Ten-Speed Summer

Sweet Dreams

by Deborah Kent

Reluctant to leave her boyfriend, Bruce, and her Illinois home for a bicycle tour of the Southwest, Rhonda finds her attitude changing when handsome Matt Jordan joins the trip

Genres: Young Adult

192 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1984

About the author

Deborah Kent was born in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, and grew up in nearby Little Falls. She graduated from Oberlin College and received a master's degree from Smith College School for Social Work. For four years, she was a social worker at University Settlement House on New York's Lower East Side. In 1975, Ms. Kent moved to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, where she wrote her first young-adult novel, Belonging. In San Miguel, Ms. Kent helped to found the Centro de Crecimiento, a school for children with disabilities. Ms. Kent is the author of numerous young-adult novels and nonfiction titles for children. She lives in Chicago with her husband, children's author R. Conrad Stein, and their daughter, Janna.

Reviews

[Denise Kettering · Rating 2 out of 5]

At the heart of this book is the story of a girl trying to discover who she is. Rhonda McFarland is sixteen years old and she wants to go to the University of Illinois and then marry her boyfriend, Bruce. Her parents, fearing that she is set on her plan, decide to send her on a cross-country bicycle trip for the summer so that she can experience the world. She can't relate to most of her group, but does strike up a friendship with Matt Jordan. She finds herself attracted to him, particularly when it seems like Bruce might be seeing other girls. However, the summer has really strengthened Matt's feelings for his back home girlfriend. She finds that maybe her plans were too limited. This book is a good book about self-discovery, but the romantic aspects were not as pronounced. Overall, it was a decent story.

[Kristin]

DNF at page 50. Unfortunately there’s very little bicycle content in this book. And very questionable deaf person rep.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read pretty much every book in this series growing up in the 80's and there wasn't one that I absolutely hated but this one doesn't bring back many memories for me. I would definitely recommend this series of books however, even to today's teens as they are clean, well-written and (if you're lucky) will stay with you for decades.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

i looooved this book when i was little

[Esdibee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actually a pretty good story. I just wish Matt actually had more feelings for Rhonda

http://sweetdreamsbooks.blogspot.com/...

[Reading with Cats · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading the blurb, I was expecting to find the typical boy crazy twit inside. This was surprisingly refreshing, though. 4.5 stars.