Chocolate Box Girls: Summer's Dream

The Chocolate Box Girls #3

by Cathy Cassidy

The next scrumptious story in Cathy Cassidy's Chocolate Box Girls series.

Summer has always dreamed of dancing, and when a place at ballet school comes up, she wants it so badly it hurts.

Middle school ends and the holidays begin, but unlike her sisters, Summer has no time for lazy days and sunny beach parties. The audition becomes her obsession, and things start spiralling out of control . . .

The more Summer tries to find perfection, the more lost she becomes. Will she realise - with the help of the boy who wants more than friendship - that dreams come in all shapes and sizes?

Third must-have title in this gorgeous series from one of the UK's best-loved girls' authors, Cathy Cassidy.

Each sister has a different story to tell, which one will be your favourite?

Cathy Cassidy was recently voted Queen of Teen - beating Jacqueline Wilson and Louise Rennison to the throne.

Praise for Cathy's books: 'Touching, tender and unforgettable.' Guardian

Cathy Cassidy wrote her first picture book for her little brother when she was eight or nine and has been writing fabulous stories ever since. The Chocolate Box Girls is a sumptuous series starring sassy sisters, super-cool boys and one of Cathy's biggest loves - chocolate. Cathy lives in Scotland with her family.

Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Childrens, Young Adult, Middle Grade, Fiction, Mental Health

292 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 2012

About the author

I was born in 1962 in Coventry (scarily ancient, I know). I wrote my first picture book for my little brother when I was eight or nine. I loved making comics, too - pages and pages of picture stories, features and competitions.

I went to Art College in Liverpool, then got a job as fiction editor on the fab and legendary Jackie magazine.

I have worked as agony aunt on Shout magazine and also as an art teacher in the local primary & secondary schools, as well as as a freelance illustrator. These days, I am a full-time author.

I love my family, I love living in the middle of nowhere and I love my work. Of all my jobs, writing has to be the best - it's the perfect excuse to daydream, after all!

Reviews

[Ruby Granger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though there must be a trigger warning for eating disorders, this is one of the most sensitive books about anorexia I have read. We are told what Summer eats, but not too much and not in relation to calories. The focus is more on her mental state and the extreme amounts of pressure she is putting on herself for her ballet audition.

[Olivia-Savannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not me being an adult and relating to this middle grade novel so much :P I could really relate to Summer’s perfectionism in this book. Even at the times where her perfectionism became toxic. Because everyone tells her how perfect and stable she is all the time, she feels like she can’t reach out to anyone when she feels like she needs some help.

While this is a middle grade book, it also goes into a lot of depth about eating disorders. I think it handled the topic so well. I cannot relate personally, but the book showed us how it slowly developed and how her disorder transformed her relationships with those close to her. While it can be hard to address these topics, I think this book did it in a way younger readers can understand.

I also think this series continuously does a good job with the topic of divorce and combining the two families. It is a lot for any child to take in. Honey’s character truly comes to the forefront. While this book is not the one focused on her, we can see how it is warming up to when we get her story. She is definitely struggling with accepting her mother’s divorce and Paddy’s new role as a stepdad in her family. Even more so than the previous two books, this one showed me how hard it can be for children to process a divorce sometimes. It also focused on how hurt the children feel even if they know it may have been for the best.

I am also a softie for any kind of wedding in a book. Alfie was the biggest sweetheart in this one. While his storyline remains secondary, I felt proud of how much he developed from the second book in the series. He really is growing and maturing. I love that little prankster.

I loved seeing Summer being so driven and ambitious about her love of ballet. When it comes to creative or less ‘safe’ career choices, the drive, hope and fear she felt is something a lot of people in those professions can relate to. I know I did! I felt so inspired by her. But simultaneously, we can see how she takes all of those emotions and they kick into overdrive, which is what leads to her downward spiral. It was painful and emotional to read.

Like with the previous book, it also talks a bit not being ready for having a boyfriend and all the boys stuff that seems to be markers of ‘growing up’ in their eyes. Summer is not quite ready to let go of her childhood. While she is changing, her family dynamic is shifting as well. All of those changes start to overwhelm her. The book did a very good job with those themes too.

All I can say is that I loved it, and the depth it had too.

[Serena · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an amazing book. It deals with the difficult subject of anorexia. I would have thought that this would be an average book because it's such a tricky subject, but it was brilliant!

Love this book, it's fabulous. You HAVE to read it.

[Milly Webster · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summer's Dream is the third book in The Chocolate Box Girls series. It was different to the other two books in way, but the same as well. All Cathy Cassidy's books have some form of romance, there isn't one without it! This book was no exceptions in the aspect, but it dealt with a very different subject, Anorexia. That's what I've always loved about Cathy's books, they deal with everyday problems in an controlled and easy way. Summer wants to be a ballerina, she want's it bad and she gets the chance to audition for a ballet school. She becomes obsessed, stops eating to become thin. Nothing like eating disorders have been in the previous books, I mean it's a book about chocolate! The first two were more focused on love and Marshmallow Skye was developing on something different, but Summer's Dream reached a whole other level. It's that part when Summer realizes that she has Anorexia that some younger readers might be shocked at, but me, being 13 I knew the signs. It was fast paced and it kept you interested, especially at the end. I really can't wait for the rest of the series, you're never too old for a little bit of sweetness!

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

C'etais incoyable

[Faye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Storyline

Summer's Dream is about a girl called Summer, who loves dancing and takes it very seriously, but the dancing she loves the most in ballet. She has always been 'the one to succeed', and when she is asked to go to a boarding school for ballet, she feels like she has been asked if she wants oxygen. But Summer feels like she is too fat, and starts losing weight, and survives on apples and salad leaves, until eventually she got anorexia. She doesn't even realise that she is risking her own life for dance. Will Summer realise what she's doing to herself before it's too late? And will Summer soon realise that Aaron, her boyfriend, isn't for her, and really Alfie Anderson, known as the most Annoying Boy in the World, to Summer, is her match?

Comment

This book is AMAZING, and I am still recovering from my racing heart. It is a story about love, confusions, and choices. This book will probably also help people with anorexia. Also, Cathy Cassidy has added in helpful links at the end of the book for worried parents, underweight children that need help etc.

Rating

I rated it four stars because of how amazing it is. The story is addicting and full of mystery, problems and choices. It also has hints and tips at the end of the book for people that might be going through what Summer went through i.e Anorexia. This is the latest book from the Chocolate Box Girls series.

Pictures

Like most of the Cathy Cassidy books, there were only illustrations at the beginning of a chapter and the end of a chapter. As I have said in my Ginger-snaps review.

Age Group

I would suggest this book to 8+ for something to do, but then for 11 years olds, 12's and 13's, or higher if you are losing confidence and need tips. Like I have said in my Ginger-snaps review, you shouldn't really let children below seven read Cathy's books, apart from if it's the Daizy Star ones.

My Favourite Character

I think my favourite character in this book is Alfie, because he is always there for Summer and by her side, even though Summer is always mean to him and tells him to back off. He is a very nice person and very thoughtful, which is secretly the kind of boyfriend I would want!!

Suggestion to the Author

I am glad to say that there is nothing I want to suggest to the author in this book, only that I want Coco Caramel to come early, even though it can't!! This book, I think, is addicting, amazing, helpful and keeps you occupied, so I think the book is more or less perfect!!

Faye xx

[Bug · Rating 1 out of 5]

i read this because i remember reading it when i was 11 or 12, and i wanted to see if it’s as awful as i remember it being, and actually, it was worse.

the whole book is overly graphic and explicit and i really don’t understand why, as a children’s author, you are writing books like this when you know that your target audience is 9-13 year olds. this doesn’t deal with eating disorders in a helpful or educational way, it’s just unnecessarily specific and detailed. summer’s recovery is only mentioned in the last ten-ish pages, and only barely. this isn’t a hopeful or uplifting story, and i can’t see what good comes from discussing anorexia so one-sidedly and explicitly. this actually just reads like a how-to in parts. i also think that it’s insane that there are no indications of what this book is about on the cover or in the synopsis—there’s no warning or idea of what you are going to read, or what you are going to let your child read.

the only slightly redeeming thing in this whole book is alfie, because the way he deals with summer’s eating is very sweet (but also what 13 year old is making sugar free, low fat, low carb, gluten free carrot cake ?????)

[Lin Let · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never wrote a proper review for this because I read it before goodreads. However I must express my feelings. Spoilers ahead btw. This book made me cry, made me question life and made me feel so grateful. I absolutely adored this and will continue recommending it no matter what. This book stood out from Cassidy's usual books which I LOVED. A real gem this one!Moved me in so many ways and taught me about anorexia and the desires for dreams to come true.

[Galleane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Je dois dire que pour le moment, c'est le tome que j'ai le moins aimé, mais j'aurais quand même passé un bon moment, il est toujours plaisant de découvrir une nouvelle fille de la famille Tanberry, d'apprendre à mieux la connaître.

Mon avis complet : https://bloggalleane.blogspot.com/201...

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ce tome parle de l'anorexie et d'une passion qui devient une obsession.
Il y a beaucoup de stress jusqu'a la fin vu qu'on ne sait pas si elle va réussir son rêve (devenir danseuse étoile).
MYSTERE MYSTERE ! ! !
Alice, 10 ans

[neev · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this book as it was interesting to see what both Summer and Skye’s opinions were; what similarities and differences they have as they are twins.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quelle belle histoire! Le plus touchant de la série jusqu'à présent ! 💙

[Lucy Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

traumatised me as a child. ALMOST traumatised me again as an adult. but perhaps i am just weak minded.
summer is kinda... not very nice. i certainly dont hate her with the hellfire passion that i hate cherry with (i have somehow managed to mention her in every single review of the series) but sometimes she is really not very nice. and i completley understand that her saying nasty things about her best friend is like entirely corresponding to the ANOREXIA PROPEGANDA of the dance industry, but she needs to work on herself and her opinions of the world. just because she thought it was right, doesnt take away from the fact that she said it. not very nice.
i dont think i have anything else to say.
honey in this book? no no. i do not like her. being fully aware that your sister is starving herself to death? and not telling anyone? and sorta half mocking her for it? not on. i pitied you in the other books honey but not in this one. rot.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

cartea asta e diferita de celalalte 2 din serie deși pare aparent la fel. urmează aceeași tipologie, fetele si relatiile lor, dar aduce în prim plan o problema destul de actuala. anorexia. protagonistele au 12-14 ani dar pt ca trăim intr o lume nebună, încearcă să facă orice pt a si atinge visul. E o problema destul de spinoasă. recomand cartea pustoaicelor de pana in 15 ani... E destul de educativă.

[laiba ⭐️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I honestly really liked it. I loved the story line and the characters. Cathy Cassidy's books have not failed to wow me!

[Greenglasses · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kinda boring but i also understand the issues this book potrays

[Robyn Thomas-Beswick · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was hard for me to rate this book. It's such a hard read as its about summers struggles and deterioration with an eating disorder. It's shocking and emotional, yet such a powerful message. There are helplines at the end and a message of hope. I'm not a teenager with an eating disorder, so I can't say much more than that.

[Raphaël · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

Je savais que j'allais préférer celui-là

Summer peut sembler agaçante au premier abord mais je la trouve très vulnérable et attachante.

Ce qui me touche le plus, outre ce qu'elle vit dans ce récit, est la relation qu'elle a avec Honey
Je me rappelle de plusieurs moments qui m'ont touché entre elles dans coeur vanille. C'était mon tome préféré quand j'étais petit, j'espère ne pas être déçu

[Nicola Marsh]

A sweet MG novel with a powerful message regarding anorexia.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 🌟 It was really special rereading a book that was one of younger me’s favourites. I do wish there was a sequel following Summer as she recovers and grows up, though I think a bit of her story is mentioned in the other books in the chocolate box girls series.

[an.__.aïs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Par rapport au tome précédent ce roman traité d'un sujet plus poignant. Dans ce tome on suis Summer qui se débat face a ses démons, a lire c'était pas évident on entre dans son quotidien, dans ses pensées qui sont dures envers elle même qui nous aident à la comprendre.

[Adesuwa Grace (Somewhat Reserved) · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is such a big difference between reading a book like this in your early teens and your late teens. Dang, dang, dang.

Of course at the beginning, Summer is composed and in control of her life. The only issue was that she found it a bit hard to accept her mother's new marriage because she missed her dad. That was all very understandable, of course.

Reading Summer's point of view made me realise how much the author understands teenagers. I found Summer's reflections on becoming a teenager very realistic.

We laugh and chew gum and touch up our lip gloss in the corridor between classes, but I wonder how many of us wish we could be nine again, go back to simpler times when we didn't have to worry about bras or periods or boys, when it was still OK to play make believe games or eat a chocolate bar without thinking about the calories

Summer also has difficulty with keeping a relationship with her boyfriend.

Aaron kisses me, and I try to lose myself in the kiss the way I lose myself in dancing sometimes, but it doesn't work. I find myself thinking about the way my boyfriend's arms, wrapped tight around me, feel like a prison.

I can't help thinking I'd quite like a summer without Aaron, but I feel disloyal. You are not supposed to get bored with your boyfriend this easily, not when they are one of the popular crew.

Things get a lot worse when stress, an eating disorder and sadness plague her mind. Summer also battles with double standards and deciding on who to trust.

I really liked how his book was not dumbed down for a younger audience. My main request is that I wish there were a little less romance (though there was not much).

Also, ALFIE IS AWESOME.

[Bookworm2000 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the 3rd book in the Chocolate Box Girls series by Cathy Cassidy, I haven't read the first book, Cherry Crush but I'm OK and I get everything.
Summer has always dreamed of becoming a prize ballerina all her life, and when she was told that she might get a place in the Royal Ballet School when she's 11, it's her chance to shine. But her audition goes terribly wrong, mainly because of nerves. She is devasted but she still goes on dancing, she wants to acheive her dream.
Then her ballet teacher tells her that she can get a place in a new ballet academy opening in the September, and Summer is delighted, though it means she has to keep practising. She becomes obsessed with practising, and avoids her boyfriend, her friends and her family...
She thinks she is getting puppy fat and starts avoiding food as well, but will it all work and she gets to pass her audition, or will something horrible happen...?
I LOVED this book, I liked Marshmallow Skye better though. =D

[sab · Rating 1 out of 5]

what the hell was i doing reading this as a preteen...

the topics discussed are quite dark and can be incredibly triggering for affected persons who may happen to chance upon this book unknowingly. considering how this is marketed towards preteens and early teenaged girls, it's plain irresponsible that a content warning was not issued at the beginning.

that issue aside, now revisiting it as an adult, i find that the language used throughout the book is rather simple and the writing isn't very engaging either, with Alfie being the only saving grace in this entire story. i do find it quite interesting though, how i still remember certain lines from this book despite having last read it around a decade ago lol. all in all, it's not something I'd pick up to read, if not for nostalgia, which is what I'm awarding it a star for.

[Chloe Sellers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book starts off light-hearted. It's about a girl called Summer, who loves ballet. She's always wanted to be a ballerina and is willing to give up everything to achieve her dream. She works hard to get into a dance school, but while training she starts to believe her body isn't in the right shape for a ballerina. This caused troubling anorexia that Summer had to overcome with the help of her family and her friends.

[Remy · Rating 1 out of 5]

"Dancing is like a cleaner, simpler version of life. I know the rules. I don't have to worry about unflattering dresses or boyfriends who want to dance too close."

So you're telling me I sat through 200+ pages of Summer literally starving herself only to not know if she even got into the Rochelle Academy and even then it doesn't matter cause she threw her fucking pointe shoes into the sea?

Fuck off.

[Ruby Doherty]

I really enjoyed this book , there where lots of plot twists in it :).

[Alexia Muller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Une saga coup de coeur avec de vrais sujets important

[Dylan · Rating 4 out of 5]

★ I'm currently rereading the "Chocolate Box Girls" series, seven years later. ★

Summer's dream is the third book in the series and, I know I said this about the last one, but my favourite so far.

This story explores Summer Tannberry, the perfect, collected ballerina. Handling dance auditions, boys, and diets that go to far, this novel is a perfect encapsulation of what it is to be a thirteen year old girl.

I loved it, and I remember loving it when I first read it! The third book in the series turned out to be more mature than I expected, though is still light enough to be enjoyable!

I'm very excited to read the fourth book: Coco Caramel!! <3

[tayla mchardy]

semi randomly picked this up and reread it in one sitting
it doesn’t seem fair to rate it as i first read it when i was much much younger and it’s just been sitting on my shelf as a comfort book

although i definitely should not have read this so young…
probably shouldn’t have reread it either lol kinda sorta traumatising lowkey xxxxxx

also that recovery turnaround at the end being so fast was actually mad work

wait thinking back there was absolutely no warning about this book lolling 😭😭😭