well with the profundity of life in the face of
December 19, 2011
I just reread this book about five times because I couldn't get enough of the quiet, beautiful heartbreak. I don't remember when I first read it, perhaps in elementary school, but I know I got it from the library many years in a row. I rediscovered it in college and it broke my heart (again), but even then, I was still too mired in childhood and self to notice the richness of the characters' relationships.
Reading it now was such a revelation. Here are some things I never picked up on as a young teenager, perhaps the age of Meg in the book, perhaps also growing up with an older sister who shone a little brighter than everyone around her: Molly isn't mean and snobby! Meg isn't a gawky sad sack! The tenor of their relationship is not rivalry at all -- they really, really love each other in a very sweet and straightforward way. And Meg's parents don't just love Molly, they love Meg, too! Seriously, who knew YA books were such a Rorschach test.
The palpable love relationships are what made the book more devastating to read as an adult. You see that Meg has always loved Molly and looked up to her, but she loses her at a time when she's starting to accept herself, too. Meg gains in strength but then has to see herself surpass Molly, whom Meg has always regarded as the stronger one. Meg is conscious of how much more beautiful Molly is, but as she grows in the book, she starts to love those things about Molly without any cost to herself. There is plenty of comparison between Meg's mousy brown hair and Molly's blond curls, but Meg doesn't agonize about it, even as she accepts she will never be as beautiful. It's clear that the quality Meg most wishes she had is Molly's warmth and openness. It's also clear that Meg has these qualities too, though she hasn't learned to recognize them.
Some weaknesses are that while Molly seems just right as an always-been-pretty fifteen, Meg is a little too good for her age. Meg chuckles indulgently at her father when he, true to form, dreams up building her a magnificent darkroom and forgets he can't afford it until after he's made the shopping list -- Meg is "pretty good at not agonizing." She finds her elderly neighbor, Will Banks, interesting enough to shoot a whole roll of film of him. Then in the shots where he was speaking about his wife, she sees how his love has beautified his face. Even though you get the sense she might like to be more popular in school, Meg values her very unconventional friendships with her much older neighbors. I don't know that young people are so quick to accept themselves, or that they would seek friendship with elderly people (or the hippies next door for that matter -- nice characters with a less satisfying story arc). I could be wrong, of course, and it's nice to think that an ugly-duckling type of young girl could be affirmed for who she is sufficiently to overcome her self-doubts at an early age. Shouldn't this be what we hope for our kids? Better at 13 than at 31.
Ultimately, I think Meg's strength makes it even more poignant when she confronts her sister's cancer armed only with the resources of a child. She thinks (though precociously, she acknowledges she's being unreasonable) it's her fault when Molly lands back in the hospital (for what ends up being the last time) because they had a fight and Meg didn't back down. She runs next door and blurts this out to Will Banks and the loving young hippie couple, then bursts into tears like the young person she is. Meg is so relatable and human, but seeing her act just as she should is devastating.
Reading it now was such a revelation. Here are some things I never picked up on as a young teenager, perhaps the age of Meg in the book, perhaps also growing up with an older sister who shone a little brighter than everyone around her: Molly isn't mean and snobby! Meg isn't a gawky sad sack! The tenor of their relationship is not rivalry at all -- they really, really love each other in a very sweet and straightforward way. And Meg's parents don't just love Molly, they love Meg, too! Seriously, who knew YA books were such a Rorschach test.
The palpable love relationships are what made the book more devastating to read as an adult. You see that Meg has always loved Molly and looked up to her, but she loses her at a time when she's starting to accept herself, too. Meg gains in strength but then has to see herself surpass Molly, whom Meg has always regarded as the stronger one. Meg is conscious of how much more beautiful Molly is, but as she grows in the book, she starts to love those things about Molly without any cost to herself. There is plenty of comparison between Meg's mousy brown hair and Molly's blond curls, but Meg doesn't agonize about it, even as she accepts she will never be as beautiful. It's clear that the quality Meg most wishes she had is Molly's warmth and openness. It's also clear that Meg has these qualities too, though she hasn't learned to recognize them.
Some weaknesses are that while Molly seems just right as an always-been-pretty fifteen, Meg is a little too good for her age. Meg chuckles indulgently at her father when he, true to form, dreams up building her a magnificent darkroom and forgets he can't afford it until after he's made the shopping list -- Meg is "pretty good at not agonizing." She finds her elderly neighbor, Will Banks, interesting enough to shoot a whole roll of film of him. Then in the shots where he was speaking about his wife, she sees how his love has beautified his face. Even though you get the sense she might like to be more popular in school, Meg values her very unconventional friendships with her much older neighbors. I don't know that young people are so quick to accept themselves, or that they would seek friendship with elderly people (or the hippies next door for that matter -- nice characters with a less satisfying story arc). I could be wrong, of course, and it's nice to think that an ugly-duckling type of young girl could be affirmed for who she is sufficiently to overcome her self-doubts at an early age. Shouldn't this be what we hope for our kids? Better at 13 than at 31.
Ultimately, I think Meg's strength makes it even more poignant when she confronts her sister's cancer armed only with the resources of a child. She thinks (though precociously, she acknowledges she's being unreasonable) it's her fault when Molly lands back in the hospital (for what ends up being the last time) because they had a fight and Meg didn't back down. She runs next door and blurts this out to Will Banks and the loving young hippie couple, then bursts into tears like the young person she is. Meg is so relatable and human, but seeing her act just as she should is devastating.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 12, 2019
3.5 A feelings book indeed my dear Lowry! Personal loss creates wonderful books. For some reason, the more the author knows the problem of the characters the better it is read. The emotions feel closer and that's the only reason why I liked A summer to die, it felt personal in the right way. For anyone with taste for a feelings book.
Modern Mrs. Darcy Reading Challenge 2019: A book in the backlist of a favorite author
“…and the jagged edges of sadness are softened by memories.”
La novela es ficcion, pero la historia principal se basa en la experiencia personal de la autora como lo hace saber en el afterwords. Y lo que antes se leía de forma ligera y con mucho sentimiento, se transforma en algo altamente emotivo, desgarrador, personal y genuino. Cada frase adquiere más sentido y los personajes enlazan perfecto.
Desde que empecé a leerlo sabía que no era normal que me estuviera llegando tanto porque normalmente la ficción realista no va conmigo, pero algo verdaderamente especial sucede cuando la tragedia en la novela fue la tragedia del autor.
“But what is real will always be real, is the fierce, immutable love that holds families together—and the helpless anguish when it is threatened by loss.
Modern Mrs. Darcy Reading Challenge 2019: A book in the backlist of a favorite author
“…and the jagged edges of sadness are softened by memories.”
La novela es ficcion, pero la historia principal se basa en la experiencia personal de la autora como lo hace saber en el afterwords. Y lo que antes se leía de forma ligera y con mucho sentimiento, se transforma en algo altamente emotivo, desgarrador, personal y genuino. Cada frase adquiere más sentido y los personajes enlazan perfecto.
Desde que empecé a leerlo sabía que no era normal que me estuviera llegando tanto porque normalmente la ficción realista no va conmigo, pero algo verdaderamente especial sucede cuando la tragedia en la novela fue la tragedia del autor.
“But what is real will always be real, is the fierce, immutable love that holds families together—and the helpless anguish when it is threatened by loss.
April 15, 2018
From my perspective, this is a coming-of-age novel where thirteen-year-old Meg learns to accept the surroundings and rediscover herself among the company of different types of people which quite contradicts with the title.
I assumed that the novel is about Molly's death or the relationship of Meg and her sister Molly. But as I continued reading, it seemed more about Meg herself, her outlook, her hobbies, her thoughts on things. Even Molly's death is not portrayed well and rather than expressing how her death affected everyone, it shows how much Meg has improved in her life. It's not like I didn't enjoy the book, but the title seems totally irrelevant to the content, which came as a bit of a disappointment for me.
I assumed that the novel is about Molly's death or the relationship of Meg and her sister Molly. But as I continued reading, it seemed more about Meg herself, her outlook, her hobbies, her thoughts on things. Even Molly's death is not portrayed well and rather than expressing how her death affected everyone, it shows how much Meg has improved in her life. It's not like I didn't enjoy the book, but the title seems totally irrelevant to the content, which came as a bit of a disappointment for me.
November 20, 2023
just waiting for the Pinterest girlies to pick up this book and discover how amazing it is? aesthetic and words are the best
December 6, 2022
Una storia toccante in grado di farmi emozionare in tanti modi diversi: riempiendomi di gioia ad esempio, divertendomi e anche, infine, facendomi piangere.
Nonostante la sua brevità contiene tra le sue righe un mondo sfaccettato e ben curato. La trama riguarda due sorelle ma sono solo un pretesto, potrebbe parlare di qualsiasi rapporto umano, infatti ciò che conta in questo testo sono i sentimenti e i sentimenti sono sempre universali. Chiunque può rispecchiarsi in queste sfaccettature e ritrovare un pezzo di sé lasciato indietro.
Potentissimo nella sua semplicità.
Nonostante la sua brevità contiene tra le sue righe un mondo sfaccettato e ben curato. La trama riguarda due sorelle ma sono solo un pretesto, potrebbe parlare di qualsiasi rapporto umano, infatti ciò che conta in questo testo sono i sentimenti e i sentimenti sono sempre universali. Chiunque può rispecchiarsi in queste sfaccettature e ritrovare un pezzo di sé lasciato indietro.
Potentissimo nella sua semplicità.
June 23, 2007
This is a beautiful story about sisters. I recommend it to anyone that has a sister or best friend that they feel that close to...it's beautifully written; a short read that leaves an impact.
June 29, 2007
My favorite teen lit of all time. Equally good reading as an adult. Haunting and beautiful, a story of ambiguous grief and unexpected friendship.
August 28, 2007
This is a very well-written book in which a girl deals with her sister's fatal illness and eventual death. Lowry handles a delicate situation deftly and thoughtfully. Highly recommended.
September 22, 2019
4.5 / 5
Increíbles personajes y una narración asombrosamente hermosa y ligera. Es un libro corto pero con gran significado.
Increíbles personajes y una narración asombrosamente hermosa y ligera. Es un libro corto pero con gran significado.
October 30, 2024
I had not heard of Lois Lowry’s debut novel, and chose to read this for a challenge with our library. This is a heartwarming book with inter generational friendships, and learning to see life from new perspectives. This is the epitome of a coming of age story, with love, loss and learning about yourself.
July 23, 2009
I first encountered this book when my library was weeding its children's paperback collection. I grabbed several out of the pile destined for the recycling bin, including this one. I knew Lowry's work, but I didn't know this was her first novel, or how good it would end up being.
I loved it. It was beautifully written from start to finish. The setting was rich with detail and made me want to move to the New England countryside and start my own garden. It was a bit slow to get going, but once the older sister started to get sick, I couldn't put the book down.
I'm not sure whether to classify it as children's or YA. The protagonist is young, but the tone is sophisticated enough for teenagers. It was in the children's section of my library, but with the recent explosion in YA publishing, I have to wonder what it'd be classified as if it came out now.
I had to wonder if it was partly autobiographical--and it seems it is--because the family dynamics in the book seemed so real to me. Several of the passages, such as this one, could have been lifted directly from my own childhood. I'm a younger sister of a sister, and my father's a professor, so I especially identified with those aspects of the book: the older sister being the "easy" one, while the younger one was more rebellious; the absentminded professor father who invites his students over for Thanksgiving and spends hours alone in his study.
My one complaint is the title. Not only does "A Summer to Die" make it sound like an R.L. Stine thriller, but it gives away the entire plot. There's a reason why Bridge to Terabithia isn't called "Bridge to Terabithia... OF DEATH." No wonder the library weeded it--if I were a kid I wouldn't pick up a book called "A Summer to Die" either.
There are so many great recurring images and themes in this book--flowers, photography, country houses, gardens, quilts--I find it hard to imagine that it was impossible to pull a better title out of one of those. If I ever meet Lois Lowry, I'll ask her if it was her first choice.
Title aside, though, this book was a wonderful surprise. I was in the mood to read something from the 70s-80s era of children's lit after reading Shelf Discovery, and I'm glad I picked this one.
I loved it. It was beautifully written from start to finish. The setting was rich with detail and made me want to move to the New England countryside and start my own garden. It was a bit slow to get going, but once the older sister started to get sick, I couldn't put the book down.
I'm not sure whether to classify it as children's or YA. The protagonist is young, but the tone is sophisticated enough for teenagers. It was in the children's section of my library, but with the recent explosion in YA publishing, I have to wonder what it'd be classified as if it came out now.
I had to wonder if it was partly autobiographical--and it seems it is--because the family dynamics in the book seemed so real to me. Several of the passages, such as this one, could have been lifted directly from my own childhood. I'm a younger sister of a sister, and my father's a professor, so I especially identified with those aspects of the book: the older sister being the "easy" one, while the younger one was more rebellious; the absentminded professor father who invites his students over for Thanksgiving and spends hours alone in his study.
My one complaint is the title. Not only does "A Summer to Die" make it sound like an R.L. Stine thriller, but it gives away the entire plot. There's a reason why Bridge to Terabithia isn't called "Bridge to Terabithia... OF DEATH." No wonder the library weeded it--if I were a kid I wouldn't pick up a book called "A Summer to Die" either.
There are so many great recurring images and themes in this book--flowers, photography, country houses, gardens, quilts--I find it hard to imagine that it was impossible to pull a better title out of one of those. If I ever meet Lois Lowry, I'll ask her if it was her first choice.
Title aside, though, this book was a wonderful surprise. I was in the mood to read something from the 70s-80s era of children's lit after reading Shelf Discovery, and I'm glad I picked this one.
March 3, 2014
"A Summer to Die" written by Lois Lowry is a realistic fiction story that takes us on a memorable journey about 2 sisters that have distinctive interest and personality. I would recommend this book to everyone as it enlightens us on the nature of life and the ways to overcome obstacles that stand in our way.The theme of the book could be closely related to perseverance in life as it's cohesively described throughout the various subplots displayed. Lowry had cleverly captivated my attention by conjuring up a series of emotions that had danced together well with different literary elements. The amount of insanity and disappointment was absymal in this novel. Besides this, the plethora of descriptive adjectives used as well as the consistent progress of character development complimented the author's style of writing.
The exposition starts us off with the overwhelming covetous calamity faced by the siblings because of their appearance. Later, the story forged into a more heated surrounding filled with ultimate sorrow and resentfulness. Lowry's contagious enthusiasm could be proven through the vigorous development of the protagonist and the antagonist in every chapter. This was essentially the essence of the story as it formulated the suspense and smoothness that aided to strengthen the plot. Furthermore, to add a flavor to the melancholic environment, Lowry decided to weave in a couple of intricate detours that involve the protagonist and other minor characters.To be honest,Lowry was impeccable as she made every character shoulder the same amount of responsibility and this aspect made the book a unique one.
The message had also been conveyed through the dynamic character throughout the story as fulfills her daily tasks in various dimensions of life."Don't dwell on the past, focus on the future. That's why the rearview mirror is smaller than the windshield" sums up the lesson gained from the plot.The simile applied in this quote is to reinforce in making perseverance and patience as priority in our life as it will be the solution to most of our obstacles. I would strongly encourage all siblings to read this book and this will stregthen the bond and love shared among each other.
The exposition starts us off with the overwhelming covetous calamity faced by the siblings because of their appearance. Later, the story forged into a more heated surrounding filled with ultimate sorrow and resentfulness. Lowry's contagious enthusiasm could be proven through the vigorous development of the protagonist and the antagonist in every chapter. This was essentially the essence of the story as it formulated the suspense and smoothness that aided to strengthen the plot. Furthermore, to add a flavor to the melancholic environment, Lowry decided to weave in a couple of intricate detours that involve the protagonist and other minor characters.To be honest,Lowry was impeccable as she made every character shoulder the same amount of responsibility and this aspect made the book a unique one.
The message had also been conveyed through the dynamic character throughout the story as fulfills her daily tasks in various dimensions of life."Don't dwell on the past, focus on the future. That's why the rearview mirror is smaller than the windshield" sums up the lesson gained from the plot.The simile applied in this quote is to reinforce in making perseverance and patience as priority in our life as it will be the solution to most of our obstacles. I would strongly encourage all siblings to read this book and this will stregthen the bond and love shared among each other.
April 26, 2014
I read this novella in a day. I love Lowry's "the Giver" but this book lacked the same depth. I suppose it is a realistic and pretty good introduction to the concept of the unfairness of life, how people can die before they've even lived. I know it is a young adult novel but there was something too simplistic in the delivery.
It is told through the eyes of a young girl Meg whose older sister is inexplicably stricken with Leukemia. This is incomprehensible and I don't think at any age we ever grasp this kind of tragedy. The book talks about the pain and guilt that Meg goes through because she hasn't always gotten along with her sister. She also is developing a real interest in art photography and she spends a lot of time with a grandfather figure who replaces her parents as advice giver, because they are so wrapped up in being in the hospital and going through their grief. They don't precisely ignore Meg, but they leave her out of the reality of the situation. They don't even tell her that Molly is dying and what she has until she is nearly dead. She only sees her sister in the hospital one time.
What I didn't like was the trite story telling. Lowry has used the overdone technique of framing the death in contrast to the birth of a baby. It makes for a beautiful story but I think it sacrificed a chance for Lowry to discuss the realm of teenage death in a different light. There isn't always going to be a miracle of life immediately following all of the losses we are bound to experience in life and I think Lowry should have explored that.
The other thing that I didn't like is that Molly was the "pretty one" while the narrator was the younger, awkward nerdy artistic one. It is also too easy and not very creative. Though of course I know the narrator is a thirteen year old girl looking at her fifteen year old sister so it could be in how she sees herself, which at that age is pretty normal.
I think it is a book that teens would enjoy and maybe be touched by but I don't think it translated into adulthood as well as other young adult novels I have read do, or even as well as "The Giver."
It is told through the eyes of a young girl Meg whose older sister is inexplicably stricken with Leukemia. This is incomprehensible and I don't think at any age we ever grasp this kind of tragedy. The book talks about the pain and guilt that Meg goes through because she hasn't always gotten along with her sister. She also is developing a real interest in art photography and she spends a lot of time with a grandfather figure who replaces her parents as advice giver, because they are so wrapped up in being in the hospital and going through their grief. They don't precisely ignore Meg, but they leave her out of the reality of the situation. They don't even tell her that Molly is dying and what she has until she is nearly dead. She only sees her sister in the hospital one time.
What I didn't like was the trite story telling. Lowry has used the overdone technique of framing the death in contrast to the birth of a baby. It makes for a beautiful story but I think it sacrificed a chance for Lowry to discuss the realm of teenage death in a different light. There isn't always going to be a miracle of life immediately following all of the losses we are bound to experience in life and I think Lowry should have explored that.
The other thing that I didn't like is that Molly was the "pretty one" while the narrator was the younger, awkward nerdy artistic one. It is also too easy and not very creative. Though of course I know the narrator is a thirteen year old girl looking at her fifteen year old sister so it could be in how she sees herself, which at that age is pretty normal.
I think it is a book that teens would enjoy and maybe be touched by but I don't think it translated into adulthood as well as other young adult novels I have read do, or even as well as "The Giver."
December 17, 2009
This is one of those teen books where the sister dies. (Thanks to the title, I'm not giving anything away here.) I know a lot of adults think children shouldn't read these kinds of depressing books but I adored them as a teen. It is very important for children to learn how to deal with different difficult situations and emotions,and one way they can start to learn coping methods is by being introduced to these types of situations in a safe way: through fiction. My copy of the book says that this is the story of two very remarkable sisters. But I think the beauty of the book is quite the oppostie. Meg and Molly aren't particularly remarkable young women. They're fairly ordinary. And in that lies their beauty. Molly is pretty and popular and has a boyfriend. Meg is a photographer, a loner, makes friends with older neighbors. They are very unalike, as is fairly normal for sisters, and it does cause clashes but at that age (13, 15) and in such close proximity (sharing a room for the first time), it's inevitable. Meg's older friends, especially Will, are very important to her in helping her deal with the loss of her sister. They say a few simple but profound things that resonate with her (and with this reader) such as Will's quote about mourning Margaret, and how we are always mourning ourselves. And also when he tells her it's normal to blame herself for Meg's sickness, because we want to blame someone, and f it was us who did it, then we feel like we have some control. I'd never thought about that before and it makes perfect sense. I had thought that being older now and sensible, and also (jokingly) a cold and bitter person that this book wuldn't affect me, but it did make me cry. It is so touching and honest and simple. A truly great novel.
December 12, 2008
A Summer To Die is a book about two sisters loving each other, going through adventures, illnesses, and good times together. Molly, the weak but older sister was always in bed, while Meg was active and a strong girl. The differences between the girls, made them each unique, and joyful. Their mutual generosity helped their home be a peaceful and enjoyable place. Lois Lowry is a great author who really nails the point of the story and makes you imagine every sentences of this book. Her vivid writing attracts you from beginning to the end. This is one example of a piece of writing that most impressed me: "Shunshine filled dreams." I can easily picture this vivid image that Lois includes. She also teaches you to be thankful for your siblings, the ones that complete your life, that give happiness, and love. When Molly gets sick, Meg realizes how lucky she was to have a sister like Molly with a daily smile, with a heart filled with love, and her generosity spreading everywhere she went. I remember when Molly receives a gift, and the first thing she thinks about, is giving it to Meg. Lois left a huge message to me: Don't waste the time you have to be with your family because it will never come back. Just...enjoy it, and give thanks for it! This book can leave a big message in your heart, but not only there, in your life too.
September 28, 2022
I had forgotten how much I love the way Lois Lowry writes; her first novel seems to have established her brilliant and poignant style right from the start. She keeps it simple, but weaves the story so intricately that it pulls me right in. Her players have depth and realness that are so relatable and so familiar. She strays from the plotline from time to time and into the minds of her characters just enough to give a glimpse of their hearts and souls, leaving me curious and intrigued; if I don't feel like I already know them, I want to! She adds small strings to the story or her characters that seem random and unrelated; but the loose threads of thought and emotion come back into play to tie things neatly together and leave me thinking of her books long after I've finished them.
September 9, 2014
God knows what it was about this book that had my 11-year old self obsessed—but obsessed I was! I had it permanently borrowed from our school library so attached I was! So this rating is from a younger me, but it is definitely to be read again to be reminded why, although most likely I'm so far from the innocent child I once was that my adult self will miss the meaning! Oh the tragedy of growing up.
August 24, 2021
( stares out the window and feels )
November 15, 2017
Une histoire attendrissante, mais terriblement émouvante.
J'ai fait mienne cette citation : « Le temps passe et la vie continue ; il faut bien la vivre. Au bout d'un certain temps, on se souvient davantage des bonnes choses que des mauvaises. Puis, petit à petit, tout ce que le silence a vidé se remplit à nouveau de rires et de mots et les bords ébréchés de la tristesse sont lissés par les souvenirs. »
http://blogclarabel.canalblog.com/arc...
J'ai fait mienne cette citation : « Le temps passe et la vie continue ; il faut bien la vivre. Au bout d'un certain temps, on se souvient davantage des bonnes choses que des mauvaises. Puis, petit à petit, tout ce que le silence a vidé se remplit à nouveau de rires et de mots et les bords ébréchés de la tristesse sont lissés par les souvenirs. »
http://blogclarabel.canalblog.com/arc...
March 5, 2025
It’s been a long time since a book made me FULLY cry. Definitely a good cathartic read. If you’ve ever lost someone young or lost someone to cancer, this book would probably be a hard read for you, but it was dang good.
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