Liz’s review of Mockingbird Summer > Likes and Comments

Thanks for sharing what didn't work for you! Great review.

theliterateleprechaun wrote: "Thanks for sharing what didn't work for you! Great review."

Thanks. It’s a case of missed expectations. I hope the publisher thinks about branding this as YA.

Too bad. I'm tempted to read it anyway. The premise greatly appeals to me! I like children's books and some ya and if I go into it with that mindset maybe I would enjoy it.

Lisa wrote: "Too bad. I'm tempted to read it anyway. The premise greatly appeals to me! I like children's books and some ya and if I go into it with that mindset maybe I would enjoy it."

Definitely read it. I think if it was branded as YA I would have rated it higher.

Sorry this wasn't as good bu glad to see it had its strengths. Fab review, Liz.

Wonderful review, Liz. I loved West with Giraffes too and would have had high expectations like you from this one. Glad it was still fairly successful!

Liz wrote: "Definitely read it. I think if it was branded as YA I would have rated it higher. ."

Thanks, Liz. I have shelved it as ya.

Lady Clementina wrote: "Wonderful review, Liz. I loved West with Giraffes too and would have had high expectations like you from this one. Glad it was still fairly successful!"

Srivalli wrote: "Sorry this wasn't as good bu glad to see it had its strengths. Fab review, Liz."

Thanks ladies. It did have its strengths. Hard to live up to WWG.

Terrific review! 🥰

Mary Beth wrote: "Terrific review! 🥰"

Thanks Mary Beth.

Seriously good review. Interesting that our lives are ancient history to YA readers and the context needs to be explained in depth.

Mary wrote: "Seriously good review. Interesting that our lives are ancient history to YA readers and the context needs to be explained in depth."

Thanks Mary. Yes! It makes me feel so old.

Thoughtful review as always, Liz.

Carolyn wrote: "Thoughtful review as always, Liz."

Thanks Carolyn.

Great review, Liz. I agree that it has a YA feel to it.

Great review! This does seem like an YA novel. I was expecting the same style and experience as West with Giraffes.

Kerrin wrote: "Great review, Liz. I agree that it has a YA feel to it."

Thanks Kerrin. Glad it wasn’t just me.

Wendy wrote: "Great review! This does seem like an YA novel. I was expecting the same style and experience as West with Giraffes."

Thanks Wendy. Exactly. I was so disappointed based on the same expectation.

I absolutely loved it.

There was so much slowing of the pace. I think you expressed what I couldn’t put into words, this one was just less successful!

Celeste wrote: "There was so much slowing of the pace. I think you expressed what I couldn’t put into words, this one was just less successful!"

Much less successful.

Fantastic review Liz ! I love the YA books ! Especially historical ones

Jackie wrote: "Fantastic review Liz ! I love the YA books ! Especially historical ones"

Thanks Jackie. Then this one should work well for you.

Thank you! I just started it and came here to see if it was intended for a YA audience. It’s good, but, as you say, simplistic.

Danna wrote: "Thank you! I just started it and came here to see if it was intended for a YA audience. It’s good, but, as you say, simplistic."

I wish they had identified it for a YA audience. As it was, I was disappointed expecting something more like WWG.

I felt exactly the same way about this one.

Jamie wrote: "I felt exactly the same way about this one."

Thanks for sharing Jamie.

I totally enjoyed this book.

Brenda wrote: "I totally enjoyed this book."

Glad it worked for you.

My goodness, Liz, you wrote just what I was going to say! It seemed like YA fiction with stereotypical characters without depth. The story was interesting, and I loved the ending, but more nuanced characters would have elevated the book. I did, however, enjoy Roy Rogers! Other than that, you took the words right out of my mouth!

Agree with the YA part… I put it down so many times due to that fact.

Marcy wrote: "My goodness, Liz, you wrote just what I was going to say! It seemed like YA fiction with stereotypical characters without depth. The story was interesting, and I loved the ending, but more nuanced ..."

I’m so sorry I missed your comment until now. Thanks for sharing.

Christine wrote: "Agree with the YA part… I put it down so many times due to that fact."

And WWG didn’t suffer from that at all!

Going back to 1964 for mr meant rembering me at 14
The thoughts were those of a young teen and it did help me remember my own mental rambles back then
There were so many things involving change during those years and the author did an excellent job of viewing these events through a young teens mind. Interesting but not as much as the young dude at school. I loved the book. I saw nuance in many of the characters .
How they lived and inside how they knew a lot of it was wrong.
I didn't want it to end. *****

Margaret wrote: "Going back to 1964 for mr meant rembering me at 14
The thoughts were those of a young teen and it did help me remember my own mental rambles back then
There were so many things involving change dur..."

Thanks for sharing your memories.

I so agree! Thanks for saying it so well!

Carolinecarver wrote: "I so agree! Thanks for saying it so well!"

Thanks for your kind words, Caroline.

Maybe to the YA thing. But the parallels to To Kill A Mockingbird were compelling to me. The whole young-girl-coming-of-age and discovering empathy … looking outside herself. Very similar to the young man in West With Giraffes and THAT is what appeals to me in both books.

Melanie wrote: "Maybe to the YA thing. But the parallels to To Kill A Mockingbird were compelling to me. The whole young-girl-coming-of-age and discovering empathy … looking outside herself. Very similar to the yo..."

I’m so glad it worked so well for you.

Terrific review, Liz!

Debra wrote: "Terrific review, Liz!"

Thanks Debra.