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Silver Sisters #1
The Forget-Me-Not Summer
“The real-life dynamics between the sisters is humorous and touching. . . . This heartwarming story is hard to put down.” —School Library JournalTwelve-year-old Marigold Silver is hoping to get her first kiss from her big crush this summer—and get her acting career rolling in Los Angeles. But her plan comes crashing down when her parents send her to Cape Cod along with her sisters, Zinnia and little Lily, to visit their Aunt Sunny. Now these LA girls are stuck in a small town in Massachusetts, and they have to adjust to things like sharing a room and living without a TV. There isn’t even cellphone service! With the help of Aunt Sunny’s cheery disposition and her yummy brownies, though, the girls are won over—and before they know it, they’re cracking lobster shells at clambakes, making new friends, and even organizing a local talent show. But after a Hollywood celebrity arrives in town, Marigold is soon going to face a tough decision . . . Full of moments both humorous and reflective, The Forget-Me-Not Summer is about three girls facing their fears, adjusting to change, and learning how to band together as the strongest version of sisters. “Reminiscent of the Penderwicks series . . . a book that might well become a favorite.” —Booklist (starred review)
346 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 5, 2015
83 people are currently reading
1712 people want to read
About the author
Leila Howland
19 books376 followersLeila Howland grew up in Providence, Rhode Island. A graduate of Georgetown University, Leila spent five years acting in New York where she was a company member of the award-winning Flea Theater in Tribeca. She is the author of the YA novels Nantucket Blue, for which she was named a Publisher’s Weekly Flying Start author, Nantucket Red, and Hello, Sunshine, as well as the Silver Sisters middle grade series and the upcoming Rapunzel and the Lost Lagoon. Leila now lives in Los Angeles.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 135 reviews
January 26, 2015
I just finished reading an advanced copy of FMNS. Such a fan of this sweetness and fun. I really adored this book and know so many friends I could give this to for their daughters - it's not super violent or sexy (obviously, it's middle grade!) and it's so funny and thoughtful, too.
The sibling rivalry, mostly between Zinnie and Marigold, was really on point. Their relationship felt real and based on sisters I know. I would definitely ask the writer if her characters were based on her own sisters if we were in a book club together. Lily, the youngest sister, isn't really involved in too much of her older sister's bickering, but she also has her own journey to follow.
Aunt Sunny, the great aunt of the girls who they visit for the summer, is a really magical character. She always knows how to guide the sisters or give them space, and is a smarter kind of role model. She has a background in science and is practical, but is still a very fun mentor for the girls, without being boring or pedantic.
Lastly, I know we aren't supposed to judge a book by it's cover, but I love this cover - almost as much as I love the book inside of it. The cover is so pretty and makes me wish I was at a beach far away.
Hooray for the The Forget-Me-Not Summer sisters! I hope they travel for more summers - and I get to go along with them!
The sibling rivalry, mostly between Zinnie and Marigold, was really on point. Their relationship felt real and based on sisters I know. I would definitely ask the writer if her characters were based on her own sisters if we were in a book club together. Lily, the youngest sister, isn't really involved in too much of her older sister's bickering, but she also has her own journey to follow.
Aunt Sunny, the great aunt of the girls who they visit for the summer, is a really magical character. She always knows how to guide the sisters or give them space, and is a smarter kind of role model. She has a background in science and is practical, but is still a very fun mentor for the girls, without being boring or pedantic.
Lastly, I know we aren't supposed to judge a book by it's cover, but I love this cover - almost as much as I love the book inside of it. The cover is so pretty and makes me wish I was at a beach far away.
Hooray for the The Forget-Me-Not Summer sisters! I hope they travel for more summers - and I get to go along with them!
August 9, 2015
The Silver family lives a very posh life in Los Angeles, but their world is turned upside down when their parents' work schedule forces them to spend three weeks at their Aunt Sunny's in Pruet, Massachusetts. The timing isn't good for the eldest Silver sister, Marigold, because those years of acting classes have finally paid off. She just landed an agent and hopes to fulfill her dream of auditioning for the latest teen movie. Zinnia, the middle sister, lives in her sister's shadow and just wants Marigold to notice her, and the littlest Silver sister, Lily, simply doesn't want to leave her nanny behind. But their time spent in Massachusetts, although initially challenging, will prove to be beneficial for all the girls. It's an idyllic beach town filled with clam bakes, gorgeous days at the beach, and no cell phone coverage. By the time their three week visit is over, all three girls will have blossomed beautifully. Leila Howland's The Forget-Me-Not Summer is an adorable beach read for middle grade students. I wish I could have read this when I was a tween; I would have feel in love with it instantly.
Read my review here:
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Read my review here:
http://www.confessionsofabookaddict.c...
July 27, 2020
Silver sisters Marigold, Zinnia and Lily love living in Los Angeles. Their parents are in show business and 12-year-old Marigold is following in their footsteps with a budding acting career. She is about to land a deal with an agent for the first time and can't wait to spend the summer auditioning, hanging out with her best friend and hopefully kissing a boy. Middle sister Zinnia, just a year younger, longs for the days when Marigold was her best friend and they did everything together. Zinnie wants to be just like her big sister and doesn't understand why her sister keeps pushing her away. Baby sister Lily, just 5, is so adorable everything loves her and gives her everything she wants. When their parents announce they will all be leaving L.A. for the summer, the girls are shocked and angry. How can Marigold audition for Night Sprites ? The movie could make her a star AND it's based on their favorite books. Zinnie supports her sister's dream and Lily doesn't want to leave her nanny Berta who is returning to Mexico to care for her ailing mother. The sisters arrive in Cape Cod to stay with their mother's Aunt Sunny, a retired teacher. They feel like they landed on another planet. There's no cell signal (Aunt Sunny has a weird old-fashioned phone attached to the wall in the house!), no Wi-Fi (Aunt Sunny has dial up) and no amusement park on the beach. It's terrible! Marigold summons her acting skills to bluff her way into the yacht club where they meet Peter, a local boy who doesn't seem impressed by Marigold's trendy L.A. act. As the next three weeks go by, the girls discover that sometimes simple pleasures are the best. As the sisters become immersed in local life their past comes back to them and Marigold and Zinnie must figure out who they are and where they want to go.
Caveat: I'm an adult and not the target age. Attempts to interest a tween girl in this novel failed. The movie showing on the iPad was more interesting.
This book was only OK for me. I didn't like any of the sisters at first and only Zinnie remained appealing. Marigold is shallow, snooty, spoiled and massively bratty. Their parents need to move out of L.A. ASAP if they want their daughter to grow up to be a normal human being. Acting is Marigold's passion, or so she says. She's good it at but I get the impression she just wants to be famous. As a big sister, I understand her frustration in having Marigold tag along after her and want to be just like her. I also felt for Zinnie. She's at the age where she's struggling to be her own person. She's growing up but trying to cling to childhood when her sister was her whole world. I don't like how the parents don't encourage Zinnie's other natural talents and kindly tell her that acting is Marigold's thing and maybe she should try something else. Lily is not cute. She is just as bratty than Marigold. She pitches a fit when she doesn't get her own way and her nanny spoils her rotten. I'm not sure why she has a nanny when Mrs. Silver is a stay-at-home-mom currently. I liked Marigold best when she dropped her phony L.A.ness with Peter and just acted like a normal girl. I loved Zinnie's play and how it related to her life. Is this story supposed to be loosely based on Louisa May Alcott? Her older sister enjoyed acting and Louisa's first published book was Flower Fables.
The author is from here but now lives in LA. She painted a picture of Cape Cod as it was back in the day when I was growing up. I can assure you that small towns on Buzzard's Bay have cell signals and wifi nowadays! I felt the author tried too hard to contrast the Cape with LA. While Los Angeles seems as unfamiliar to me as Cape Cod does to the Silver sisters, it has many of the same things. We always enjoyed mini golf, picking out homemade salt water taffy afterwards, trips to main street in the evenings where there were many enticing shops. My dad would take us off the Cape to the nearest water park when my older cousins came to visit (the only time we ever saw them). My sibs, little cousins (the ones we lived with at our grandmother's in the summer) and I have very fond memories of the penny candy store. There are small carnivals with amusement park rides popping up here and there. When it rained, we took a road trip up to the National Seashore, visited the small museum there and went shopping in Provincetown (Dad) and either the Portuguese bakery for malasadas (fried dough) or ice cream from Ben & Jerry's. Sometimes at night we even went to the movies! *gasp* My family are not "townies" but we always owned our house and that set us apart from the tourists who came and stayed in rental houses, motels and resorts. Our beach had a playground. I smiled a lot at the snack stand because our beach had an ice cream window where we ordered Italian ice, Bah Habah Bahs, chocolate eclairs, and other ice cream on a stick. There are other beaches too. Once that one became crowded, sometimes we'd go to a beach in Chatham where the tide goes out and you can walk on the sandbar for miles! That would be fun for Lily who is afraid of the ocean. We went clamming with my uncle on early mornings and he took the little kids on a bike ride to the store in the morning for blow pops and the newspaper so those of us over 10 could sleep in. Also, I don't think you can run on the dunes anymore. There's such a thing as erosion you know. We did once do a dune buggy tour probably with one of the Japanese exchange students we hosted when I was in high school.
I feel like the author tried too hard to make Aunt Sunny an old lady stuck in the past. She didn't make an effort to do things that would be fun for modern tweens. Yes, they had fun on the beach, at the clam bake and the orchard but it didn't make the story feel realistic. The moral of the story was hammered home over and over too pointedly. "See how much fun you can have when you unplug!" I don't disagree with that but I do think Aunt Sunny should have come up with some things outside the town to do with the girls maybe once a week or ONE fun thing to look forward to.
I did find the local ice cream shop enchanting and I love the casino (learned something new there) and talent show. I hate the beach and clam bakes. Never been to one. I like the idea of flashlight tag in the orchard except New England is terrifyingly filled with dangerous mosquitos and going outside after dark is not always possible in Massachusetts. I only go out at night to watch fireworks and then I wear long sleeves and long pants or lots of bug spray. Aunt Sunny strikes me as the type to make her own bug spray. The piping plover plot got dumped until the very unrealistic ending. I suspect Aunt Sunny was a hippie back in the day.
Aunt Sunny also is stuck in the past when it comes to living her life. She's still mourning the loss of her beloved husband who passed way from cancer. Tony, a local musician, is sweet on her. He's kind and trying hard to get her to notice him. Peter is not your average tween boy. He's not stupid or silly or blinded by Marigold's glitz and glamor. He should NOT speak to her when she asks "what's Fenway?" and didn't even know enough to comment on the boat's name Sweet Caroline if he's THAT much of a die-hard Red Sox fan. How funny to think of his hat never being washed so the Red Sox won't lose. He's so lucky to grow up now. He isn't old enough to have been BORN when they won the World Series for the first time in our lifetimes and broke the curse. He's super sweet with Lily. I actually kind of liked him. I really liked Ashley, the no-nonsense snack window girl. She is a tough girl but sings like an angel. Ashley isn't worried she doesn't look movie star beautiful. The one thing I didn't like about her is that she's trying too hard to find a boyfriend.
Amanda Mills, a talented singer and actress who shot to fame on a talent show, is a tragic character and shows why kids shouldn't be in show business. She doesn't know how to act like a kid and has picked up all the shallow, superficialness of adult actresses. I feel sorry for her that she doesn't have a stable home life. Phil Rathbone is the strangest character. Absent for most of the book, the movie producer plays a huge role in the story. I found the conclusion to his plot really lame and unrealistic but if it had been the other way around, I'd probably roll my eyes and say it was unrealistic. Maybe a bit of a blend of "oh well, sorry. I'll let you know when I tire of my house and tear it down. You can buy the land for $millions."
I wish my nieces would read this so I could give a more balanced opinion. I think this book is best enjoyed by the 10-13 year-old crowd but could be read aloud with their parents as a family story with younger children too.
Caveat: I'm an adult and not the target age. Attempts to interest a tween girl in this novel failed. The movie showing on the iPad was more interesting.
This book was only OK for me. I didn't like any of the sisters at first and only Zinnie remained appealing. Marigold is shallow, snooty, spoiled and massively bratty. Their parents need to move out of L.A. ASAP if they want their daughter to grow up to be a normal human being. Acting is Marigold's passion, or so she says. She's good it at but I get the impression she just wants to be famous. As a big sister, I understand her frustration in having Marigold tag along after her and want to be just like her. I also felt for Zinnie. She's at the age where she's struggling to be her own person. She's growing up but trying to cling to childhood when her sister was her whole world. I don't like how the parents don't encourage Zinnie's other natural talents and kindly tell her that acting is Marigold's thing and maybe she should try something else. Lily is not cute. She is just as bratty than Marigold. She pitches a fit when she doesn't get her own way and her nanny spoils her rotten. I'm not sure why she has a nanny when Mrs. Silver is a stay-at-home-mom currently. I liked Marigold best when she dropped her phony L.A.ness with Peter and just acted like a normal girl. I loved Zinnie's play and how it related to her life. Is this story supposed to be loosely based on Louisa May Alcott? Her older sister enjoyed acting and Louisa's first published book was Flower Fables.
The author is from here but now lives in LA. She painted a picture of Cape Cod as it was back in the day when I was growing up. I can assure you that small towns on Buzzard's Bay have cell signals and wifi nowadays! I felt the author tried too hard to contrast the Cape with LA. While Los Angeles seems as unfamiliar to me as Cape Cod does to the Silver sisters, it has many of the same things. We always enjoyed mini golf, picking out homemade salt water taffy afterwards, trips to main street in the evenings where there were many enticing shops. My dad would take us off the Cape to the nearest water park when my older cousins came to visit (the only time we ever saw them). My sibs, little cousins (the ones we lived with at our grandmother's in the summer) and I have very fond memories of the penny candy store. There are small carnivals with amusement park rides popping up here and there. When it rained, we took a road trip up to the National Seashore, visited the small museum there and went shopping in Provincetown (Dad) and either the Portuguese bakery for malasadas (fried dough) or ice cream from Ben & Jerry's. Sometimes at night we even went to the movies! *gasp* My family are not "townies" but we always owned our house and that set us apart from the tourists who came and stayed in rental houses, motels and resorts. Our beach had a playground. I smiled a lot at the snack stand because our beach had an ice cream window where we ordered Italian ice, Bah Habah Bahs, chocolate eclairs, and other ice cream on a stick. There are other beaches too. Once that one became crowded, sometimes we'd go to a beach in Chatham where the tide goes out and you can walk on the sandbar for miles! That would be fun for Lily who is afraid of the ocean. We went clamming with my uncle on early mornings and he took the little kids on a bike ride to the store in the morning for blow pops and the newspaper so those of us over 10 could sleep in. Also, I don't think you can run on the dunes anymore. There's such a thing as erosion you know. We did once do a dune buggy tour probably with one of the Japanese exchange students we hosted when I was in high school.
I feel like the author tried too hard to make Aunt Sunny an old lady stuck in the past. She didn't make an effort to do things that would be fun for modern tweens. Yes, they had fun on the beach, at the clam bake and the orchard but it didn't make the story feel realistic. The moral of the story was hammered home over and over too pointedly. "See how much fun you can have when you unplug!" I don't disagree with that but I do think Aunt Sunny should have come up with some things outside the town to do with the girls maybe once a week or ONE fun thing to look forward to.
I did find the local ice cream shop enchanting and I love the casino (learned something new there) and talent show. I hate the beach and clam bakes. Never been to one. I like the idea of flashlight tag in the orchard except New England is terrifyingly filled with dangerous mosquitos and going outside after dark is not always possible in Massachusetts. I only go out at night to watch fireworks and then I wear long sleeves and long pants or lots of bug spray. Aunt Sunny strikes me as the type to make her own bug spray. The piping plover plot got dumped until the very unrealistic ending. I suspect Aunt Sunny was a hippie back in the day.
Aunt Sunny also is stuck in the past when it comes to living her life. She's still mourning the loss of her beloved husband who passed way from cancer. Tony, a local musician, is sweet on her. He's kind and trying hard to get her to notice him. Peter is not your average tween boy. He's not stupid or silly or blinded by Marigold's glitz and glamor. He should NOT speak to her when she asks "what's Fenway?" and didn't even know enough to comment on the boat's name Sweet Caroline if he's THAT much of a die-hard Red Sox fan. How funny to think of his hat never being washed so the Red Sox won't lose. He's so lucky to grow up now. He isn't old enough to have been BORN when they won the World Series for the first time in our lifetimes and broke the curse. He's super sweet with Lily. I actually kind of liked him. I really liked Ashley, the no-nonsense snack window girl. She is a tough girl but sings like an angel. Ashley isn't worried she doesn't look movie star beautiful. The one thing I didn't like about her is that she's trying too hard to find a boyfriend.
Amanda Mills, a talented singer and actress who shot to fame on a talent show, is a tragic character and shows why kids shouldn't be in show business. She doesn't know how to act like a kid and has picked up all the shallow, superficialness of adult actresses. I feel sorry for her that she doesn't have a stable home life. Phil Rathbone is the strangest character. Absent for most of the book, the movie producer plays a huge role in the story. I found the conclusion to his plot really lame and unrealistic but if it had been the other way around, I'd probably roll my eyes and say it was unrealistic. Maybe a bit of a blend of "oh well, sorry. I'll let you know when I tire of my house and tear it down. You can buy the land for $millions."
I wish my nieces would read this so I could give a more balanced opinion. I think this book is best enjoyed by the 10-13 year-old crowd but could be read aloud with their parents as a family story with younger children too.
May 31, 2015
Unforgettable Journey with No Jet Lag -- 3 for 3
Take a 3-week trip with 3 young LA ladies to Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Our floral-named sisters -- Marigold (12), Zinnia (11) and Lily (5) -- reluctantly leave their entitlements behind to stay with their Aunt Sunny, whom they have never met. Ms Howland deftly paints each of the three girls in such vivid detail that by the time they embark for Massachusetts, we know them well. The LA descriptions of the Farmer's Market are so real that you will salivate with anticipation. You will experience Marigold's LA agent ordeal with her, but you may not exactly like her for a long while.
Everything and everyone changes in Cape Cod. They blossom, to carry out the author's seamless metaphor. Their lessons, however, are hard-earned, internal struggles. All worth it, for the sisters in their individual "passages" and for the reader, who also learns something about forgiveness, generosity of spirit and the power of family bond.
The author continuously delights us with surprises throughout the story to create a real page-turner. So, not to spoil this charming story and disclose the surprises, I will tell you only that the plot includes a young boy, a juried talent show, an insufferable actor and a wise aunt. As multi-layered as Aunt Sunny's brownies(yum), this middle school novel will appeal to high schoolers and beyond.
A sweet treat!
Take a 3-week trip with 3 young LA ladies to Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Our floral-named sisters -- Marigold (12), Zinnia (11) and Lily (5) -- reluctantly leave their entitlements behind to stay with their Aunt Sunny, whom they have never met. Ms Howland deftly paints each of the three girls in such vivid detail that by the time they embark for Massachusetts, we know them well. The LA descriptions of the Farmer's Market are so real that you will salivate with anticipation. You will experience Marigold's LA agent ordeal with her, but you may not exactly like her for a long while.
Everything and everyone changes in Cape Cod. They blossom, to carry out the author's seamless metaphor. Their lessons, however, are hard-earned, internal struggles. All worth it, for the sisters in their individual "passages" and for the reader, who also learns something about forgiveness, generosity of spirit and the power of family bond.
The author continuously delights us with surprises throughout the story to create a real page-turner. So, not to spoil this charming story and disclose the surprises, I will tell you only that the plot includes a young boy, a juried talent show, an insufferable actor and a wise aunt. As multi-layered as Aunt Sunny's brownies(yum), this middle school novel will appeal to high schoolers and beyond.
A sweet treat!
July 13, 2023
this book was positively adorable!! the setting was lovely, the characters were vivid and so cute, and all around this story was just so wonderful! it was light hearted, and such a perfect summer time read!
definitely pick this up if you’re looking for a book filled with sisterly love, summer fun, and yummy brownies. 😂
no cws :)
definitely pick this up if you’re looking for a book filled with sisterly love, summer fun, and yummy brownies. 😂
no cws :)
June 25, 2019
3.5 Stars
My Review:
This book was cute. It was really hard to get into for me at first, and I think that's cuz it was aimed for a younger group of girls as an audience. It was summer and popsicles a talent shows and ugly feather sweaters. It was sisters and actress dreams and tall trees and red sea glass.
I especially liked the way that the sister relationships were portrayed. Yes they fought. Yes they had some issues with each other, and Zinnie their Marigold was the pretty one but Marigold thought Zinnie was the charming one. And then Lily was just a smudge too spoiled for me to like her. The dryer towels were just a bit much. She needed a spanking is what. But I appreciated the way they came together. The way it wasn't absolutely perfect and they didn't never fight again, but that they did love each other. And they struggled but they grew to understand and love each other better. It was relatable and commendable. It's hard to find literature for younger girls that promotes good sibling relationships. However, my sisters will not be reading it.
Most of the story revolves around a book series called "Night Sprites" and there a lot of fairies and good and evil discussed. On a child's level of course, but with my family convictions, I'm not going to pass it onto them. That was why there were two stars taken down for my personal review.
Content:
Two mentions of the word "freak/freaky," one "heck"
Lots of talking about kisses, but nothing sensual. Mostly Marigold wants to be kissed and talking about that. One time of holding hands. Two actual kisses, one not detailed, another semi/not detailed. Marigold is 12 so it's honestly not inappropriate at all 😂
Lily was furiously spoiled.
Lots of talk of fairies and Night Sprites, and some mention of good vs evil and what dreams meant.
My Review:
This book was cute. It was really hard to get into for me at first, and I think that's cuz it was aimed for a younger group of girls as an audience. It was summer and popsicles a talent shows and ugly feather sweaters. It was sisters and actress dreams and tall trees and red sea glass.
I especially liked the way that the sister relationships were portrayed. Yes they fought. Yes they had some issues with each other, and Zinnie their Marigold was the pretty one but Marigold thought Zinnie was the charming one. And then Lily was just a smudge too spoiled for me to like her. The dryer towels were just a bit much. She needed a spanking is what. But I appreciated the way they came together. The way it wasn't absolutely perfect and they didn't never fight again, but that they did love each other. And they struggled but they grew to understand and love each other better. It was relatable and commendable. It's hard to find literature for younger girls that promotes good sibling relationships. However, my sisters will not be reading it.
Most of the story revolves around a book series called "Night Sprites" and there a lot of fairies and good and evil discussed. On a child's level of course, but with my family convictions, I'm not going to pass it onto them. That was why there were two stars taken down for my personal review.
Content:
Two mentions of the word "freak/freaky," one "heck"
Lots of talking about kisses, but nothing sensual. Mostly Marigold wants to be kissed and talking about that. One time of holding hands. Two actual kisses, one not detailed, another semi/not detailed. Marigold is 12 so it's honestly not inappropriate at all 😂
Lily was furiously spoiled.
Lots of talk of fairies and Night Sprites, and some mention of good vs evil and what dreams meant.
June 6, 2015
We talk about the perfect "beach reads" as adults, but this one is the perfect summer read for middle grade girls. My inner middle grade girl sighed as I read this book. It was fun, entertaining, and had enjoyable characters. I really loved the setting when it moved to the East Coast Harbor!
July 10, 2020
I find it engaging, though the themes are not subtle, and the girls not particularly likable at first. It's a bit too formula, or workmanlike, to be truly recommendable. Young me would have agreed, tbh.
Lite, one could say. Not bad, just, well, not quite.
Lite, one could say. Not bad, just, well, not quite.
December 3, 2015
FIRST THOUGHTS: 3.75 stars would be a more accurate rating. Seriously so adorable! Loved the setting, enjoyed these characters, cute story. Charming middle grade, indeed.
Read
April 28, 2023used to be my comfort book when i was a kid. not as good as i remembered. there’s a lot of out of date words in this book
Read
May 29, 2024I’m obligated to reread these and all the Penderwicks books every summer, I don’t make the rules.
December 4, 2018
An adorable book with wonderful characters that will make you fall in love with this book. Definitely a good story for anyone who wants a story with family, romance, and adventure! 😁👍
July 9, 2023
Personally, I really liked Zinnie and Lily. I thought they were very fun characters! I wasn’t a big fan of Marigold and she seemed kind of snobby the whole time. She’s probably the reason the book was 4 stars instead of 5 for me which is too bad because I really enjoyed the plot and I loved the talent show!
June 11, 2017
The Forget-Me-Not Summer is an exceptional book. I literally couldn't put it down. I finished it in three days! I love how it puts things in different peoples perspective, like how Zinnia thinks that Marigold is selfish, but really Marigold just gets annoyed by Zinnia and Lily sometimes. You definitely should read this book, and I can guarantee that you will love it!
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June 28, 2019A book that follows in the tradition of Ballet Shoes and the Penderwicks. A story of sisters, perfect for an old fashioned read.
July 5, 2016
Der Vergissmeinnicht-Sommer ist ein wunderschönes und unterhaltsames Buch über drei Schwestern. Viola, die Älteste, fühlt sich schon sehr erwachsen und möchte unbedingt Schauspielerin werden, Zinnia hingegen fühlt sich nirgendwo so richtig zugehörig und dann ist da noch Lily das Nesthäkchen. Auf den ersten Blick haben die Drei nicht viel gemeinsam und sind wenig begeistert, dass sie den Sommer bei ihrer Tante Sunny verbringen sollen.
Die Persönlichkeiten der Schwestern sind richtig gut herausgearbeitet und man kann die Unterschiede sehr gut erkennen. Auch die Schwesternbeziehung fand ich sehr gut dargestellt. Ich habe zwar selbst keine Schwester, aber kann mir gut vorstellen, dass es so lauft. Man kann nicht immer miteinander, aber auch nicht ohne einander. Jede Schwester war auf ihre eigene Art sympathisch, auch wenn ich Viola stellenweise gerne geschüttelt hätte.
Die sommerliche Atmosphäre in dem Buch ist wirklich toll und es hat sehr viel Spaß gemacht die Schwestern bei ihren Abenteuern zu begleiten. Der Schreibstil ist ebenso locker und leicht zu lesen.
Die Persönlichkeiten der Schwestern sind richtig gut herausgearbeitet und man kann die Unterschiede sehr gut erkennen. Auch die Schwesternbeziehung fand ich sehr gut dargestellt. Ich habe zwar selbst keine Schwester, aber kann mir gut vorstellen, dass es so lauft. Man kann nicht immer miteinander, aber auch nicht ohne einander. Jede Schwester war auf ihre eigene Art sympathisch, auch wenn ich Viola stellenweise gerne geschüttelt hätte.
Die sommerliche Atmosphäre in dem Buch ist wirklich toll und es hat sehr viel Spaß gemacht die Schwestern bei ihren Abenteuern zu begleiten. Der Schreibstil ist ebenso locker und leicht zu lesen.
January 26, 2015
I got an advance copy of this book. I'm a lady, and so I don't usually read middle grade but I'm a fan of Leila Howland's and I wanted to see if my stepfather's granddaughters would like it.
It's pretty great. It's really cute. And unlike a lot of novels that read like screenplays, it's actually a novel, so it has a wonderful pace. There's a lot of setup, but I enjoyed getting to know the 3 sisters and their aunt, and I thought it really paid off.
Look, just because I'm a woman everyone assumes I like flowers. I don't. But I loved this book because the flowers were girls and I liked that.
I liked all the girl power and the fun and the cute setting. This book isn't for the cynical and even though I am an extremely sassy individual (hence my screen name), this book swept me up in its giddy fun!
It's pretty great. It's really cute. And unlike a lot of novels that read like screenplays, it's actually a novel, so it has a wonderful pace. There's a lot of setup, but I enjoyed getting to know the 3 sisters and their aunt, and I thought it really paid off.
Look, just because I'm a woman everyone assumes I like flowers. I don't. But I loved this book because the flowers were girls and I liked that.
I liked all the girl power and the fun and the cute setting. This book isn't for the cynical and even though I am an extremely sassy individual (hence my screen name), this book swept me up in its giddy fun!
March 8, 2021
This was a really good book, and I couldn't help myself seeing how similar Marigold and I are. Like... SO similar.
I'd recommend for ages 9+
Good read!
I'd recommend for ages 9+
Good read!
July 24, 2015
bookaday #106. 4.5 stars. Enchanting story of 3 sisters (love the flower names) growing up in LA, parents work in entertainment industry. When they accept different jobs for July, the sisters are shipped to the east coast to their mother's aunt. Great build up to this event, realistic events as girls adjust to life in the slow, lo tech village by the ocean. Some lovely turns of phrase sprinkled throughout: pg 228 "already tasted a spoonful of sleep, and all she wanted was another". Love the relationships, all characters are fully developed, innocent romance, a little predictable at the end, but it is oh so satisfying.
July 2, 2015
Well this book was adorable. Great family relationships, normal sibling feelings, tween drama that is REAL and not made up. All the characters stood out but I especially liked the two older sisters that the book centered on. Both sisters were different and unique and neither one was perfect but both were highly relatable and I can see readers identifying with one or both of them. The adults in here, the parents and Great Aunt were pretty great as well. Really good book. Would rec for fans of well written, character driven plots for middle schoolers.
October 10, 2021
This was such a funny, cute contemporary. If you looking for a romance thats not too 🤮, and a sister-bonding relationship, pick this up!!
Happy reading, friends!!!😁
Happy reading, friends!!!😁
January 5, 2023
Liked:
- Fun, realistic sister relationships. Marigold and Zinnie cared about each other but also struggled with their differences. Lily took a back seat, but it made sense, as she's much younger. Their individual journeys were quietly moving and I felt sympathy for them both.
- Strong sense of place. Sand! Sea! Cute ice cream stores!
- Solid character voice, with enjoyable dialogue.
- Both Zinnie and Marigold felt that the other sister was showing them up a bit socially. Totally believable and created interesting conflicts where nobody was the villain.
Disliked:
- While Marigold's obsession with appearances wasn't healthy, I wish the book had worked harder not to conflate "I present myself in a traditionally feminine way and I care about how I look" with "that's shallow and bad and really you should do physical activities and let your hair down." We have enough books about how being girly is bad! This one didn't quite go that far, but it could have been a little more careful.
- Peter wasn't a bad person, but I wish he'd had to untangle some more of his mild casual sexism in order to be with Marigold, the way she (rightly) had to deal with her own prejudices.
- I couldn't tell if the end bit about the piping plovers was satire? Rich guy builds 6th vacation house on the home of an endangered species and the solution is for him to donate to the cause and then he's all "I actually love the environment" like lol sure dude, you and your six houses are super worried about species extinction. And now maybe he'll do a movie with the girls' father! Yay! what am I meant to feel here
- making the nanny a woman from Mexico who dotes on this "perfect angel" white child with little blond curls was definitely . . . a choice . . . and I think the author meant it to be cool, like hey, Lily speaks some Spanish and respects Mexican culture because of her nanny! But also, with the background of women of color making a living in the U.S. caring for white children from rich families, maybe there could have been some thought put into this scenario? Having a Spanish-speaking nanny isn't inherently bad but would have been nice to have some really concrete proof that this situation wasn't exploitative for her. Hmm.
There are two more of these, which I will probably read. Updates to follow.
- Fun, realistic sister relationships. Marigold and Zinnie cared about each other but also struggled with their differences. Lily took a back seat, but it made sense, as she's much younger. Their individual journeys were quietly moving and I felt sympathy for them both.
- Strong sense of place. Sand! Sea! Cute ice cream stores!
- Solid character voice, with enjoyable dialogue.
- Both Zinnie and Marigold felt that the other sister was showing them up a bit socially. Totally believable and created interesting conflicts where nobody was the villain.
Disliked:
- While Marigold's obsession with appearances wasn't healthy, I wish the book had worked harder not to conflate "I present myself in a traditionally feminine way and I care about how I look" with "that's shallow and bad and really you should do physical activities and let your hair down." We have enough books about how being girly is bad! This one didn't quite go that far, but it could have been a little more careful.
- Peter wasn't a bad person, but I wish he'd had to untangle some more of his mild casual sexism in order to be with Marigold, the way she (rightly) had to deal with her own prejudices.
- I couldn't tell if the end bit about the piping plovers was satire? Rich guy builds 6th vacation house on the home of an endangered species and the solution is for him to donate to the cause and then he's all "I actually love the environment" like lol sure dude, you and your six houses are super worried about species extinction. And now maybe he'll do a movie with the girls' father! Yay! what am I meant to feel here
- making the nanny a woman from Mexico who dotes on this "perfect angel" white child with little blond curls was definitely . . . a choice . . . and I think the author meant it to be cool, like hey, Lily speaks some Spanish and respects Mexican culture because of her nanny! But also, with the background of women of color making a living in the U.S. caring for white children from rich families, maybe there could have been some thought put into this scenario? Having a Spanish-speaking nanny isn't inherently bad but would have been nice to have some really concrete proof that this situation wasn't exploitative for her. Hmm.
There are two more of these, which I will probably read. Updates to follow.
May 21, 2018
"There is no better friend than a sister. And there is no better sister than you."-anonymous.
As the first book in a three book series, The Forget-Me-Not Summer is a simple, fun book that’s perfect to read as a quick summer read. The three Silver sisters get the chance of a life to visit their Aunt Sunny in Cape Cod. Each sister is completely unique, but all artistic. So when the eldest, Marigold, finds out that a famous director will be in their Aunt's town, the girls have to do all they can so that Marigold can get the gig that shoots her to stardom.
As I read along, I found this book to be pretty basic to read. The chapters were short, as for the words were large, and the topics were simple but relatable. The mood was light and happy, and it seems to me like the kind of book that any reader could pick up and enjoy. As for the characters, they were pretty realistic. I could easily understand their emotions, which made the book easy to follow along. They faced typical tween situations, such as sisterhood, crushes, pop culture, etc. I found Marigold to be the most relatable at my age, but I also found her to be a brat at times.
As for the setting, it was realistic and modern, and it was probably one of my favorite parts of the story. It drew me in with it's summer vibe, and reminded me of when I went to Virginia Beach and Charleston SC. It was easy to follow and gave you a very clear sense of the intention the author was trying to portray throughout the book.
After I finished the book, what I found that made it worth reading was it’s feel good messages of friendship. Although the girls are sisters, their bond is a lot stronger than some sisters I’ve come across. The girls stuck through their arguements and just grew closer, which is something that can be hard to do. It really makes you think, even after you’ve moved on to other books, on how important it is to keep close with the people you love. This story shows both the highs and lows of sisterhood, and I admire Leila Howland for showing something very real in her book.
Overall, The Forget-Me-Not summer was a quick, fun read that I think many will enjoy and appeals to all ages.
As the first book in a three book series, The Forget-Me-Not Summer is a simple, fun book that’s perfect to read as a quick summer read. The three Silver sisters get the chance of a life to visit their Aunt Sunny in Cape Cod. Each sister is completely unique, but all artistic. So when the eldest, Marigold, finds out that a famous director will be in their Aunt's town, the girls have to do all they can so that Marigold can get the gig that shoots her to stardom.
As I read along, I found this book to be pretty basic to read. The chapters were short, as for the words were large, and the topics were simple but relatable. The mood was light and happy, and it seems to me like the kind of book that any reader could pick up and enjoy. As for the characters, they were pretty realistic. I could easily understand their emotions, which made the book easy to follow along. They faced typical tween situations, such as sisterhood, crushes, pop culture, etc. I found Marigold to be the most relatable at my age, but I also found her to be a brat at times.
As for the setting, it was realistic and modern, and it was probably one of my favorite parts of the story. It drew me in with it's summer vibe, and reminded me of when I went to Virginia Beach and Charleston SC. It was easy to follow and gave you a very clear sense of the intention the author was trying to portray throughout the book.
After I finished the book, what I found that made it worth reading was it’s feel good messages of friendship. Although the girls are sisters, their bond is a lot stronger than some sisters I’ve come across. The girls stuck through their arguements and just grew closer, which is something that can be hard to do. It really makes you think, even after you’ve moved on to other books, on how important it is to keep close with the people you love. This story shows both the highs and lows of sisterhood, and I admire Leila Howland for showing something very real in her book.
Overall, The Forget-Me-Not summer was a quick, fun read that I think many will enjoy and appeals to all ages.
June 22, 2022
This book follows the three Silver Sisters: Marigold, the oldest, whose dream is to become a professional actress; Zinnie, the middle sister, who wishes she was as confident and perfect as Marigold; and Lily, the youngest sister, who seems like an angel, but is known for being mischievious.
When they are informed by their parents that they will be spending three weeks with their Aunt Sunny in Massachusetts, none of them are happy about it. They believe it won't be nearly as fun as their lives in California.
At first, it's just as awful as they thought it would be... but then, they start making friends and learning that there's more to life than watching TV and looking at their phones. The three weeks they spend with their aunt turn out to be more memorable than they ever could have imagined.
This book was absolutely amazing. The setting is so well-described, the characters so well-developed, and the plot felt believable as well. This is one of my favorite books that I've read this year. If you're looking for a great middle-grade summer read, definitely pick this one up.
When they are informed by their parents that they will be spending three weeks with their Aunt Sunny in Massachusetts, none of them are happy about it. They believe it won't be nearly as fun as their lives in California.
At first, it's just as awful as they thought it would be... but then, they start making friends and learning that there's more to life than watching TV and looking at their phones. The three weeks they spend with their aunt turn out to be more memorable than they ever could have imagined.
This book was absolutely amazing. The setting is so well-described, the characters so well-developed, and the plot felt believable as well. This is one of my favorite books that I've read this year. If you're looking for a great middle-grade summer read, definitely pick this one up.
June 6, 2019
Adult rating: 3 stars
Kid rating: 4 stars
Marigold's summer in L.A. is disrupted when her parents head off to remote locations for their film careers. Marigold herself is an aspiring actress and can't believe she is going to miss the auditions for the movie adaptation of her favorite book. She along with her sisters Zinnia and Lily are set to spend several weeks on the New England coast with their great aunt Sunny.
Upon arrival they realize cell phone service isn't great and internet service is slow. They must come up with new ideas if they are going to enjoy summer. Pretty soon they are having fun and not realizing it. Zinnie organizes a talent show. Marigold sails a boat with Peter. Lily learns to swim. All three of them work together on a play for the talent show. Conflict creeps in when a teen actress from L.A. shows up for vacation and bad mouths the talent show. Marigold decides to ditch the talent show and leave Zinnie in a lurch.
I love books about summer vacation at the beach. On your own all day without a care in the world, lots of ice cream, new friends, and clambakes. There are no deaths, dysfunctional parents, or orphaned kids in this book. Just straight up fun. Aunt Sunny is one of those aunts everyone wishes they had. I will be purchasing this series because kids need more books without all the drama.
Kid rating: 4 stars
Marigold's summer in L.A. is disrupted when her parents head off to remote locations for their film careers. Marigold herself is an aspiring actress and can't believe she is going to miss the auditions for the movie adaptation of her favorite book. She along with her sisters Zinnia and Lily are set to spend several weeks on the New England coast with their great aunt Sunny.
Upon arrival they realize cell phone service isn't great and internet service is slow. They must come up with new ideas if they are going to enjoy summer. Pretty soon they are having fun and not realizing it. Zinnie organizes a talent show. Marigold sails a boat with Peter. Lily learns to swim. All three of them work together on a play for the talent show. Conflict creeps in when a teen actress from L.A. shows up for vacation and bad mouths the talent show. Marigold decides to ditch the talent show and leave Zinnie in a lurch.
I love books about summer vacation at the beach. On your own all day without a care in the world, lots of ice cream, new friends, and clambakes. There are no deaths, dysfunctional parents, or orphaned kids in this book. Just straight up fun. Aunt Sunny is one of those aunts everyone wishes they had. I will be purchasing this series because kids need more books without all the drama.
June 18, 2017
3rd review of the day! Phew! So, The Forget-Me-Not Summer is a pretty wild adventure of 3 Silver Sisters going to their Aunt Sunny's home. They risk one month of summer being together, meeting new people, and leaving behind their usual summer plans! Marigold, the oldest Silver sister, wants to have her own private space but, Zinnie, the middle sister, gets in her way all the time! Lily, the youngest sister, always gets everyone's attention. The Silver sisters even have to sleep in the same room! Together, they enjoy their summer as most as possible and learn how to get along with each other. START READING IT NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW : ) : ) : )
July 6, 2018
Read for Goodreads 2018 Summer Reading Challenge, Expert Level.
Get Your Grill On: Read a book that features summer recipes or outdoor summer activities
Excellent book! This one skirts the juvenile/middle grade genres, since it deals with sisters or varying ages. It's about sisters having a summer they will never forget. And there are brownies. I loved this one. A little tough to target readers, since the two main characters are of different ages and, as a result, dealing with different things. Still, though, it's worth it for a book like this. Strong, loving family, nothing traumatic, just good, solid literature. Highly recommended.
Content Advisory: Kissing, one use of the word "butthead" in a written apology (used to describe the character's own behavior as they apologize for it)
Get Your Grill On: Read a book that features summer recipes or outdoor summer activities
Excellent book! This one skirts the juvenile/middle grade genres, since it deals with sisters or varying ages. It's about sisters having a summer they will never forget. And there are brownies. I loved this one. A little tough to target readers, since the two main characters are of different ages and, as a result, dealing with different things. Still, though, it's worth it for a book like this. Strong, loving family, nothing traumatic, just good, solid literature. Highly recommended.
Content Advisory: Kissing, one use of the word "butthead" in a written apology (used to describe the character's own behavior as they apologize for it)
July 26, 2018
6th to 7th grade level(middle school)
This book was AWESOME!!!{VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENED} It was a great novel about sisters and how yet they can be a bother, they can also be one of your most treasured people.
The Silver sisters go to Pruet to go visit their Aunt Sunny while their parents are doing work. They meet new people as each girl follows their dreams. The oldest, Marigold, wants to be an actor. The youngest, Lily, wants to be able to swim again(she is afraid of the ocean). The middle girl, Zinnia, wants to be a movie/script writer. They all try their best but soon reach a point where each of their dreams take a turn, causing some chaos. Read the book to find out more :p.
This book was AWESOME!!!{VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENED} It was a great novel about sisters and how yet they can be a bother, they can also be one of your most treasured people.
The Silver sisters go to Pruet to go visit their Aunt Sunny while their parents are doing work. They meet new people as each girl follows their dreams. The oldest, Marigold, wants to be an actor. The youngest, Lily, wants to be able to swim again(she is afraid of the ocean). The middle girl, Zinnia, wants to be a movie/script writer. They all try their best but soon reach a point where each of their dreams take a turn, causing some chaos. Read the book to find out more :p.
April 16, 2024
Three sisters from California have to stay with their aunt in Cape Cod for a few weeks. Out of their element completely, they are forced to adjust to change and come together as sisters.
I read this book with my 8 year old daughter and I'll admit that it didn't keep my attention much but she loved it. I liked the fact that is was 3 sisters and takes place mostly down the Cape. If you're looking for a book for your 8-11 year old, this would be good. The characters names were a mouthful but cute. 3/5
Check out Fueled by Coffee and Books for more reviews :)
I read this book with my 8 year old daughter and I'll admit that it didn't keep my attention much but she loved it. I liked the fact that is was 3 sisters and takes place mostly down the Cape. If you're looking for a book for your 8-11 year old, this would be good. The characters names were a mouthful but cute. 3/5
Check out Fueled by Coffee and Books for more reviews :)
May 10, 2019
Just finished reading it so good could not keep my eyes off of that book and i am so excited that there is 2 more books for the series i do recommend reading it it was so good the whole entire day i was reading it i could just not stop you have to read this series and you think something is going bad but something good will turn up. every time i stop to do something or eat i always say to myself "i just got to the good part in the book". you know when a book is good when you always say "i'm just getting to the good part.
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