Invincible Summer

by Jean Ferris

Seventeen-year-old Robin, in treatment for leukemia, falls in love with a boy who also has the disease, and together they attempt to survive their ordeal.

Genres: Young Adult

176 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1987

About the author

This author is not afraid to tackle difficult subjects: living with a deaf parent (Of Sound Mind), facing the consequences of a criminal act (Bad), or questioning one's sexuality (Eight Seconds). But Jean Ferris is also adept at writing comedy, historical fiction, and romance. What's most interesting is that she didn't publish her first novel until she was in her mid-40s. Yet she's never forgotten the intense feelings and changes of her own teenage years. Critics as well as teen readers have seen the evidence of that in her writing and have honored her novels with a number of awards, from Best Books for Young Adults to various state and National Book Award nominations.

Reviews

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book as a kid and I've been trying to remember the title for years. At the time, I wasn't a pleasure reader, but this book stuck with me. I remember borrowing from the library and bawling like a baby through it. I think I need to read it again now to see if it is as good as I remember, but maybe I shouldn't taint the memory.

[Annica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't think this book was going to be very good, but it really was. I saw that it was given 4 stars by other readers and I was a little skeptical. This book only took me 2 hours to read. It was very short and too the point, but also really good. The only thing that bothered me about it was how the relationship just kinda developed out of thin air. But, I guess that happens some times. I think the author did a good job of making me feel happy at the end of the book, even though it was a sad story. Cancer is NEVER a fun story. Anyway, I really liked this book!

[Amore · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is too personal to me as it’s one of my favourite books in Highschool. So pleased I get to read this again. It’s easy to read, and good for beginners.

[Laura Christian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. LOVED THIS BOOK. The characters were beautiful, and this was written LONG before Fault in our Stars which is a total rip off of this book. Super influential for me as a teen.

[Epic Penguin 16 · Rating 3 out of 5]

John Green definitely ripped off this book for The Fault in Our Stars. I found this book in the scrap pile of my high schools art class and I flipped open to page that really enticed me into it and so I took it home and read the whole thing. Of course, many pages were missing (One page I noticed was gone was the part were they bang so whoever took ur a lil freak) but it was really entertaining. The love interest was weirdly quirky for a character written almost 40 years ago and I cannot say I enjoyed it but I did not expect the ending which was stupid of me. Predictable only because of all the romanticized cancer books out there and the whole book seemed really rushed, but that was probably because it was under 200 pages long and the main character was boring. DO I recommend? Not really, and I don't even know where'd you get a proper copy of the book since it's probably out of print. But I'd gladly borrow my copy that's literally falling apart to you.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book for free at a book swap at my mom's work ages ago. It was in a pile with a ton of other old books & I picked it up on a whim. I'm so glad I did. I feel in love with this book & have read it multiple times. It is one of my favorite books. I haven't read it in a while, but just found it again in my room & will defiantly be rereading it soon.

It is a very short, quick read. It is sad at points of course. But the love story is what really stands out!

I love this book & will always love it.

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

My granddaughter recommended that I read Twice Upon a Marigold by Jean Ferris and this was on the bookshelf near it so I decided to try it. It is a very sweet story and where Once Upon a Marigold and Twice Upon a Marigold are both fairy tales this is the story of a teenage girl approaching young womanhood and how she deals with a very difficult problem. It is an easy read but very enjoyable.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Invincible Summer is like an early The Fault in our Stars, except better suited for younger audiences. I've read this book several times and I love it. There are plenty of Humphrey Bogart references, well-developed characters, and a heartwarming/breaking story. Highly recommended for children 10-12.

[Stephanie A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I checked this out for no other reason than the fact that it was the only 80s book I saw on the library shelf. And then I ended up swooning and sniffling over the tale of teens in love & saddled with leukemia.

[Lavender · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, I liked it better than the fault in our stars. Funny that this book has been out longer, and the cover looks like the fault in our stars cover. It was a book that left you thinking, and sad. In other words, it was perfect, and is one of my favorite books.

[Ella · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a very sad book. I like happy endings so that is why it only got 2 stars. there is enough sadness in real life. why make books sad on purpose???

[Tina P · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know what made me grab this book off of the library shelf, but I'm glad I did. It was a good story about how strong love can be through the worst of times.

[Lesly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this little book! and cried like a baby at the end

[Tessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in 2008 and it is still my favorite book ever. I loved it. Everything about it. This made me cry, laugh, and want to read more. It is sad, but it's perfect for a rainy day.

[Cass · Rating 4 out of 5]

A touching story of two teenagers battling the same kind of cancer.

[Ilona Galembo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Перечитала ее несколько раз в 16-17 лет.

[Maria Bustos · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was heart touching. I really liked it even though it was sad.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

So glad I gave this book a chance. I read it a few years back and fell in love. I finished it in just a few hours because I couldn't put it down! Great book and definitely a tearjerker.

[Stacey Hewitt tomblin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book 14years ago and loved it! Can't bare to get rid it!