Summer Home

by Cynthia D. Grant

Max grows up a little as he learns to deal with all kinds of crises during three weeks of summer vacation.

156 pages, Library Binding

First published August 1, 1981

About the author

Cynthia D. Grant is the award-winning author of "Mary Wolf" and "The White Horse." She is a popular American author who writes novels about growing up. Her books appeal to young adults who want to read stories about life in the real world. As Grant commented in an interview with Authors and Artists for Young Adults, "Since 1980 I have published ten books for children and young adults, primarily for the young adult category, which is considered age twelve and up. I don't ever sit down and write 'for' children. I'm an adult; I write what sounds good to me." In her novels, Grant tackles difficult social problems such as alcoholism, child abuse, and homelessness. Grant is not afraid to portray violence and other graphic situations. However, the overall message she conveys is that, no matter what the problem, young adults can survive adolescence. After all, Grant said, "Most of us who write for children or young adults know that they read books not only to be entertained, but to be enlightened and encouraged." Her characters are heroes who triumph over tragedy. They are realistic young people who overcome a variety of obstacles, and stand for the winning qualities of righteousness, maturity, humor, and independence. Grant has received important awards for....for her work, including the PEN/Norma Klein Award in 1991.She lives in the mountains outside Cloverdale, California.

Reviews

[Rose Gould · Rating 5 out of 5]

I originally found this book in my elementary school library, at age 10, drawn in by the vibrant cover. What started as a choice by whim led to a love of a very, very underappreciated kids' book that has lasted almost two decades.

Max is easily one of the most realistic, likeable male protagonists I've experienced in a book of this genre. He's an awkward but well-meaning kid, going along with his family to a stuffy lakeside vacation village. Things have fallen apart with his sister Lorraine, and desperate to understand what she's going through, he secretly reads her diary. In the meantime, he attemps to find guidance in Cliff Jade, the protagonist of a detective novel that Max literally found in the trash. But Max isn't the only character of note; the cast is diverse and eclectic, and even Lorraine gets plenty of character development that pushes her beyond being a simple "mean older sister" trope.

There is plenty of angst to be had, sure, but it meshes well with the rest of the story's tone. The most pivotal moment of the book, for me, was a chapter when Max and his brother Carl are stuck on a motorboat being driven by his cousin Boris in the middle of a manic fit. I'm always reluctant to talk in great detail about some of the parts of this book, since I loved the experience of reading through them so much that I don't want to spoil them for someone else. Now that I'm in my 20s, I still have such a fondness for Summer Home...it was one of the most pivotal books for me as I grew up, and influenced the way I write overall.

The odd thing about this book is how the widely-available edition - as seen on here with the green-framed cover - is not the original first edition. The version I read over and over as a kid had a full illustration for its front cover, and two noticable changes within...Max originally refers to Baby Beach as "where the teenagers go [to neck]." and he reads about how his detective hero has "got a new case too[, going undercover as a topless waitress]." Brackets denote what's missing in the common edition. I've been dying for years to come across the original version again.

[SouthWestZippy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Goodreads synopsis. "Max grows up a little as he learns to deal with all kinds of crises during three weeks of summer vacation."
Max has an older sister, Lorraine, they are only eighteen months apart. When Lorraine turns 13, she changes, and Max feels left behind. While at the summer cabin, Max is having to deal with not only Lorraine but other family members.
The story does use humor here and there but overall, it is a bully, become self-aware and learn to deal with others as you and other change story. I might have liked this type of book when I was younger but as an adult it is not for me. I still would recommend it to a younger person who might be dealing with similar issues.

[Wile · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another favorite children's book that helped make me want to be a writer. Something about the witty first person descriptions leveraged the full power of how an adult novel may artfully make a story live.