Sand Dollar Summer

This is one of those books you'll go "ahhhh" to after setting it down. If you model your thinking as you do a read aloud with your kids, this one would be great. It would also be a great lit circle book. My only warning is that an adult says the "s" word twice....so be prepared to have your kids handle that maturely. Loved it!!!

Seriously, this author writes better than the majority of popular adult fiction writers I have read lately. This is a real pager turner, very believable characters and engrossing. Can't wait for another from the author!

I've read about 40 children's books in the last three months as part of a library-related project. This book stands out as the very best children's book I have read recently and one that I'd highly recommend to all children in grades 5-8. Some of it is predictable, but you won't care since you are enjoying this book so much and you care about the characters. The story is well written and a wonderful debut book for this author. I look forward to reading more of her work.

Wow! I never knew that somebody I know would write a novel for kids that is so good! I am 11, but this story is for everyone. I read this in two hours one afternoon, because I couldn't put it down. Buy this book and you'll see!

I read this before cataloging it for our young adult collection. What a wonderful book!. It starts smoothly and pulls you in immediately. All of the characters are people you care about and want to have good things happen to. The dialogue is believable and the setting, particularly Fiddle Island is well developed and sure seems like Maine. There are several minor mysteries; why did Lise and Free's father leave, what happened between Michael and their mother when they were young, what connection does Ben have to Lise and Free? The descriptions and dialogue do a wonderful job of allowing you to look behind the interactions between the characters. One aspect I really liked was Lise's fear of the sea which almost makes the Atlantic Ocean become another character in the book. This is one I will strongly suggest as a great summer read to my young adult library patrons.