Blueberry Summer

Cass Phillips #1

by Elisabeth Ogilvie

A well-known novelist has written a delightful young people's romance set in Maine.Cass had looked forward so long to this summer when she would have a job of her own and a vacation away from the family. Then suddenly, for the first time, she was really needed at home to keep house for her eight-year-old brother, Peter, and to tend the blueberry crop. In unexpected circumstances she meets a young medical student, Adam Ross. She also meets Jeff Marshall and is smitten by his lazy, whimsical charm.Through one crisis after another which she must face alone - from the small ones like the enmity of the family cow and her impatience with Peter, to the problem of getting in the blueberries without the expected help - Cass develops and matures emotionally.A wonderful story by a gifted author about a sixteen-year-old's most important summer.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Romance, Summer, Historical

188 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1956

About the author

Elisabeth Ogilvie’s striking evocation of the atmosphere of the Maine seacoast that is the background of The Seasons Hereafter is no accident, for she lived in just such an area for many years, and her love for its people and their way of life has influenced all her novels.
Her activities on Gay’s Island, where she spent most of the year, included writing, gardening, and “trying not to suspect that a bear is at the door, a moose lurking in among the alders, or a horned owl hovering overhead about to bear away the cat.”
She contributed a considerable amount of writing of magazine fiction and children’s books, and is the author of several novels, including There May Be Heaven, The Witch Door, Rowan Head, The Dawning of the Day, Storm Tide, and one book of nonfiction, My World Is an Island.

Reviews

[Sylvia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is what started it all. It was the first book I ever willingly read. Most of you may not consider this a five star book, but it's top of the list for me.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pleasant read that manages to be breezy and filled with some teen romance and summer ambiance without being at all lightweight or fluffy-headed. I really enjoyed Cass as our protagonist. She rings true. When her mother must leave to take care of her injured older sister, Cass knows the family farm will suffer unless she stays to run things -- but this means giving up her longed-for summer on Mokinic and doing mundane stuff like milking the cow, tending the blueberry crop, and looking after her little brother. She does the right thing, of course, but she is so grumpy and resentful about it at first. Yet, as the summer progresses, she learns so much about herself and others, and of course she grows and matures and (not much of a spoiler here -- you know it's this type of book) she ends up having some wonderful things happen that summer, even without her dream holiday. I was really surprised at a few of the heavier matters the book addresses marital discord, poaching, prejudice but it is handled well enough that it makes one thoughtful but not depressed. It is great how Cass showed her loyalty, and yet how she also learned not to be too blinded by fantasies. My modern sensibilities did wince a little at how Cass got so concerned about being slim (I'm sure she was not unhealthily overweight, just had a little more to her than the "popular" girls) but the most important thing is that she stays true to her ideals and it's great that one of the love interests in the book befriends her just the way she is, before any of her attempts to dye her hair or shed pounds. All in all, I really enjoyed this. Thank you so much, Q, for recommending it to me!

[Rebekah Morris · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun story. And it took place in Maine which is not where most stories I read take place, so that was an added delight.
Cass is not your usual slim, attractive girl. She's somewhat overweight, has freckles, loves to eat, and doesn't get along with her younger brother. Well, she doesn't until . . . But that would give away part of the story.
Adam Ross. I like him.
But tell me please, Cass, why did you like Jeff Marshall? And why did you think that about him and Toby?
This is a story about growing up, about facing your responsibilities and not letting everyone else dictate how you stand up or don't stand up for people. There's a bit of a mystery, some laughs, some disagreements between the younger brother and Cass, but overall it was an enjoyable story.

I think there were two times when the whiteout was needed, just so you know. And this was not a Christian book, so doen't expect it.

[Gina House · Rating 4 out of 5]

A charming vintage book! This YA story about Cass spent her summer holidays was interesting and had all the best hot weather vibes. There were a lot of growing pains for 16-year-old, Cass, to experience. She is forced to put aside her exciting summer plans with friends in order to take care of her family's Maine blueberry farm and her younger brother, Peter while her parents handle other responsibilities.

I felt myself sympathizing with Cass a lot (though she is bad-mannered for the beginning of the story) and I really felt for her while she was trying to how to manage her feelings of disappointment and frustration. I mean, what teen wouldn't be upset if they had to give up their summer fun to take on the job of running a family farm and caring for an 8-year-old without any warning?

Luckily, there is Adam Ross (whose family is staying for the summer in the neighborhood) to save the day. Not only is he good-natured, helpful and friendly, but he has a soft spot for prickly and vulnerable Cass. Between the two of them, things don't seem so bad and a few difficult situations are cleared up.

There's definitely a lot of teen angst and an over emphasis on Cass' weight (which I did not like) but, overall, I liked it a lot. This vintage light romance is sweet, well-written and shares all the best Maine, summer, and blueberry picking details!

If you enjoyed reading The Scarlet Sail by Betty Cavanna, you would love Blueberry Summer by Elisabeth Ogilvie. I'm hoping to find a copy of the next book in the Cass Phillips' duology to read this autumn!

[Qt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a great summer read; it was written in the 1950s, so that's a big plus right there :-)

[Carolynne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Typical 1950's romance for YA's in that Cass, the teenage heroine, daydreams of winning the romantic hero by means of her unmatchable (and heretofore undiscovered) beauty and charm. But her means of achieving her goal is a little different: she is forced by family circus to manage her family farm and watch after her little brother Peter under difficult circumstances. The hero, Adam, is a little too idealized and never represents much of a challenge to Cass. She is presented with a challenge she finds more exciting later in the book, when artists Jeff and Toby come to live in a summer cottage. The story deals with several concepts, including loyalty to family and friends, shouldering responsibility, honesty, self-image, self-discipline, dependability in an accessible but not heavy-handed way. Pleasant rural Maine setting.

[Elise · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is attached to some pretty hardcore nostalgia. I discovered this in the dusty library at home, dirty and loose-paged and read it every time I was home sick from school. It's a snapshot from a different life: a cleaner and simpler one whose main character I related to and whose role I inserted myself into again and again. Yay for escapism.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG! I love this book! I still have the extremely dog-eared paperback on my bookshelf.

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book as a teenager, ADORED it, and it still stands up to my more cynical adult taste! Perhaps due to all the nostalgia it elicits but who cares?

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

About my hometown. How could it be anything but wonderful.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet YA - I just wish Cass hadn't had to change so much about herself to feel beautiful.

[Barbara Mader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nostalgic re-read--book from my childhood. Suppose I'll have to re-read THE FABULOUS YEAR now.

[Bria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Boy did Elisabeth drag the plot out on this one. For several chapters I kept asking what was the point? What was she getting at? I also very much disliked how she kept emphasizing how overweight Cass was. It was like she was making fun of her while trying to write about an overweight teenage girl, which is disgusting. It really seemed like she just hated Cass. The only good thing about Cass was Peter and Adam and Cass treated them both horribly. I really feel like Cass’ character wasn’t done any justice at all. I also feel like In addition to the plot being dragged out the ending was so extremely rushed. The overall story was decent and since it was such a short read I didn’t mind finishing it but I don’t understand the average rating of this book being 4 stars.

[Kathleen Vincenz · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cover was very familiar so I had thought I'd read it when I was young. If I did, I had no memory of it. As other reviews say, it takes a bit to get started and is at its best near the end.

It proves again that books from the 1950s and 1960s were not only about getting a boyfriend. Young Cass has a lot of responsibilities and decides on a career.

[Freyja Vanadis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ugh. What a despicable character Cass was.

[E.G. Runyan · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars ~ very good

Was it fluff? Yeah. Did I enjoy it anyway? Heck yes I did. You have to love these teen novels from the fifties--sweet, heartwarming, full of solid, sensible advice.

[Tirzah Eleora · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very fresh and sweet! It tells the story of Cass, a sulky teen who suddenly has the responsibility of looking after the family farm and her little brother thrust upon her, instead of being able to spend her summer being a waitress as planned. It's a simple and short, but very reminiscent of a bygone time. I quite enjoyed it.