For fifteen-year-old Haven, life is changing too quickly. She's nearly six feet tall, her father is getting remarried, and her sister&150the always perfect Ashley&150is planning a wedding of her own. Haven wishes things could just go back to the way they were. Then an old boyfriend of Ashley's reenters the picture, and through him, Haven sees the past for what it really was, and comes to grips with the future.
That Summer
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From Publishers Weekly
At five-foot-eleven ("and counting"), Haven is "all bony elbows and acute angles, like a jigsaw puzzle piece that can only go in the middle, waiting for the others to fit around it to make it whole." But it is not just a sudden growth spurt that prevents the 15-year-old from fitting into the comfortable grooves of her "old" life; her family is also changing at an alarming rate. Her sports-anchor father divorces his wife for Channel 5's "Weather Pet." Her jilted mother joins a set of aging, Barry-Manilow-listening, swinging singles and Haven's once plucky sister, Ashley, seems to wilt on the arm of her all-too-boring fiance. Amidst the flurry of preparations for her father's second marriage and her sister's wedding, Haven finds a connecting link to her more serene past when one of Ashley's former boyfriends appears on the scene. First-time author Dessen adds a fresh twist to a traditional sister-of-the-bride story with her keenly observant narrative full of witty ironies. Her combination of unforgettable characters and unexpected events generates hilarity as well as warmth. Ages 12-up.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From School Library Journal
Grade 7-9?That Summer could refer to the current one through which 15-year-old Haven is suffering, or it could be the one a few years ago when everything seemed perfect. Nevertheless, both summers affect her and she is a different person at their conclusions. Dessen has cast her story with a group of forgettable characters who plod their way through a cliche-ridden coming-of-age novel with a lot of subplots. There is the long-suffering mother and her scatterbrained best friend. Then there is toupee-wearing Dad, who honks from the driveway on visitation nights. Add the boy-crazy best friend and the moody older sister who is planning her wedding and making everyone miserable. The most memorable character is Summer Lee, a remnant of that long ago season when everything was just right, who shows up at the precise moments he is needed and offers support to Haven. The setting is a suburb where all the houses look exactly the same (kind of like the characters). There is nothing seriously wrong with Haven's life, except that she doesn't fit in, physically or emotionally; she is six-feet tall and still growing. She is unwilling or unable to accept change in her life, and pines for the days when her parents seemed happy and she didn't fight with her sister and the sun always shone...Sigh. Still, Haven has a good sense of humor, and her insightful barbs about everything from shopping malls to TV-news readers add some depth to the story.?Lucinda Lockwood, Thomas Haney Secondary School, Maple Ridge, BC
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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The day my father got remarried, my mother was up at six A.M. defrosting the refrigerator. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
The day my father got remarried, my mother was up at six A.M. defrosting the refrigerator. Read the first page
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Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I’ve been a fan of Sarah Dessen’s books since I was in my mid-teens. I first read That Summer when I was about fifteen, but when I picked it up recently I honestly didn’t remember a single thing about it. Upon rereading it all these years later, I think I realize why. This was Dessen’s first novel and it shows; she’s certainly come a long way in the last decade and a half.
That Summer is kind of a strange book. The entire story was told - and I emphasize ‘told’ - in a very passive voice from Haven’s perspective. It felt almost like an older woman telling a story about her youth rather than a fifteen-year-old girl telling her story. It was a lot of inner dialogue, thoughts, and observations.
While there wasn’t much actual plot and the way the story was told was kind of odd, I appreciated Haven’s growth and self-discovery. She was a bit overlooked in her family, and all these things kept happening to her that were beyond her control. She had to deal with a lot of disappointments in her life, and I really felt for her. She learned that things change, people change, and growing up is difficult and often painful, but you learn so much along the way, and there’s a lot of good mixed in with the bad if you’re open to it.
That Summer is definitely not my favourite Sarah Dessen book, but I’m glad I reread it. If you haven’t read any of her other books, I wouldn’t recommend starting with this one, but I think any true fan of Dessen’s work should give it a shot.
That Summer is kind of a strange book. The entire story was told - and I emphasize ‘told’ - in a very passive voice from Haven’s perspective. It felt almost like an older woman telling a story about her youth rather than a fifteen-year-old girl telling her story. It was a lot of inner dialogue, thoughts, and observations.
While there wasn’t much actual plot and the way the story was told was kind of odd, I appreciated Haven’s growth and self-discovery. She was a bit overlooked in her family, and all these things kept happening to her that were beyond her control. She had to deal with a lot of disappointments in her life, and I really felt for her. She learned that things change, people change, and growing up is difficult and often painful, but you learn so much along the way, and there’s a lot of good mixed in with the bad if you’re open to it.
That Summer is definitely not my favourite Sarah Dessen book, but I’m glad I reread it. If you haven’t read any of her other books, I wouldn’t recommend starting with this one, but I think any true fan of Dessen’s work should give it a shot.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Dessen's novel, THAT SUMMER, is most likely referring not to the summer 15 year-old Haven is now in the middle of, but a summer that has already passed her by and now remains a fond memory. That summer, the one she fondly reminisces of, was filled with the happy sort of memories that make the present seem bland and melancholy in comparison. Her sister, Ashley, was dating Sumner Lee, a ruggedly handsome boy who has held a special place in Haven's heart, even though their relationship has long been over with. When Haven begins seeing him around the neighborhood and at the mall, however, old, happy memories come to mind. Now, Ashley is a bride-to-be. Her groom, Lewis, is boring and not the brother-in-law Haven wants.
The summer that past also was a time when she, Ashley, her mother, and her father were a happy family, a family that was sticking together and had a seemingly bright future ahead.
Too bad things didn't stay that way.
As Haven's present summer goes on, she finds out why Ashley and Sumner split. She deals with her father's marriage to The Weather Pet, the young, blonde bombshell who is replacing her mother. And she also comes to the realization that people aren't always who you think and want them to be. Ashley's relationship with Lewis makes her feel secure because she knows he'll never hurt her. Haven's ways of dealing with the unpleasant is focusing on the past.
Although this is not a favorite of mine, Dessen is one of my favorite authors. I have yet to dislike any of her books. Haven, the protagonist, no longer lives in a perfect world. As she deals with the awkwardness of puberty, along with other awakenings, readers come to understand that more and more. What Dessen does successfully is create a likeable and believable character who many will be able to relate with, making this YA novel a worthwhile and enjoyable read, despite lacking the sparkle found in DREAMLAND and THIS LULLABY.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
though i am a fan of dessen, this book really disappointed me. i read this right after 'someone like you' and it doesn't even compare. in this book, haven's character is poorly developed. you never really get to know anything about her besides that she gets angry at the world. dessen's usual strong maincharacters did not appear in this book as we learn that haven acts as a doormat for most of her life, going along with things she doesn't believe in without a peep. when i read other people's 5 star reviews of the book i am definetly surprised and wonder whether they were fully conscience while reading.
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4.1 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
Dreaming of Books Review
That Summer is Sarah Dessen's first book and I found it a little disappointing. Not much happened and the story was pretty boring. Read more
Published on Feb 20 2011 by Jenny "Dreaming of Books"
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great book!
The book was good it really was but I found soem parts boring but I still liked the book,very well writtned and I like the characters.But I like Someone Like You better. Read more
Published on July 7 2004 by Seirra
4.0 out of 5 stars
"It's funny how one summer can change everything."
I love to read books by Sarah Dessen because they are good books to read. These are the types of books that a lot of people can relate to and enjoy reading. Read more
Published on May 8 2004 by Crystal
5.0 out of 5 stars
That Summer is amazing
Haven's feel of her own body betraying her. The sister that is more than what it seems and how we, sometimes, hang into the wrong thing - not because that thing we hang to is bad... Read more
Published on Jan 18 2004 by Alex
4.0 out of 5 stars
Review of That Summer, by Teal Federman
The book That Summer is nothing like any book I have ever read before. The main character is Haven McPhail. She is a sophmore in her school and loves to shop. Read more
Published on Oct 26 2003 by Mr.Francesco Raphael Galardo of the Catskills
3.0 out of 5 stars
Hopeful!
Sarah Dessen's debut novel, "That Summer", isn't her best achievement but it shows true hope and promise of her rising YA author stardom. Read more
Published on Sep 22 2003 by Ei
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of my favorites
My friend has read every Sarah Dessen book and with every one she's read, she'd tell me "You HAVE to read this! Read more
Published on Aug 29 2003 by Willow
1.0 out of 5 stars
Leave this one on the Shelf!!!
I am a fan of Sarah Dessen, so of course i did not hesitate to read That Summer. I am sorry to say that it was a great let down and not just because Sarah Dessen is a usually a... Read more
Published on Aug 13 2003 by Lauren
4.0 out of 5 stars
That Summer
While it is true that Haven isn't as developed as some of Dessen's other characters, I still found this book thoroughly enjoyable. Read more
Published on July 30 2003 by Karin Montemayor
5.0 out of 5 stars
Teenagers will enjoy listening to this story
What teenager hasn't felt ill-at-ease in his or her own skin? Haven is one of many, but in addition to a spurt of growth that brings her to almost 6 feet at the age of 15, she's... Read more
Published on May 27 2003 by Gail Cooke
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