Title: SUMMER CONSTELLATIONS
Author: ALISHA SEVIGNY
Genre: FICTION, YOUNG ADULT, ENVIRONMENTAL
Length: 264 PAGES
Publisher: KIDS CAN PRESS
Received From: THE AUTHOR
Release Date: MAY 1, 2018
Ages: 14 – 18
Grades: 9 – 12
ISBN: 978-1-77138-929-7 (Hardcover)
ISBN: 978-1-5253-0043-1 (Paperback)
Price: $17.99 USD / $18.99 CDN (Hardcover)
Price: $10.99 USD / $12.99 CDN (Paperback)
Rating: 5 OUT OF 5 STARS ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
DESCRIPTION:
Julia is so ready for summer. Now that her little brother has finally recovered from a serious illness, all she wants to do is enjoy peak season at the lakeside campground her family owns.
Then Julia’s Mom completely blindsided her: a wealthy developer thinks their campground property is the perfect spot for a casino. They have to consider the offer, Julia’s Mom says, because of their crushing medical bills.
Leave the lake? The only home she’s ever known? Heartbroken and afraid, Julia takes her telescope down to the dock one night, seeking solace in the stars.
That’s when she has a chance encounter with Nick, a hot guy who offers some surprisingly sage advice.
Too bad this guitar-strumming stranger is the developer’s son…
As plans for the sale move forward, Julia is desperate to find a way out. Nick, in turn, is desperate to separate himself from his family’s business. Together, he promises, they can save the campground.
But can Julia trust him to conspire against his own father? And could she ever trust him with her heart?
MY REVIEW:
The cover for this wonderful young adult novel evokes thoughts of warm summer nights and burgeoning young love. The cover is 100% perfect for this story.
Poor Julia. In the first chapter alone we discover that just after graduating from high school, her best friend is leaving for the entire summer. Add to that the fact the guy she’s had a crush on since age twelve,and with whom she had gotten close the summer before, has arrived at the campground with his gorgeous new girlfriend in tow. Pile that on top of the fact that she’s worried about her nine year old brother Caleb’s health since he is recovering from a serious bout of Guillain-Barré Syndrome. In fact, it had been so serious that Caleb had spent months hooked up to machines and tubes. And, worst of all, because of their outrageous medical bills, her mother is seriously considering selling their family campground to a developer who wants to erect a casino on the site. All in all, Julia is having a really crappy week.
As Julia seeks comfort from the stars, readers will start to realize just how amazing and special the campground property is.
If you have never been so far into the wilderness that there was no light pollution at all, you are missing out on an incredible experience. Those of us who have been there, will recognize the author’s authenticity. It is impossible to fake a proper description of the vastness of the summer sky at night if you’ve never seen it with your own eyes. This setting is the perfect place for romance to bloom.
The characters are three dimensional and have real world problems. Yes, there is a rich boy, but the main character is a normal girl.
Although the storyline is not rocket-science, it isn’t supposed to be. This is a feel good tale about overcoming adversity when the odds are stacked against you, with a side of young love that will have teen readers sighing with anticipation and older readers looking back at that time in their lives with nostalgia.
I rate this book as 4.5 out of 5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐ and recommend it to readers looking for a book that can be read in a single weekend or for the perfect vacation or beach read.
**I received a free copy of this book from the author.**
My favorite quote from SUMMER CONSTELLATIONS:
“A book always has value, even when it is old and worn.”
*** Alisha is also the author of KISSING FROGS which she discusses in the following video:
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Alisha Sevigny holds a degree in Professional Writing and Sociology from the University of Victoria, is a film school graduate, former literary agent and hot yoga lover. A shameless romantic, Alisha and her husband have travelled the world together. On a trip to Panama she fell in love with the country, culture, and their national emblem, the Golden Frog and was inspired to write her first Young Adult novel, KISSING FROGS.
Her second book, SUMMER CONSTELLATIONS is about a young woman fighting to save her family campground while trying not to fall in love, comes out May 1, 2018 with KCP Loft.
Born and raised in Kitimat, British Columbia, Alisha has always had a strong connection to the environment and conservationist spirit. She now lives in Toronto with her family.
To learn more about this author, visit the following links:
Amie's Book Reviews 