The Great Good Summer
Liz Garton Scanlon, Author
Beach Lane Books, Fiction, May 5, 2015
Suitable for Ages: 8-12
Themes: Runaways, Mothers and daughters, Absent mother, Family and Faith, Adventure, Friendship, Forgiveness
Pages: 213
Opening: “God is alive and well in Loomer, Texas, so I don’t know why Mama had to go all the way to The Great Good Bible Church of Panhandle Florida to find him, or to find herself, either.”
Book Jacket Synopsis: Ivy Green’s summer has gone all topsy-turvy since her mama ran off to The Great Good Bible Church of Panhandle Florida with a charismatic preacher who calls himself Hallelujah Dave.
Hallelujah Dave, for goodness sake.
Ivy’s been left behind with her daddy and with the painful mystery of her missing mama. It’s no wonder she starts to lose faith in nearly everything she’s always counted on.
Meanwhile, Ivy’s friend Paul Dobbs is having a crummy summer too. The Space Shuttle program’s been scrapped, and Paul’s dream of being an astronaut look like it will never get off the ground. So Ivy and Paul hatch a secret plan to set things right and maybe, just maybe, reclaim their faith in the things in life that are most important.
Why I like this book:
Liz Garton Scanlon’s emotional and heartfelt story is a timely story for teens with realistic issues like parental betrayal and abandonment. It is also a lovely coming of age story as Ivy Green is pressed to rely on her own inner resources and an unwavering faith to track her mother from Texas to Florida. She sets off on a secret adventure with her best friend, Paul Dobbs, who is logical and obsessed with science and space. While their mission is to find Ivy’s mother and bring her home, they also plan to visit the Kennedy Space Center.
The plot is strong and complex, deftly interweaving the lives of two very good friends, Ivy and Paul. It is packed with so much suspense (one-way bus tickets, thugs that steal Ivy’s money, a jail visit) that it moves along rather quickly. The text is smart and polished. And, you have to love that cover!
Ivy is a strong and smart character, with a believable voice. She is the perfect narrator because she doesn’t hold back. She’s not afraid to ask tough questions, weave a few lies, stand up to her father, tell people off, handle the truth and learn to forgive. Paul is the opposite of Ivy. He’s a dreamer, but offers a level-headed balance to Ivy’s impatience. Their friendship is honest and moving.
I was concerned the book would be heavy on a debate between religion and science, but it turns out that’s not what the story is about. The discussions between Ivy, who has faith and Paul, who only believes in science, add for some really great conversations that tie everything together at the end. And it opens room for discussions among readers. The story does give readers a sense of Kate DiCamillo’s Because of Winn-Dixie. Verdict: This is an excellent summer read for tweens and teens.
Liz Garton Scanlon is the author of many celebrated picture books, including Happy Birthday, Bunny!, Noodle & Lou, and All the World. The Great Good Summer is her first novel. Visit her at her website.
I enjoyed the relationship between Paul and Ivy – refreshing to see a boy/girl friendship not based on a romantic interest.
Thank you for your comments. I agree that it is refreshing to see a boy/girl friendship that is not romantic. Very strong protagonist!
Pat, This book sounds like a great summer read. Love the preacher’s name. Says so much about his character.
I will admit I had some reservations about the story, but was immediately hooked with the characters, the plot and a lot of humor. Such a fun read!
Looks like another winner, Pat. I’m going to take a look and get the sample onto my Kindle immediately. Great choice. Thanks.
Glad you enjoyed my review and want to read the book. It was sad but quirky and entertaining.
Wow! This sounds amazing. Thanks for sharing. I’ve added it to my long list of books to read.
I know, our TBR lists continue to grow! I keep a pad by my computer. It is a very different book and I’d enjoy your take on it. Although the protagonist is a girl, Paul offers a great balance! Both boys and girls would find it a fun read.
Your review of this book draws me in! I love adventure stories for middle grade, especially ones that don’t have any romance (kind of like what Cathy said). 🙂 Thanks for bringing this to our attention!
Glad you enjoyed my review. It is a great summer read!
You had me with that first line. 🙂 This sounds like a perfect beach read, and a really delightful story! I appreciate the heads up that it keeps a good balance on the science/religion front, as it sounds like that could have broken the book. As is, it’s going on my shelf!
Thanks for the recommend, and happy reading!
I know, the opening sentences just draw you into The Great Good Summer. You want to know more. Yes, science and religion are nicely balanced between the two friends. It is a great coming of age story and excellent summer read.
Love that opening line. I am going to see if I can download it from the library.
The opening grabbed my attention immediately. I think you will enjoy this story and the author’s writing style.
I haven’t seen this one before. I do love that cover. After your review, I will be looking for this one. Thanks for the post.
Yes, the cover is beautiful and caught my attention. But the opening really drew me to the story. Quite an adventure for two best friends!
This sounds like a perfect summer read. I like that the girl and boy are good friends, not boyfriend and girlfriend and work to solve a problem. The cover is great!
Yes, they are just very good friends — as opposite as night and day — so they play well off of each other’s strengths. It is a great adventure!
This really does sound like a spectacular summer read. Thanks for bringing it to our attention, Patricia.
Glad you enjoyed my review. It is a good read for tweens/teens this summer. A lot of adventure and humor that make for a fun read!
This sounds like a good book! I’ll have to check it out!
It is a good book and I think you’d enjoy the characters, the plot, and the humor.