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The Lost Summer
"I died one summer, or I almost did. Part of me did. I don't say that to be dramatic, only because it's true."
For the past nine years, Helena Waite has been returning to summer camp at Southpoint. Every year the camp and its familiar routines, landmarks, and people have welcomed her back like a long-lost family member. But this year she is returning not as a camper, but as a counselor, while her best friend, Katie Bell remains behind. All too quickly, Helena discovers that the innocent world of campfires, singalongs, and field days have been pushed aside for late night pranks on the boys' camp, skinny dipping in the lake, and stolen kisses in the hayloft. As she struggles to define herself in this new world, Helena begins to lose sight of what made camp special and the friendships that have sustained her for so many years. And when Ransome, her longtime crush, becomes a romantic reality, life gets even more confusing.
Told with honesty and heart, Kathryn Williams' second novel tackles the timeless theme of growing up, set at a camp where innocence is created and lost.
253 pages, Hardcover
First published July 14, 2009
19 people are currently reading
1069 people want to read
About the author
Kathryn Williams
28 books103 followersKathryn Williams is the author of four young adult novels, a handful of bestselling Disney junior novelizations, and a humorous guide to living with roommates.
Originally from the South, she now lives with her family in Portland, Maine, where she finds inspiration in the woods, by the water, in antique stores full of old stuff, and at The Telling Room, a nonprofit creative writing center where she helps kids and teens write and publish their own stories.
Originally from the South, she now lives with her family in Portland, Maine, where she finds inspiration in the woods, by the water, in antique stores full of old stuff, and at The Telling Room, a nonprofit creative writing center where she helps kids and teens write and publish their own stories.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
March 13, 2010
This is the story of Helena, 17-year-old camper-turned-counselor who grows up one summer-or at least that's how the story goes.
If you say that finally dating the guy you've had a crush on since you were ten; losing one's virginity; and, oh yeah, going into a coma for five weeks is what "growing up" is all about, then yes, Helena does grow up in this "Lost Summer".
The writing was good, I'll give it that. The characters were believable and the things that the characters did were completely human, not too fake or made up.
However, the book's resolution left much to be desired. Also, I did not appreciate all the physical aspects of her relationship with her dream boy Ransome. I tried to skip over it as best as I could, and if you read the book I highly recommend you skip more than I successfully could.
All in all, this book scores high on artistic value-characters, plot, wording-but low on moral and real-world value.
Because, c'mon. I don't even go to camp.
If you say that finally dating the guy you've had a crush on since you were ten; losing one's virginity; and, oh yeah, going into a coma for five weeks is what "growing up" is all about, then yes, Helena does grow up in this "Lost Summer".
The writing was good, I'll give it that. The characters were believable and the things that the characters did were completely human, not too fake or made up.
However, the book's resolution left much to be desired. Also, I did not appreciate all the physical aspects of her relationship with her dream boy Ransome. I tried to skip over it as best as I could, and if you read the book I highly recommend you skip more than I successfully could.
All in all, this book scores high on artistic value-characters, plot, wording-but low on moral and real-world value.
Because, c'mon. I don't even go to camp.
August 6, 2019
This was a cute book, though not my favourite. I feel like I should stop buying cheap books on BookBub because I never fall in love with any of them. But hey, cheap books are better than no books! Anyway, I felt bad for Helena throughout this book. She was having a hard time of it dealing with the transition of camper to counselor and it didn't help that those who she considered her good friends kept treating her like crap. Katie Bell was jealous of her for being a counselor and acted petty and mean, and Winn was jealous of her budding romance with Ransome and acted petty and mean. The ending was an unexpected twist though and that's honestly what bumped my rating from 2 stars to 3.
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August 2, 2009katie bell??? harry potter???????? am i the only 1 who made that connection??????????
January 19, 2025
The Lost Summer
Ew a Disney print book, gross. Wait, Disney published a book where 2 teens have relatively graphic sex? Anyway-
So our main character is a newly made teenage camp counselor at a summer camp she used to frequent. Begin shenanigans about boys, friends, reminiscing about childhood and nature. Also her nickname is “Hell” because of her name, Helena- love it.
It's annoying at times since it is written from the perspective of a tenager. She complains about her weight, boys, and friends. The constant hormones towards the older boy got creepy, we get it- we get you're straight and horny. No but really she describes loving his deodorant and all these unnecessary details about her infatuation.
A lot of the book consists of breaking rules and what not. Not really something easily done at a GOOD camp or with GOOD counselors, so I found it unrealistic- as an ex counselor myself.
To be honest, I wanted to read this book to experience my summer camp days, to get a slice of life on growing up. Instead it was about a nervous teenager who had stashed makeup, secret cigarettes, and skinny dipped with boys. All fun and games but not the forest romp hijinks and giggles I expected and wanted.
The drama with her friends, counselor drama, and whatnot, was at least captivating. Until she loses her v card in a BARN where she describes rat droppings and manure- so sexy. The whole story comes to a halt so the author can describe this. Bleeding and lying to him that it felt good, way to teach young girls that that's normal, ugh.
The book is about separation from childhood and the trauma that can- wait she fell off a boat and was in a coma for 5 weeks. The ending was uncalled for and didn’t resolve anything. No one in the story really did anything wrong yet she was the one that got punished the most severely. This isn’t a good book simply because it has no story to tell, it feels like a one off episode inside a series.
Ew a Disney print book, gross. Wait, Disney published a book where 2 teens have relatively graphic sex? Anyway-
So our main character is a newly made teenage camp counselor at a summer camp she used to frequent. Begin shenanigans about boys, friends, reminiscing about childhood and nature. Also her nickname is “Hell” because of her name, Helena- love it.
It's annoying at times since it is written from the perspective of a tenager. She complains about her weight, boys, and friends. The constant hormones towards the older boy got creepy, we get it- we get you're straight and horny. No but really she describes loving his deodorant and all these unnecessary details about her infatuation.
A lot of the book consists of breaking rules and what not. Not really something easily done at a GOOD camp or with GOOD counselors, so I found it unrealistic- as an ex counselor myself.
To be honest, I wanted to read this book to experience my summer camp days, to get a slice of life on growing up. Instead it was about a nervous teenager who had stashed makeup, secret cigarettes, and skinny dipped with boys. All fun and games but not the forest romp hijinks and giggles I expected and wanted.
The drama with her friends, counselor drama, and whatnot, was at least captivating. Until she loses her v card in a BARN where she describes rat droppings and manure- so sexy. The whole story comes to a halt so the author can describe this. Bleeding and lying to him that it felt good, way to teach young girls that that's normal, ugh.
The book is about separation from childhood and the trauma that can- wait she fell off a boat and was in a coma for 5 weeks. The ending was uncalled for and didn’t resolve anything. No one in the story really did anything wrong yet she was the one that got punished the most severely. This isn’t a good book simply because it has no story to tell, it feels like a one off episode inside a series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 27, 2025
it was fine? i enjoyed the broader story, about a girl going back to her favorite summer camp and things changing, it just wasn’t written to well
August 28, 2013
Review originally posted on Rather Be Reading Blog
While Terra Elan McVoy’s The Summer of Firsts and Lasts made me fall hard for summer camp, Kathryn William’s The Lost Summer had me practically smelling the fresh air and hearing the bugles opening every morning.
But oh, the innocence, of summer doesn’t last forever when Helena arrives as a counselor and her best friend, Katie Bell, is still a camper. At first, Helena tries to make it seem like every other summer but when the afterhours meet-ups start happening and she thinks her long-time crush, Ransome, might actually notice her, a whole new world opens itself up and she can’t turn back.
Inevitable changes in an otherwise routine summer are what start to push Helena and Katie apart. In fact, Helena is kind of helpless because she has no choice but to do her job and the prospect of spending more time with Ransome is practically a dream come true. Katie doesn’t take it too well either, starts to act out and we see how naturally growing pains can come between even the closest of friends.
Williams is so spot-on with this familiar problem. Friends growing apart and there is nothing you can do about it. An age-old issue where distractions and time come between the two of you and you’re not so sure you can overcome it. It was painful to read because you could see how much these two girls loved each other, and yet it was so understandable – sometimes it’s no one’s fault and things like this just happen.
But can it be fixed?
The Lost Summer hits on that awkward summer, when you are on the cusp of adulthood but so much want to crawl up on the couch near your mom and have her solve all of your problems. It’s a great mix of fun, and first love, and feeling out friendships and learning a little about trust.
There’s a big game changer of an event that occurs toward the end of the book, and I’m still up in the air about how it popped out of nowhere and changed things even more drastically for the main character. In the end, this event brought many truths to light… even if it was a harsh way to learn a life lesson.
After reading Pizza, Love… and enjoying it for its fluff and lightness, I was very satisfied with all the mature situations Williams presented in this novel and how real the emotions felt. I was so wrapped up in this inviting setting with multi-dimensional characters who face a life-changing summer that I read most of it in one sitting.
While Terra Elan McVoy’s The Summer of Firsts and Lasts made me fall hard for summer camp, Kathryn William’s The Lost Summer had me practically smelling the fresh air and hearing the bugles opening every morning.
But oh, the innocence, of summer doesn’t last forever when Helena arrives as a counselor and her best friend, Katie Bell, is still a camper. At first, Helena tries to make it seem like every other summer but when the afterhours meet-ups start happening and she thinks her long-time crush, Ransome, might actually notice her, a whole new world opens itself up and she can’t turn back.
Inevitable changes in an otherwise routine summer are what start to push Helena and Katie apart. In fact, Helena is kind of helpless because she has no choice but to do her job and the prospect of spending more time with Ransome is practically a dream come true. Katie doesn’t take it too well either, starts to act out and we see how naturally growing pains can come between even the closest of friends.
Williams is so spot-on with this familiar problem. Friends growing apart and there is nothing you can do about it. An age-old issue where distractions and time come between the two of you and you’re not so sure you can overcome it. It was painful to read because you could see how much these two girls loved each other, and yet it was so understandable – sometimes it’s no one’s fault and things like this just happen.
But can it be fixed?
The Lost Summer hits on that awkward summer, when you are on the cusp of adulthood but so much want to crawl up on the couch near your mom and have her solve all of your problems. It’s a great mix of fun, and first love, and feeling out friendships and learning a little about trust.
There’s a big game changer of an event that occurs toward the end of the book, and I’m still up in the air about how it popped out of nowhere and changed things even more drastically for the main character. In the end, this event brought many truths to light… even if it was a harsh way to learn a life lesson.
After reading Pizza, Love… and enjoying it for its fluff and lightness, I was very satisfied with all the mature situations Williams presented in this novel and how real the emotions felt. I was so wrapped up in this inviting setting with multi-dimensional characters who face a life-changing summer that I read most of it in one sitting.
January 13, 2010
4.5 stars. I really liked this book. And to think, I'd never heard of the book before seeing it on the shelves at a bookstore! Helena is off to summer camp to be a counselor while her best friend, Katie Bell, who's a few months younger, has just missed the age cutoff and is forced to be a camper again one last time. At camp, Helena soon becomes caught up in all sorts of fun with the other counselors - pulling pranks, sneaking out late at night to meet with counselors from the boy's camp across the lake, flirting with one of the guys - that a huge gap seems to be opening between Helena and Katie Bell and things between them start falling apart.
The entire time I read this, I could feel the camp. The author really drew me in to the setting, and it made me want to be that age and at a summer camp like this. The characters were extremely likable, though all with their own flaws, and I liked the way that things weren't necessarily black and white but every action was tinged with gray; characters were made to be real.
I only have two complaints about the entire book. My first complaint is that the book's chapters were divided into sections, each introduced with a page of italicized writing, the purpose of which I didn't understand. These pages seemed to be completely unnecessary and did not help progress the story at all. My other complaint is that the events of the ending seemed to happen so suddenly that it robbed the reader of any other type of satisfying ending (though the ending was still good, it was just sudden).
Still, I thought the book overall was great and I would have no trouble recommending it to others. I think anyone who's ever been to or wanted to go to a long summer camp would love this. Outdoors, friendships, flirtations, swimming, pranks... what's not to love?
The entire time I read this, I could feel the camp. The author really drew me in to the setting, and it made me want to be that age and at a summer camp like this. The characters were extremely likable, though all with their own flaws, and I liked the way that things weren't necessarily black and white but every action was tinged with gray; characters were made to be real.
I only have two complaints about the entire book. My first complaint is that the book's chapters were divided into sections, each introduced with a page of italicized writing, the purpose of which I didn't understand. These pages seemed to be completely unnecessary and did not help progress the story at all. My other complaint is that the events of the ending seemed to happen so suddenly that it robbed the reader of any other type of satisfying ending (though the ending was still good, it was just sudden).
Still, I thought the book overall was great and I would have no trouble recommending it to others. I think anyone who's ever been to or wanted to go to a long summer camp would love this. Outdoors, friendships, flirtations, swimming, pranks... what's not to love?
February 2, 2011
NOTE TO SELF: DON'T TRUST A GUY WITH THE NAME OF RANSOME....the name speaks for itself!
okies, i liked this book but not quite it has its ups and downs. i loved that its a story on friendship and finding love at camp (i totally love camp stories, maybe its just the nature and camaraderie spirit in me) and finding yourself...a kid one day and all totally grown up the next.
FRIENDSHIP: i liked that it involves 3 friends (actually helena caught up between two of her friends). one side of helena wanted to remain katie bell's best friend and another wanting to impress the grown up winn. the misunderstanding between the three was quite petty, the usual jealousy thing happening around friends where one is caught up between the two clashing personalities of her friends. though in the end the three girls were able to resolve it...too bad helena had to be in coma for five weeks for all three to realize that they had nothing to argue about.
LOVE: well, the love story in this one is the blind one (as we are all familiar with). having a crush with a guy who is older than you and making you believe things because you are just too naive to see through the truth. and in the end doing it with someone you thought was special....blind love that is.
GROWTH: helena had to find this the hard way. it nearly broke her friendship's with winn and katie bell. but in the end they remained friends and helena realized that growing up was harder than she thought.
this story was light but a fun read...it has its touching moments especially at the end of the chapter wherein helena was at the hospital and winn and katie bell visited her.
okies, i liked this book but not quite it has its ups and downs. i loved that its a story on friendship and finding love at camp (i totally love camp stories, maybe its just the nature and camaraderie spirit in me) and finding yourself...a kid one day and all totally grown up the next.
FRIENDSHIP: i liked that it involves 3 friends (actually helena caught up between two of her friends). one side of helena wanted to remain katie bell's best friend and another wanting to impress the grown up winn. the misunderstanding between the three was quite petty, the usual jealousy thing happening around friends where one is caught up between the two clashing personalities of her friends. though in the end the three girls were able to resolve it...too bad helena had to be in coma for five weeks for all three to realize that they had nothing to argue about.
LOVE: well, the love story in this one is the blind one (as we are all familiar with). having a crush with a guy who is older than you and making you believe things because you are just too naive to see through the truth. and in the end doing it with someone you thought was special....blind love that is.
GROWTH: helena had to find this the hard way. it nearly broke her friendship's with winn and katie bell. but in the end they remained friends and helena realized that growing up was harder than she thought.
this story was light but a fun read...it has its touching moments especially at the end of the chapter wherein helena was at the hospital and winn and katie bell visited her.
April 21, 2012
When I read the flaps of the book, I was really excited.
I love camp stories especially since I never went to one and get to experience it in books.
This was just a disappointment though.
Yes, I read the book nonstop. But really I was just waiting for something not cliche to happen.
Ok ok, bitchy friends, cute boy, ok ok where's the good part? I was totally ready for Winn to be a murdering psychopath and that's how Helena would be dead or almost anyway. But no, not even close. I needed a little bit more scary action, paranormal activity from this book.
What I got was another typical teen book. I know it's a teen book, but I was hoping it wouldn't be.
If you're not sick of a normal teen drama, go for it. If you are, don't go for it.
I love camp stories especially since I never went to one and get to experience it in books.
This was just a disappointment though.
Yes, I read the book nonstop. But really I was just waiting for something not cliche to happen.
Ok ok, bitchy friends, cute boy, ok ok where's the good part? I was totally ready for Winn to be a murdering psychopath and that's how Helena would be dead or almost anyway. But no, not even close. I needed a little bit more scary action, paranormal activity from this book.
What I got was another typical teen book. I know it's a teen book, but I was hoping it wouldn't be.
If you're not sick of a normal teen drama, go for it. If you are, don't go for it.
October 15, 2009
couldn't finish this book. in fact, the first few chapters bore me and I just returned it to the library w/o finishing it. pity, I had high hopes for this book.
December 23, 2025
In my view, this book stands out as one of my favorites from my teenage years, and it is quite easy to read. It is not one of those books that you can put down halfway through; rather, it compels you to read until the conclusion to fully grasp its concept. For the last nine years, Helena Waite has been returning to Southpoint summer camp alongside her best friend, Katie Bell. Each year, the camp, with its familiar routines, landmarks, and people, has embraced her return as if she were a long-lost family member. However, this year, she is not returning as a camper but as a counselor. Helena encounters a young man named Ransome and begins to develop feelings for him, which leads her to gradually distance herself from her best friend. Before long, Helena realizes that the once innocent experiences of campfires, singalongs, and field days have been overshadowed by late-night pranks on the boys' camp, skinny dipping in the lake, and stolen kisses in the hayloft. As she navigates her identity in this new environment, Helena starts to lose sight of what made camp meaningful and the friendships that have supported her for so many years. When Ransome, her long-time crush, transforms into a romantic possibility, her life becomes even more perplexing. With sincerity and emotion, Kathryn Williams' second novel addresses the enduring theme of maturation, set in a camp where innocence is both cultivated and lost.
February 2, 2022
I enjoyed certain aspects of this more than others. I particularly liked the descriptions of camp and camp life. I myself was a camper every summer, and was a camp counselor as a teen. All of the traditions felt nostalgic, and I really like having the memories come back to me.
I didn’t enjoy some of the lack of closure. BAM we were hit with the end and then left. It wasn’t as satisfying as it could have been.
I wish we could have had more reflection over the summer romance. I think there was room for many conversations surrounding it, but the lessons learned were just lacking.
I didn’t enjoy some of the lack of closure. BAM we were hit with the end and then left. It wasn’t as satisfying as it could have been.
I wish we could have had more reflection over the summer romance. I think there was room for many conversations surrounding it, but the lessons learned were just lacking.
May 14, 2017
Idyllic and nostalgic; I loved how this book revolved around camp! It's interesting to consider the growing-up angle, which Winn's and Ruby's characters really added to. Not sure how I felt about Ransome being , though.
May 6, 2021
This was cute & then it took a somewhere that I didn’t care for! I honestly hated the ending & while writing this had to dock another star because I feel annoyed writing this! Also the author needs to learn that hooking up is not just kissing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 11, 2018
It started okay...but very quickly declined
July 31, 2018
Straight forward coming of age camp story with a twist ending. An enjoyable summer read, but nothing special.
March 18, 2023
It’s a fun coming of age novel with a twist at the end
November 23, 2024
Great Book, has a lot of suspenseful chapters.
May 29, 2021
I feel like the author didn’t know how to end her story so she came up with a traumatic event to wrap up with a (somewhat) happy ending.
Also this book was very trashy. It went into way too much detail for the romantic scenes. I skipped through many pages.
Also this book was very trashy. It went into way too much detail for the romantic scenes. I skipped through many pages.
April 16, 2024
3.5 Stars
It’s a mini coming of age story set in a summer camp (and I loove a summer vacation/camp setting). It’s about this funny time between childhood and becoming an adult, about how difficult and different everything feels. The things you like one summer, seem super childish to you the next. It’s about friendship, first loves and finding yourself in between everything that is going on in this tumultuous time.
It was a cute and fast read, focusing on the weeks of the summer camp. There is no real background story and a kind of rushed ending, but I enjoyed it and it was almost everything I hoped from this book.
It’s a mini coming of age story set in a summer camp (and I loove a summer vacation/camp setting). It’s about this funny time between childhood and becoming an adult, about how difficult and different everything feels. The things you like one summer, seem super childish to you the next. It’s about friendship, first loves and finding yourself in between everything that is going on in this tumultuous time.
It was a cute and fast read, focusing on the weeks of the summer camp. There is no real background story and a kind of rushed ending, but I enjoyed it and it was almost everything I hoped from this book.
July 6, 2009
Helena Waite loves her summer tradition of Southpoint. Since she was just a little girl, she has enjoyed the fun activities, familiar landscape, and spirit of sisterhood the summer camp provides and fosters. Now that Helena’s seventeen, she is no longer a camper, but a counselor. Unfortunately, her best friend Katie Bell, her seventeenth birthday just a few months shy of the cutoff, is still a camper. Helena’s decided to make the best of her situation; after all, she does have the best of both worlds. But as the counselors’ late night antics with the counselors of the nearby boys’ camp make her innocent camp life of summers past seem juvenile, Helena finds herself abandoning Katie Bell in favor of her counselor friends. Camp is no longer the simple carefree place of refuge from the real world it used to be for Helena, and when her counselor friends turn their back on her, all for a boy, Helena is forced to rethink this summer’s decisions. But it might have to take a disaster to show Helena—and everyone else—what really matters.
Williams’ second novel, though much more serious than her lighthearted and funny The Debutante, is just as poignant and moving. The Lost Summer is a coming of age story centered on summer camp and all that entails, including summer crushes, and array of camp activities, and new and evolving friendships. This whole book is about growing up, about new responsibilities and opportunities, letting go of cherished routines not because we want to but because we have to, and realizing that we always have to keep moving forward. Helena comes to that realization the hard way, because she turns her back on childhood when she’s not quite ready to let go and a dreadful accident forces her to finally make peace with the fact that she no longer is a child. Williams portrays this border between childhood and womanhood wonderfully, showing that while the realization may be sudden, the journey from one state to another is gradual. The Lost Summer is very direct with its meaning and emphasis that we all have to grow up and that friendship is valuable and important. I would have enjoyed a bit of humor in The Lost Summer because this story was sometimes too serious, but overall, I thought The Lost Summer was a beautiful and meaningful read.
The Lost Summer will be enjoyed by more thoughtful summer vacationers, and also by those who liked Everything Beautiful by Simmone Howell and Slept Away by Julie Kraut. Fans of William’s The Debutante will probably also enjoy this novel even if it lacks somewhat in the funny factor.
reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com
Williams’ second novel, though much more serious than her lighthearted and funny The Debutante, is just as poignant and moving. The Lost Summer is a coming of age story centered on summer camp and all that entails, including summer crushes, and array of camp activities, and new and evolving friendships. This whole book is about growing up, about new responsibilities and opportunities, letting go of cherished routines not because we want to but because we have to, and realizing that we always have to keep moving forward. Helena comes to that realization the hard way, because she turns her back on childhood when she’s not quite ready to let go and a dreadful accident forces her to finally make peace with the fact that she no longer is a child. Williams portrays this border between childhood and womanhood wonderfully, showing that while the realization may be sudden, the journey from one state to another is gradual. The Lost Summer is very direct with its meaning and emphasis that we all have to grow up and that friendship is valuable and important. I would have enjoyed a bit of humor in The Lost Summer because this story was sometimes too serious, but overall, I thought The Lost Summer was a beautiful and meaningful read.
The Lost Summer will be enjoyed by more thoughtful summer vacationers, and also by those who liked Everything Beautiful by Simmone Howell and Slept Away by Julie Kraut. Fans of William’s The Debutante will probably also enjoy this novel even if it lacks somewhat in the funny factor.
reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com
December 19, 2016
Helena and her best friend Katie Bell have spent many summers together at camp at Southpoint. This year, things are different because while Helena is old enough to be a counselor, Katie Bell’s birthday is just a little bit too late, so she has to spend one more year as a camper. Suddenly, Helena is invited to all the grown-up activities the counselors do, while Katie still has the freedom to hang out with her friends and have one more summer of immaturity. As the summer goes on, the girls drift farther and farther apart, until an accident changes everything forever.
This contemporary YA novel incorporates a lot of cliches associated with young adult literature: best friends on the outs, the unattainable boy who suddenly becomes interested, losing one’s virginity, and “that one summer that changes everything.” At times, though the writing is quite descriptive and interesting, these themes seem a bit heavy-handed, almost as though the author is trying really hard to make sure the reader knows this is a YA book. At other times, though, such as when Helena first kisses Ransome, or when she sees the video of herself and Katie Bell at age nine, the emotions really ring true, and it doesn’t matter that this story has been told a zillion times before.
Though this story is set at a camp, it speaks to the changes that happen in every childhood friendship as adulthood approaches. Most teens can relate to the situations that arise in Helena’s life because even if they’ve never gone to camp, they have lost a friend, and they can remember an event or series of events in their own lives that left them forever changed. While not everything in this book seems entirely plausible, the emotions of each situation are true to life, and teens who have been through similar experiences will recognize that truth.
Though The Lost Summer is likely to be enjoyed by girls who like Sarah Dessen, the heaviness of the content makes it kind of a downer as a beach novel. If I were doing a book talk for this book, I might make comparisons to authors of fast-paced novels where girls are in danger, like those written by Caroline B. Cooney and Lois Duncan, or to authors like Deb Caletti and Joan Bauer, who write about girls facing realistic challenges and coming of age. Though The Lost Summer wasn’t quite the light summer-themed story I expected, I enjoyed the story and easily got through it in one sitting. I think avid readers of serious contemporary fiction will find themselves drawn into Helena’s story as well.
This contemporary YA novel incorporates a lot of cliches associated with young adult literature: best friends on the outs, the unattainable boy who suddenly becomes interested, losing one’s virginity, and “that one summer that changes everything.” At times, though the writing is quite descriptive and interesting, these themes seem a bit heavy-handed, almost as though the author is trying really hard to make sure the reader knows this is a YA book. At other times, though, such as when Helena first kisses Ransome, or when she sees the video of herself and Katie Bell at age nine, the emotions really ring true, and it doesn’t matter that this story has been told a zillion times before.
Though this story is set at a camp, it speaks to the changes that happen in every childhood friendship as adulthood approaches. Most teens can relate to the situations that arise in Helena’s life because even if they’ve never gone to camp, they have lost a friend, and they can remember an event or series of events in their own lives that left them forever changed. While not everything in this book seems entirely plausible, the emotions of each situation are true to life, and teens who have been through similar experiences will recognize that truth.
Though The Lost Summer is likely to be enjoyed by girls who like Sarah Dessen, the heaviness of the content makes it kind of a downer as a beach novel. If I were doing a book talk for this book, I might make comparisons to authors of fast-paced novels where girls are in danger, like those written by Caroline B. Cooney and Lois Duncan, or to authors like Deb Caletti and Joan Bauer, who write about girls facing realistic challenges and coming of age. Though The Lost Summer wasn’t quite the light summer-themed story I expected, I enjoyed the story and easily got through it in one sitting. I think avid readers of serious contemporary fiction will find themselves drawn into Helena’s story as well.
June 18, 2009
I think I need to stay away from the camp books. It seems that every one I read never really leaves a deep and enjoyable impact.
The Lost Summer was good. Just not something I ever plan to reread. It has your basic girl meets guy, girl and guy hooks up type of premise, and yet a bit more.
It dealt with the issue of growing up. Of course you lose and gain friends as time goes by and The Lost Summer tells of this. Helena makes a rash decision to ditch her long time friend Katie Bell for the new and exciting friendship with Winn, a fellow counselor. It teaches that two worlds can come together or make some form of attempt.
The camp pranks and activities were fun as they were described in some detail. I enjoyed how the author gave the spotlight on the secondary characters at points. Childhood innocence can best be portrayed in a child. Before the boys, before the petty arguments, we can read what it was like to just be friends who loved the others company—simple.
Helena is the typical teenage that tries to find her niche in life and camp. So when Ransome (I’m not sure how much I like that name…) finally notices her, after a secret crush that she’s had since she was just a camper, Helena is overjoyed. The relationship was much too fast. On some accounts it was unbelievable especially with the sex in the hay stack. It could have happened I guess but I never was fond of some things about Ransome. Chewing tobacco—it just looks disgusting, how some girls find it attractive beats me.
The ending was over too soon. I couldn’t picture the accident well enough in my head. Did she swerve right but still crashed into the other boat? Or did she swerve and hit something else? Wait, what!? Next thing you know Helena was in a coma for 5 weeks and camp is over. That and Katie Bell and Winn became almost friends (I could imagine them having a full-blown cat fight in the middle of the cafeteria) with Ransome visiting everyday until he had to go back to school. Would I have wanted any other way is what I’m trying to figure out. Do I like this happy ending? Was it too sweet for even me to endure? But what if something had happened, would I still find faults? I guess the ending for now I will come to accept.
Overall: Not what I expected but in some ways I did. I think I’m going to stay clear of any more camp based novels.
The Lost Summer was good. Just not something I ever plan to reread. It has your basic girl meets guy, girl and guy hooks up type of premise, and yet a bit more.
It dealt with the issue of growing up. Of course you lose and gain friends as time goes by and The Lost Summer tells of this. Helena makes a rash decision to ditch her long time friend Katie Bell for the new and exciting friendship with Winn, a fellow counselor. It teaches that two worlds can come together or make some form of attempt.
The camp pranks and activities were fun as they were described in some detail. I enjoyed how the author gave the spotlight on the secondary characters at points. Childhood innocence can best be portrayed in a child. Before the boys, before the petty arguments, we can read what it was like to just be friends who loved the others company—simple.
Helena is the typical teenage that tries to find her niche in life and camp. So when Ransome (I’m not sure how much I like that name…) finally notices her, after a secret crush that she’s had since she was just a camper, Helena is overjoyed. The relationship was much too fast. On some accounts it was unbelievable especially with the sex in the hay stack. It could have happened I guess but I never was fond of some things about Ransome. Chewing tobacco—it just looks disgusting, how some girls find it attractive beats me.
The ending was over too soon. I couldn’t picture the accident well enough in my head. Did she swerve right but still crashed into the other boat? Or did she swerve and hit something else? Wait, what!? Next thing you know Helena was in a coma for 5 weeks and camp is over. That and Katie Bell and Winn became almost friends (I could imagine them having a full-blown cat fight in the middle of the cafeteria) with Ransome visiting everyday until he had to go back to school. Would I have wanted any other way is what I’m trying to figure out. Do I like this happy ending? Was it too sweet for even me to endure? But what if something had happened, would I still find faults? I guess the ending for now I will come to accept.
Overall: Not what I expected but in some ways I did. I think I’m going to stay clear of any more camp based novels.
September 13, 2009
For Helena Waite, this is the summer of change, a summer of growth. For the first time she will be going to Southpoint, not as a camper but as a counselor. Sadly, it also means leaving some things behind, such as her best friend Katie Bell.
From her very first day as a counselor, Helena knows this will be her summer. Winn, one of the coolest counselors, takes Helena under her wing and Helena's status goes from new, unknown counselor, to popular counselor. And not only does being a counselor give her more privileges at Southpoint, it also gives her a chance with the guy of her dreams.
Will Helena realize that growth doesn't necessarily mean leaving everything behind? Will she finally get the guy she has been crushing on for years? And most importantly, how will the summer end?
Something I didn't mention in my summary is that there is a bit of suspense to the story. At the very beginning of the book you get a short prologue about something bad that happened that summer but the author gives you know clue what it was. That was really what drew me into the story.
I will admit that The Lost Summer was hard for me to get into. It was a bit boring at the beginning but I kept reading because I really wanted to know what happened. I have to say that this is what made the book. The story was good but the suspense of not knowing was killing me. I just had to know.
The characters weren't bad either. Winn was a bit bitchy but that was just her character. It's how she was supposed to be and it all gets explained eventually. Katie Bell was kind of childish but once again it was just how she was supposed to be. She was basically everything that Helena was leaving behind and the author did a great job of showing that. Helena was actually rather annoying. She seemed really selfish and really mean to Katie Bell, at times. I really hated that about her but otherwise she wasn't too bad.
Overall, The Lost Summer was a good book but not what I would consider a favorite. In the end, it had a little bit of everything; romance, suspense, coming-of-age, and friendship. While it's not my favorite it just might be yours! =]
From her very first day as a counselor, Helena knows this will be her summer. Winn, one of the coolest counselors, takes Helena under her wing and Helena's status goes from new, unknown counselor, to popular counselor. And not only does being a counselor give her more privileges at Southpoint, it also gives her a chance with the guy of her dreams.
Will Helena realize that growth doesn't necessarily mean leaving everything behind? Will she finally get the guy she has been crushing on for years? And most importantly, how will the summer end?
Something I didn't mention in my summary is that there is a bit of suspense to the story. At the very beginning of the book you get a short prologue about something bad that happened that summer but the author gives you know clue what it was. That was really what drew me into the story.
I will admit that The Lost Summer was hard for me to get into. It was a bit boring at the beginning but I kept reading because I really wanted to know what happened. I have to say that this is what made the book. The story was good but the suspense of not knowing was killing me. I just had to know.
The characters weren't bad either. Winn was a bit bitchy but that was just her character. It's how she was supposed to be and it all gets explained eventually. Katie Bell was kind of childish but once again it was just how she was supposed to be. She was basically everything that Helena was leaving behind and the author did a great job of showing that. Helena was actually rather annoying. She seemed really selfish and really mean to Katie Bell, at times. I really hated that about her but otherwise she wasn't too bad.
Overall, The Lost Summer was a good book but not what I would consider a favorite. In the end, it had a little bit of everything; romance, suspense, coming-of-age, and friendship. While it's not my favorite it just might be yours! =]
July 4, 2009
I don't know about you, but I adore camp themed books. Maybe it's because I've never really gone to a true sleep away camp ( I'm not too found of nature, so I have no clue what I would do if I did go to camp every summer like Helena does) or beacuse I love summer.
The Lost Summer was a pretty decent book that I enjoyed a ton. I loved the descriptions of the camp actives all of them partake in to how we see what different things the counselors do "after hours".
The characters were for the most part well developed. Helena was probably one of my favorites. Though, Katie Bell was one that I wished would disappear for most of the book. Since at times most of her actions and decisions seemed a bit... childish. Luckily, towards the end of the book, I began to like her because I saw what a great friend she was to Helena. Another thing I disliked about this book was Roger. I really didn't see what Helena saw attractive about him. He smoked tobacco, for goodness sake, leaving him to spit out random sprints of black goo at times. I mean seriously what is so hot about that?? I really just don't understand.
The Lost Summer was mostly a coming of age book that dealt with finding out who your true friends are while experiencing romantic relationships and making good chooses in the end. This left the plot to be interesting and overall keep you engaged in the book.
Overall, The Lost Summer was my first Kathryn Williams book, but it certainly won't be my last. :)
I suggest this to fans of Sarah Dessen and Susane Colasanti.
Grade: B-
The Lost Summer was a pretty decent book that I enjoyed a ton. I loved the descriptions of the camp actives all of them partake in to how we see what different things the counselors do "after hours".
The characters were for the most part well developed. Helena was probably one of my favorites. Though, Katie Bell was one that I wished would disappear for most of the book. Since at times most of her actions and decisions seemed a bit... childish. Luckily, towards the end of the book, I began to like her because I saw what a great friend she was to Helena. Another thing I disliked about this book was Roger. I really didn't see what Helena saw attractive about him. He smoked tobacco, for goodness sake, leaving him to spit out random sprints of black goo at times. I mean seriously what is so hot about that?? I really just don't understand.
The Lost Summer was mostly a coming of age book that dealt with finding out who your true friends are while experiencing romantic relationships and making good chooses in the end. This left the plot to be interesting and overall keep you engaged in the book.
Overall, The Lost Summer was my first Kathryn Williams book, but it certainly won't be my last. :)
I suggest this to fans of Sarah Dessen and Susane Colasanti.
Grade: B-
September 7, 2010
This is something that most girls around Helena's age has experienced. That summer before "growing up" and feeling like you are leaving parts of your old life behind. For some of us it happened much earlier, and some much later. But in the end, it happens to everyone. We may not realize that we have grown up and are leaving things behind, but we do it's inevitable, and sometimes it can be very hard. For Helena this was seen all during her weeks at camp. Especially whenever she was around Ransome (what kind of name is that!!!!) and talking about what she was doing as a counselor while her best friend Katie Bell was still a camper and having a better time then Helena was by a long shot. Helena kind of turned into one of those girls who thought she had to rely on a guy to fix all her problems, but that ended up getting her friends even more angry with her then they already were which isolated them from her even more so. Thankfully Helena isn't stupid, so she realizes this and tries to fix it. The Lost Summer was about heart ache and break, life-long friendship and so much else. It showed you that a summer crush can become a summer love (well, maybe) and that most of the time, friends are always worth more then the guy of the moment is. Who else is going to be there with the ice cream and chick flicks after you break up?!?! Teen romance almost never lasts forever, and actually, maybe it's better that way, especially some of the ones in here. I liked this book since it had the real feeling of camp, and of the last summer.
December 2, 2010
I actually really enjoy this book. I used to love summer camp growing up, and I too remember liking that one unattainable camp counsilor, but in Katie's case, she actually got with him. It's every girls dream and more! I just finished reading it and the true romantic in myself was sad that she and Ransome pretty well broke-up.
In the beginning I was fairly annoyed with Katie Bell. She just seemed to act immature and childish, and I couldn't help but picture her as a 12 year old girl. Towards the end, I started to really see her as a great friend...and not so childish anymore. What really annoyed me at first was the fact that she was always mad at Helena for things she couldn't control (The fact that she got to be a camp counsillor and she didn't and when Helena was busy controlling kids or working, Katie Bell seemed to get aggravated. As a camp counsillor, you don't really have time in the day to "hang out".
I actually liked Ransome. I thought he was a fairly interesting character. I always got the feeling as though something was going to go wrong with he and Helena's relationship - as if it wasn't going to last, or he was using her, but always hoped he wasn't, which turned out to be right. Thank God. I was devastated when the whole boat accident happened and her being in a coma for 5 weeks. I thought that He and Helena would have worked out in the end. Sadly, they did not.
Overall, it was a good book. The ending was definitely bittersweet, which is okay at times.
In the beginning I was fairly annoyed with Katie Bell. She just seemed to act immature and childish, and I couldn't help but picture her as a 12 year old girl. Towards the end, I started to really see her as a great friend...and not so childish anymore. What really annoyed me at first was the fact that she was always mad at Helena for things she couldn't control (The fact that she got to be a camp counsillor and she didn't and when Helena was busy controlling kids or working, Katie Bell seemed to get aggravated. As a camp counsillor, you don't really have time in the day to "hang out".
I actually liked Ransome. I thought he was a fairly interesting character. I always got the feeling as though something was going to go wrong with he and Helena's relationship - as if it wasn't going to last, or he was using her, but always hoped he wasn't, which turned out to be right. Thank God. I was devastated when the whole boat accident happened and her being in a coma for 5 weeks. I thought that He and Helena would have worked out in the end. Sadly, they did not.
Overall, it was a good book. The ending was definitely bittersweet, which is okay at times.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 9, 2013
I've had this book on my bookshelf for quite a while. I finally decided to take the plunge and read it last night. It was a really easy read. From start to finish, it took me about 2 hours.
Seventeen year old Helena is returning to her favorite summer camp, but this time it's her first year as a counselor because she's 17. Unfortunately, her best camp friend Katie Bell is 16 and still a camper. She discovers that being a counselor has its perks, especially when they get to sneak out late at night to meet up with the male counselors from the boys camp across the lake. Helena quickly develops a romance with her long-time crush Ransome (although what kind of name is that?!), which leads to some division between both her and Katie Bell, and her and the other counselors. An tragedy at the end of the book shows Helena what really matters.
I liked this book, for the most part. The entire time I was thinking about my own summers spent at summer camp. The characters were relatable, and I thought that the situations were pretty realistic. The book started out a little slow, but I kept reading because I wanted to see what happened. I was rooting for the budding romance between Helena and Ransome. Another review said this book reminded them of Forever by Judy Blume, and I'd have to agree.
One of the things I disliked was the ending. It was very abrupt, but I suppose it was pretty realistic for the situation. I won't spoil exactly what happened, but it made me a little sad that Ransome and Helena don't work out. I think "rushed" is a good way to describe the end of the book.
Seventeen year old Helena is returning to her favorite summer camp, but this time it's her first year as a counselor because she's 17. Unfortunately, her best camp friend Katie Bell is 16 and still a camper. She discovers that being a counselor has its perks, especially when they get to sneak out late at night to meet up with the male counselors from the boys camp across the lake. Helena quickly develops a romance with her long-time crush Ransome (although what kind of name is that?!), which leads to some division between both her and Katie Bell, and her and the other counselors. An tragedy at the end of the book shows Helena what really matters.
I liked this book, for the most part. The entire time I was thinking about my own summers spent at summer camp. The characters were relatable, and I thought that the situations were pretty realistic. The book started out a little slow, but I kept reading because I wanted to see what happened. I was rooting for the budding romance between Helena and Ransome. Another review said this book reminded them of Forever by Judy Blume, and I'd have to agree.
One of the things I disliked was the ending. It was very abrupt, but I suppose it was pretty realistic for the situation. I won't spoil exactly what happened, but it made me a little sad that Ransome and Helena don't work out. I think "rushed" is a good way to describe the end of the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 10, 2013
Camp has always been a place where Helena felt at home. It has always been a time to be a kid and hang out with her best friend, Katie Bell. This year is Helena's first year as a camp counselor, but because of Katie Bell's birthday being three months short of the cutoff date, Katie Bell is forced to be a camper instead of a counselor. Helena is sure that nothing will change their friendship because of it, but she finds herself growing up and growing apart from Katie Bell. She now hangs out with the other counselors, and the boys from a nearby camp, Brownstone, while Katie Bell is still doing the same "childish" things she did last year. Can Katie Bell and Helena still be friends, or have they just grown too far apart?
In this coming of age novel about a girl on the verge of adulthood, Helena learns what it means to grow up and become an adult. She learns about relationships, love, friendship, and responsibility. Helena finds that everything in life isn't as easy or as perfect as it had always seemed.
I liked this book, and it reminded me of simpler times from my life. The ending came out of nowhere, which was a bit strange, and completely changed the whole book, but I wasn't disappointed. This is a good teen read for anyone leaving their high school years behind, and moving forward into adulthood.
In this coming of age novel about a girl on the verge of adulthood, Helena learns what it means to grow up and become an adult. She learns about relationships, love, friendship, and responsibility. Helena finds that everything in life isn't as easy or as perfect as it had always seemed.
I liked this book, and it reminded me of simpler times from my life. The ending came out of nowhere, which was a bit strange, and completely changed the whole book, but I wasn't disappointed. This is a good teen read for anyone leaving their high school years behind, and moving forward into adulthood.
August 12, 2010
If you could capture summer in a book, this is it! Helena Waite is thrilled to be returning to her favorite place in the world, Southpoint. This summer she is coming back as a counselor but her best friend Katie Bell, having missed the cut-off by a few months, will have to spend one more summer as a camper. That tiny twist wreaks havoc on the girls’ tight bond and causes both to question what it means to be a child and what you have to give up to be an adult. The themes in this story are those that anyone can relate to and will have you wishing you too could return to those simple, carefree childhood days. They go by so quickly and unfortunately, Helena is reminded of that all too frequently during her first summer in the “adult” world.
Kathryn Williams has written an extraordinary book about the power of friendship, the dilemmas we face as we outgrow our childhood selves and the tug-of-war we often feel between our adult self and our childhood memories. The depiction of young love is honest and real and will have you rapidly turning the pages to find out what happens. The characters are so vivid and true that they honestly jump right off the page. An absolutely perfect read!
Kathryn Williams has written an extraordinary book about the power of friendship, the dilemmas we face as we outgrow our childhood selves and the tug-of-war we often feel between our adult self and our childhood memories. The depiction of young love is honest and real and will have you rapidly turning the pages to find out what happens. The characters are so vivid and true that they honestly jump right off the page. An absolutely perfect read!
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