The summer before

by Patricia Windsor

Alexandra struggles to accept reality and understand her parents following the death of Bradley, her best friend.

Genres: Young Adult

241 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1973

About the author

Patricia Windsor is the author of many books for young readers. Her book The Sandman's Eyes won the Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Juvenile Mystery. Patricia Windsor lives and writes in Maryland.

Reviews

[Marjorie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book as a teen and found it unusual back then. It still seems that way. Without being flashy it gets into an intense teen relationship and all that it implies.

[Elyse Columb]

I enjoyed this book very much. It starts off with a girl named Sandy. She is going through a very hard time because her friend just died. To add to her problems, her parents don't understand her, the therapist assigned to help her doesn't know how to cater to her needs, and her friend is only asking questions, not listening to what she has to say. Will Sandy eventually learn how to come out of her shell and deal with her problems on her own? or will she fail, and fall deeper and deeper into oblivion? One thing I like was how she organized the chapters, they made it very easy to follow. Another thing I liked was how she used beautiful vocabulary to express the story. One thing I disliked was how she ended the story. I don't like endings that allow you to infer what happens, I would prefer endings that give a definite conclusion. I recommend this book to anyone who likes books that show how a person can change due to dramatic events in their life.

[Darlena R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned from this book to face the harsh realities of life. I am almost done with this book, and that's because i just started reading it yesterday. To me it's that good of a book. I can't put it down. This is one of my new favorite books. It adds to my list of favorite books.Last thing i have to is ..... This book rocks!!!!!

[Pippa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Somebody recommended this to me years ago, as it was her favourite book. I don't think it struck me so forcefully but I still enjoyed it.

[A · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must-read for those who are sentimental. A very thought provoking story of what goes on inside ones mind after struggling. Very thoughtful context.

[Nisa Ramsyana · Rating 3 out of 5]

lovely!

[SraPanadera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very different from most YA novels, especially for when it was published. Intense and interesting. Read it at some point in junior high or high school. Have it.

[Miss Gillie Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read this in 1985. I was 15 and it was a couple of months after my best friend was killed in a road accident. I wasn't coping very well with his absence from my life. This book... This book pulled me through a very dark place and has remained with me since. I would dearly love to not only read it again but also thank the author for saving me.

[Gabriel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully written, as much an extended poem as it is one of the best coming of age novels I’ve read in years. It’s very cerebral, never quite knowing what is or isn’t 100% the truth. Alex is a fantastic protagonist, Patricia Windsor is a phenomenal writer, I’m not sure why she doesn’t get her flowers.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this when I was a teen in the 90s and I never forgot about it. I only remembered that the title had summer in it. Bit and pieces of the plot led me on countless google searches until I finally found the title. Would love to get my hands on a copy and read this book again.