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Jellybean Summer
At breakfast, I sit at the table and work on three things:
1. A bowl of Rice Krispies with sliced banana on top
2. My courage
3. How exactly to tell Mom I'm moving to the roof
1. A bowl of Rice Krispies with sliced banana on top
2. My courage
3. How exactly to tell Mom I'm moving to the roof
253 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2017
25 people are currently reading
1132 people want to read
About the author
Joyce Magnin
28 books172 followersUm, I like cross stitch, baseball, my children and grandkids, but not elevators or laundry. I've been known to run from mayonnaise and I play RPG video games. I don't have a favorite author although I read a lot.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
May 20, 2017
It is 1968 in Westbrook, Pennsylvania and eleven-year-old Joyce Anne Magnin has the entire summer before her. There’s no way she can spend the next three months sharing a room with her older sister Elaine. Joyce needs a space all her own, a quiet place where she can work through her feelings about her older brother’s status as MIA in Vietnam, so she retreats to the roof to spend her summer reading books and stargazing. By fortuitous accident, Joyce meets another rooftop dweller and, by going out of her way to make his acquaintance, sets in motion an unforgettable summer.
Jelly Bean Summer has all the charm of the average middle grade novel about a child navigating a summer of new friendships and sibling rivalry but, given that the protagonist must also contend with a brother having gone missing while fighting in Vietnam, the book stands to be of greater interest to young readers with a sibling or relative serving in the military. Also, given the time in which the story takes place and the subsequent references to pop culture, Joyce’s summer adventure will likely prove a nostalgic read for anyone who was a child in the ‘60s.
No matter the decade, a child spending the summer in a tent is nothing new, but those tents are typically pitched in the backyard, not atop the roof. Joyce could have spent the summer living in her brother’s room, but instead she is drawn to the flat roof of her parents’ “boring, redbrick house” because of its proximity to the stars.
[My brother] and I used to go up and sit on the wide, flat roof and look at the stars sometimes. He taught me about the constellations. I think about them for a minute, and I think about Bud until I feel a tear form in my left eye. I swipe it away, and that’s when it hits me with all the gravitational pull the moon can muster.
The roof.
I will move to the roof.
Joyce’s reasons for spending her summer atop the roof demonstrate the kind of logic one might expect from a high-spirited eleven-year-old. Sometimes her voice suits her age, blending her youthful outlook with the onset of the more mature thinking of a burgeoning preteen, such as her statement that blurting out the wrong thing is akin to being “a balloon and someone popped me with a pin and all the air whooshed out” or her assertion that the deep sadness she experiences with every breath over her brother’s absence “tastes likes butterscotch”.
I know butterscotch isn’t supposed to be a bad taste, but that’s just it. Everything that’s supposed to be good isn’t anymore.
However, Joyce’s first-person narrative voice occasionally exceeds that of the average eleven-year-old to ill effect. Some of her references will make sense to adults but will likely go right over the heads of young readers, such as her mention of rubber checks and Red Skelton. Sometimes her narrative voice comes across as too adult because of phrases like “a clear indication” or “according to dad.” One would expect a typical eleven-year-old to say “that means” or “dad says.” When she first sees, through her binoculars, a boy on a nearby rooftop looking at her through his own pair of binoculars, Joyce’s comment that he “stays peeled on me in kind of a Mexican-binocular roof standoff,” which makes reference to the cinematic trope of several characters holding each other at gunpoint, feels inappropriate for a middle grade novel. Further, Joyce demonstrates wisdom that belies her age. “Sometimes it’s possible to have too much worry under one roof,” she says, for example, when explaining why she doesn’t tell her dad how much she misses her brother.
Joyce’s concern for her missing brother is often the source of her most sophisticated declarations. It’s in the moments when Joyce explains to readers how her brother’s absence is affecting her family that Magnin makes the unfortunate decision to spoon-feed her audience:
But I figure sometimes Dad likes to fume – not so much about what is happening at the moment but because underneath, he’s fuming about other things – [. . .] like his only son is missing.
He is really mad at the world, not me.
Emotional depth might have been achieved had Magnin allowed readers to unearth the weighty subtext for themselves. These moments of frank explanation give the overall narrative a shallow feel, one that’s made more awkward by the words of wisdom being imparted by an eleven-year-old. Had the story been written from a third person omniscient perspective, the narration might not have felt so incongruous.
Then again, the protagonist is Joyce Anne Magnin, and Jelly Bean Summer was written by Joyce Magnin, so the book is – presumably – autobiographical. Since the author is recounting her own childhood, it’s difficult to say with certainty that she wasn’t such an eloquent, intuitive child. Whether the book is inspired by Magnin’s childhood or gives an exact account of what happened to the author in the summer of 1968 is indeterminate. Either way, Joyce is a likable protagonist. She enjoys books, makes lists, and thinks her sister’s pet guinea pig, Jelly Bean, is weird because “she thinks she’s a dog or a very tiny cow.”
And then there’s Brian, the boy who lives down the street whose family has also suffered hardship because of the Vietnam War. Brian is hard at work on rebuilding his older brother’s truck, but he needs money to buy a carburetor from the junkyard. It is there, in Brian’s need to buy a carburetor, that Joyce finds a sense of purpose for her summer. She's been looking for a way to pass the time, for something to keep her mind off her missing brother, and finding a way to help Brian earn $15.00 is just the ticket.
Before Brian, I felt like I didn’t have anything that mattered. Mom has her hems to sew, Elaine has [Jelly Bean] and her drawings and her fancy pencils and paper and erasers. Dad has his secret projects. Bud has the war – maybe not in a great way, but still, he’s there because it’s supposed to be helping the country, protecting freedom. And now I have something too. I have Brian. I have Brian and a carburetor to buy.
Joyce has yet to enact her plan to help Brian when unforeseen incidences cause a rift between her and Elaine. Now, not only does Joyce wish to help Brian, she’s desperate to make amends with her sister. The lessons she learns while striving to accomplish both tasks portray how much she grows over the course of the book.
Growth remains a running theme throughout the book, first hinted at through Joyce’s mother who is always snipping, potting, and nurturing African violets on the kitchen windowsill. But the most significant representation of life, growth, and death is the peach tree Joyce’s mom planted in the side yard. Joyce must pass the peach tree on her way up the ladder to the roof, so she remains constantly aware of its young green buds, which bloom into flowers that die and fall from the tree. Joyce expresses dismay at the fallen buds, and her mother explains:
“The only way for peaches to grow is if the buds fall off. It’s nature’s way. Some things need to die before other things can grow.”
Despite its overtly wise child narrator and the simplistic approach to conveying emotions, Jelly Bean Summer is a touching autobiographical story that explores the ramifications of war and the concepts of life and death in ways that are accessible to young readers.
Jelly Bean Summer has all the charm of the average middle grade novel about a child navigating a summer of new friendships and sibling rivalry but, given that the protagonist must also contend with a brother having gone missing while fighting in Vietnam, the book stands to be of greater interest to young readers with a sibling or relative serving in the military. Also, given the time in which the story takes place and the subsequent references to pop culture, Joyce’s summer adventure will likely prove a nostalgic read for anyone who was a child in the ‘60s.
No matter the decade, a child spending the summer in a tent is nothing new, but those tents are typically pitched in the backyard, not atop the roof. Joyce could have spent the summer living in her brother’s room, but instead she is drawn to the flat roof of her parents’ “boring, redbrick house” because of its proximity to the stars.
[My brother] and I used to go up and sit on the wide, flat roof and look at the stars sometimes. He taught me about the constellations. I think about them for a minute, and I think about Bud until I feel a tear form in my left eye. I swipe it away, and that’s when it hits me with all the gravitational pull the moon can muster.
The roof.
I will move to the roof.
Joyce’s reasons for spending her summer atop the roof demonstrate the kind of logic one might expect from a high-spirited eleven-year-old. Sometimes her voice suits her age, blending her youthful outlook with the onset of the more mature thinking of a burgeoning preteen, such as her statement that blurting out the wrong thing is akin to being “a balloon and someone popped me with a pin and all the air whooshed out” or her assertion that the deep sadness she experiences with every breath over her brother’s absence “tastes likes butterscotch”.
I know butterscotch isn’t supposed to be a bad taste, but that’s just it. Everything that’s supposed to be good isn’t anymore.
However, Joyce’s first-person narrative voice occasionally exceeds that of the average eleven-year-old to ill effect. Some of her references will make sense to adults but will likely go right over the heads of young readers, such as her mention of rubber checks and Red Skelton. Sometimes her narrative voice comes across as too adult because of phrases like “a clear indication” or “according to dad.” One would expect a typical eleven-year-old to say “that means” or “dad says.” When she first sees, through her binoculars, a boy on a nearby rooftop looking at her through his own pair of binoculars, Joyce’s comment that he “stays peeled on me in kind of a Mexican-binocular roof standoff,” which makes reference to the cinematic trope of several characters holding each other at gunpoint, feels inappropriate for a middle grade novel. Further, Joyce demonstrates wisdom that belies her age. “Sometimes it’s possible to have too much worry under one roof,” she says, for example, when explaining why she doesn’t tell her dad how much she misses her brother.
Joyce’s concern for her missing brother is often the source of her most sophisticated declarations. It’s in the moments when Joyce explains to readers how her brother’s absence is affecting her family that Magnin makes the unfortunate decision to spoon-feed her audience:
But I figure sometimes Dad likes to fume – not so much about what is happening at the moment but because underneath, he’s fuming about other things – [. . .] like his only son is missing.
He is really mad at the world, not me.
Emotional depth might have been achieved had Magnin allowed readers to unearth the weighty subtext for themselves. These moments of frank explanation give the overall narrative a shallow feel, one that’s made more awkward by the words of wisdom being imparted by an eleven-year-old. Had the story been written from a third person omniscient perspective, the narration might not have felt so incongruous.
Then again, the protagonist is Joyce Anne Magnin, and Jelly Bean Summer was written by Joyce Magnin, so the book is – presumably – autobiographical. Since the author is recounting her own childhood, it’s difficult to say with certainty that she wasn’t such an eloquent, intuitive child. Whether the book is inspired by Magnin’s childhood or gives an exact account of what happened to the author in the summer of 1968 is indeterminate. Either way, Joyce is a likable protagonist. She enjoys books, makes lists, and thinks her sister’s pet guinea pig, Jelly Bean, is weird because “she thinks she’s a dog or a very tiny cow.”
And then there’s Brian, the boy who lives down the street whose family has also suffered hardship because of the Vietnam War. Brian is hard at work on rebuilding his older brother’s truck, but he needs money to buy a carburetor from the junkyard. It is there, in Brian’s need to buy a carburetor, that Joyce finds a sense of purpose for her summer. She's been looking for a way to pass the time, for something to keep her mind off her missing brother, and finding a way to help Brian earn $15.00 is just the ticket.
Before Brian, I felt like I didn’t have anything that mattered. Mom has her hems to sew, Elaine has [Jelly Bean] and her drawings and her fancy pencils and paper and erasers. Dad has his secret projects. Bud has the war – maybe not in a great way, but still, he’s there because it’s supposed to be helping the country, protecting freedom. And now I have something too. I have Brian. I have Brian and a carburetor to buy.
Joyce has yet to enact her plan to help Brian when unforeseen incidences cause a rift between her and Elaine. Now, not only does Joyce wish to help Brian, she’s desperate to make amends with her sister. The lessons she learns while striving to accomplish both tasks portray how much she grows over the course of the book.
Growth remains a running theme throughout the book, first hinted at through Joyce’s mother who is always snipping, potting, and nurturing African violets on the kitchen windowsill. But the most significant representation of life, growth, and death is the peach tree Joyce’s mom planted in the side yard. Joyce must pass the peach tree on her way up the ladder to the roof, so she remains constantly aware of its young green buds, which bloom into flowers that die and fall from the tree. Joyce expresses dismay at the fallen buds, and her mother explains:
“The only way for peaches to grow is if the buds fall off. It’s nature’s way. Some things need to die before other things can grow.”
Despite its overtly wise child narrator and the simplistic approach to conveying emotions, Jelly Bean Summer is a touching autobiographical story that explores the ramifications of war and the concepts of life and death in ways that are accessible to young readers.
May 21, 2019
A good story about a family learning to cope with changes, especially when the oldest son goes MIA in Vietnam. The details of life from 1968 are interesting, but there is a blooper about a c.d. player being used.
June 1, 2018
this book felt disjointed and kinda aimless, which i guess is authentic to how kids often feel about stuff. still, having recently read a number of books by vietnamese and vietnamese-american authors, and being the teacher of a bunch of viet/v-a kids, i'm pretty aversive to anything even lightly forgiving of the "vietnam war". i also really don't like guinea pigs, so i just didn't have any feelings about the titular guinea pig and events surrounding her. (maybe if she were a cat or a dog....) possibly i was expecting something more tightly paced and linear-ish, with a clearer author's message. realizing that this must be an actual episode from the author's childhood (confirmed by the note at the back) gave me a little more empathy for the narrator, but in all i wasn't that interested.
May 11, 2019
It was sooo gooooooooooood
June 12, 2017
Loved this booked! Gave it 4 stars only because it got too descriptive which made me confused. Other than that it's a great read for older kids. There are real life events that take place in the book that some might find too mature for kids. I, however, feel it's beneficial for the readers to experience these mishaps right along with the main character, Joyce. Some families have gone through missing soldiers and the death of a pet, or moving because a parent passed away. Teaching empathy to kids through reading is excellent.
March 13, 2017
This is a heartfelt story about family, loss, and wanting to do something for someone else. Joyce’s family is having a hard time so to get some space and a little peace Joyce moves to the roof for the summer. From her perch on the roof, Joyce meets Brian and together they come up with a plan honor their brothers. The pace starts a little slow but this book is well written and really nails the voice of Joyce Anne. The cover is super cute too.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
November 3, 2017
Oh man. Ok. At the start of the book, Joyce just seemed really really babyish and spoiled. I was just about to give up on this book because it was getting REALLY boring but then about halfway through it started picking up and it got really interesting. It could have a better storyline and the end is nice but I was kinda hoping Bud would die but unfortuantly he didn't. Don't read this book, it's not really worth it.
April 13, 2018
I received this book from a Goodreads giveaway. There is a significant amount of literature about the Vietnam War, but not much that is from a perspective quite like this. The fact that this is YA or juvenile fiction is extremely impressive in the fact that it deals with such a hard topic and it is done so well. A young person’s view of the effects of Vietnam while the war is happening is such a different perspective and really impressive.
October 3, 2017
Jelly Bean Summer by Joyce Magnin is a heartfelt, historical middle grade novel about the struggle to find home and belonging in emotionally challenging times. The book’s young protagonist – named for the author, hinting at autobiographical inspirations – moves onto her roof and then contemplates running away to Arizona as tension boils in her home after her brother goes missing in Vietnam. This theme of dislocation prevails throughout the the novel as Joyce searches for belonging: sharing a room with her guinea pig and UFO-obsessed older sister, struggling to connect the stars in the night sky from her tent on the roof, and with her west-bound friend, Brian, who will soon leave for his new home in Arizona. Ultimately, Joyce must learn that she has to “live with” the pain and loss within her family, whether “here or in Arizona.” She discovers that the home she’s looking for isn’t one she needs to find, but one she already has that needs a little bit of time and healing to feel right again.
The novel balances emotion and subtlety. While the characters emote openly (such as “crying buckets of tears” when Elaine’s guinea pig, Jelly Bean, died) the details around Bud’s disappearance are gradually unveiled throughout the narrative. There is no major exposition or gratuitous display of painful emotion in his absence. Instead, many emotional scenes are deflective. Joyce says her mom “ignores things” because “adding any more upset-ness into the air could ignite the whole house on fire.” Her father hides in the basement, working on a secret project. And when Joyce craves her sister to forgive her for having a role in Jelly Bean’s death, it’s evident that the words she longs to hear – “it’s OK” – are just as much about her missing brother as they are the deceased pet.
While Jelly Bean Summer doesn’t offer a sugar-coated happy ending, its final pages ring with hope. Joyce’s family is reunited, even if their dynamic is a bit damaged and not quite as it was before the war. Brian drives to his new home in Arizona and though his father will not move with him, he joins for the ride. Joyce cannot fill the void loss leaves in her heart; even when she buys her sister an adorable new kitten, she realizes nothing can undo the accident with Jelly Bean. But when Elaine finally assures her “it’s OK,” Joyce decides that’s “good enough.” She can “live with ‘it’s OK'” because no matter what she goes through, Joyce will find a way to remain put and simply live.
The novel balances emotion and subtlety. While the characters emote openly (such as “crying buckets of tears” when Elaine’s guinea pig, Jelly Bean, died) the details around Bud’s disappearance are gradually unveiled throughout the narrative. There is no major exposition or gratuitous display of painful emotion in his absence. Instead, many emotional scenes are deflective. Joyce says her mom “ignores things” because “adding any more upset-ness into the air could ignite the whole house on fire.” Her father hides in the basement, working on a secret project. And when Joyce craves her sister to forgive her for having a role in Jelly Bean’s death, it’s evident that the words she longs to hear – “it’s OK” – are just as much about her missing brother as they are the deceased pet.
While Jelly Bean Summer doesn’t offer a sugar-coated happy ending, its final pages ring with hope. Joyce’s family is reunited, even if their dynamic is a bit damaged and not quite as it was before the war. Brian drives to his new home in Arizona and though his father will not move with him, he joins for the ride. Joyce cannot fill the void loss leaves in her heart; even when she buys her sister an adorable new kitten, she realizes nothing can undo the accident with Jelly Bean. But when Elaine finally assures her “it’s OK,” Joyce decides that’s “good enough.” She can “live with ‘it’s OK'” because no matter what she goes through, Joyce will find a way to remain put and simply live.
February 23, 2017
Set in 1968 Pennsylvania, Jelly Bean Summer is a bittersweet exploration of childhood and belonging. Joyce is (among other reasons) fed up with her UFO-seeing, guinea-pig-loving older sister and decides to sleep outside on the roof. She meets and bonds with Brian, a neighbourhood boy that shares Joyce's experience in mourning the loss (though, in different ways) of a brother to Vietnam.
To be honest, this was slow-going for me at first and I didn't get fully invested in the story until about halfway through when Joyce recruits her older sister, Elaine, to help her and Brian on the UFO project. That being said, I appreciate the overall realism in this story - particularly near the end with Magnin's depiction of Bud returning from Vietnam. Nothing is sugarcoated and it's clear that while the book ends on a hopeful note, each of the Magnin children do have a ways to go before they are better than just "OK." And that's all right.
The writing feels true to the voice and perspective of a young girl. It doesn't shy away from showing emotions ("These things take buckets of tears sometimes") and gets particularly impressive at parts when Joyce contemplates the nature of killing in this excellent passage:
Though the book is set in a particularly turbulent year in American history, outside of Vietnam, there's no mention of the political/cultural touchstone events. At times I feel like that's a hindrance, but really, I think that's probably true to life considering a child's insular concerns, particularly since Joyce only thinks about Vietnam in relation to her brother.
With that being said, this book comes in at 253 pages and is recommended for ages 8 and up. It feels a bit long for a child that age, but content-wise it seems right.
An advanced copy of this title was provided via the publisher and Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
To be honest, this was slow-going for me at first and I didn't get fully invested in the story until about halfway through when Joyce recruits her older sister, Elaine, to help her and Brian on the UFO project. That being said, I appreciate the overall realism in this story - particularly near the end with Magnin's depiction of Bud returning from Vietnam. Nothing is sugarcoated and it's clear that while the book ends on a hopeful note, each of the Magnin children do have a ways to go before they are better than just "OK." And that's all right.
The writing feels true to the voice and perspective of a young girl. It doesn't shy away from showing emotions ("These things take buckets of tears sometimes") and gets particularly impressive at parts when Joyce contemplates the nature of killing in this excellent passage:
Someone killed Brian's brother. I wonder if before he died, he killed someone else's brother who killed someone else's brother and it goes on forever. I wonder if Bud has killed people, not because he wanted to, but because that's what soldiers do.
Though the book is set in a particularly turbulent year in American history, outside of Vietnam, there's no mention of the political/cultural touchstone events. At times I feel like that's a hindrance, but really, I think that's probably true to life considering a child's insular concerns, particularly since Joyce only thinks about Vietnam in relation to her brother.
With that being said, this book comes in at 253 pages and is recommended for ages 8 and up. It feels a bit long for a child that age, but content-wise it seems right.
An advanced copy of this title was provided via the publisher and Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
March 4, 2017
Jelly Bean Summer
by Joyce Magnin
This is overall, a happy story told from the point of view of 11 year old Joyce Anne. Set in Westbrook, Pennsylvania 1968. It is full of childhood mysteries, concerns, childhood hopes and dreams.
The story begins when 11 year old Joyce Anne moves to the roof to get away from her older sister, Elaine, who keeps her awake because she sees UFOs every night. Oh, Elaine also has an annoying pet guinea pig named Jelly Bean who squeals a lot.
The story has happy times and sad moments. Just like real life.
The characters developed very well throughout the story and are very realistic. The author does an excellent job of writing this in the point of view of an 11 year old girl, making sure to include all the things a child that age would deem important. You know, riding a bike, playing with friends and CANDY.
Well written and a great story. The age listed is for 8 year old and up. The book is 224 pages, that seems a bit too long for an 8 year old. Probably better suited for 11 year old and up.
I received this ARC eBook free in exchange for an honest review. That does not effect my opinion or rating of the book.
My review is also posted on moonshineartspot.blogspot.com
~ BOOK DESCRIPTION ~
Living on the roof to escape her crazy family works…until reality pulls Joyce back to the ground
Joyce has had it with her family (especially with UFO-sighting Elaine who loves her guinea pig more than her own sister). Her solution? Move out of the house and pitch a tent on the roof for the summer. But when she spots a boy watching her from a neighboring roof she’s stunned—and intrigued.
Brian recently lost his brother, and the two instantly bond over their messed-up families. To help Brian repair his brother’s truck, they concoct a scheme to build and sell tickets to a UFO display. Even Elaine agrees to help…until unexpected events test the limits of Joyce’s family ties.
by Joyce Magnin
This is overall, a happy story told from the point of view of 11 year old Joyce Anne. Set in Westbrook, Pennsylvania 1968. It is full of childhood mysteries, concerns, childhood hopes and dreams.
The story begins when 11 year old Joyce Anne moves to the roof to get away from her older sister, Elaine, who keeps her awake because she sees UFOs every night. Oh, Elaine also has an annoying pet guinea pig named Jelly Bean who squeals a lot.
The story has happy times and sad moments. Just like real life.
The characters developed very well throughout the story and are very realistic. The author does an excellent job of writing this in the point of view of an 11 year old girl, making sure to include all the things a child that age would deem important. You know, riding a bike, playing with friends and CANDY.
Well written and a great story. The age listed is for 8 year old and up. The book is 224 pages, that seems a bit too long for an 8 year old. Probably better suited for 11 year old and up.
I received this ARC eBook free in exchange for an honest review. That does not effect my opinion or rating of the book.
My review is also posted on moonshineartspot.blogspot.com
~ BOOK DESCRIPTION ~
Living on the roof to escape her crazy family works…until reality pulls Joyce back to the ground
Joyce has had it with her family (especially with UFO-sighting Elaine who loves her guinea pig more than her own sister). Her solution? Move out of the house and pitch a tent on the roof for the summer. But when she spots a boy watching her from a neighboring roof she’s stunned—and intrigued.
Brian recently lost his brother, and the two instantly bond over their messed-up families. To help Brian repair his brother’s truck, they concoct a scheme to build and sell tickets to a UFO display. Even Elaine agrees to help…until unexpected events test the limits of Joyce’s family ties.
February 2, 2017
REVIEW
BY Aunt Meanie
This is overall, a happy story told from the point of view of 11 year old Joyce Anne. Set in Westbrook, Pennsylvania 1968. It is full of childhood mysteries, concerns, childhood hopes and dreams.
The story begins when 11 year old Joyce Anne moves to the roof to get away from her older sister, Elaine, who keeps her awake because she sees UFOs every night. Oh, Elaine also has an annoying pet guinea pig named Jelly Bean who squeals a lot.
The story has happy times and sad moments. Just like real life.
The characters developed very well throughout the story and are very realistic. The author does an excellent job of writing this in the point of view of an 11 year old girl, making sure to include all the things a child that age would deem important. You know, riding a bike, playing with friends and CANDY.
Well written and a great story. The age listed is for 8 year old and up. The book is 224 pages, that seems a bit too long for an 8 year old. Probably better suited for 11 year old and up. I received this ARC eBook free in exchange for an honest review. That does not effect my opinion or rating of the book.
~ BOOK DESCRIPTION ~
Living on the roof to escape her crazy family works…until reality pulls Joyce back to the ground
Joyce has had it with her family (especially with UFO-sighting Elaine who loves her guinea pig more than her own sister). Her solution? Move out of the house and pitch a tent on the roof for the summer. But when she spots a boy watching her from a neighboring roof she’s stunned—and intrigued.
Brian recently lost his brother, and the two instantly bond over their messed-up families. To help Brian repair his brother’s truck, they concoct a scheme to build and sell tickets to a UFO display. Even Elaine agrees to help…until unexpected events test the limits of Joyce’s family ties.
BY Aunt Meanie
This is overall, a happy story told from the point of view of 11 year old Joyce Anne. Set in Westbrook, Pennsylvania 1968. It is full of childhood mysteries, concerns, childhood hopes and dreams.
The story begins when 11 year old Joyce Anne moves to the roof to get away from her older sister, Elaine, who keeps her awake because she sees UFOs every night. Oh, Elaine also has an annoying pet guinea pig named Jelly Bean who squeals a lot.
The story has happy times and sad moments. Just like real life.
The characters developed very well throughout the story and are very realistic. The author does an excellent job of writing this in the point of view of an 11 year old girl, making sure to include all the things a child that age would deem important. You know, riding a bike, playing with friends and CANDY.
Well written and a great story. The age listed is for 8 year old and up. The book is 224 pages, that seems a bit too long for an 8 year old. Probably better suited for 11 year old and up. I received this ARC eBook free in exchange for an honest review. That does not effect my opinion or rating of the book.
~ BOOK DESCRIPTION ~
Living on the roof to escape her crazy family works…until reality pulls Joyce back to the ground
Joyce has had it with her family (especially with UFO-sighting Elaine who loves her guinea pig more than her own sister). Her solution? Move out of the house and pitch a tent on the roof for the summer. But when she spots a boy watching her from a neighboring roof she’s stunned—and intrigued.
Brian recently lost his brother, and the two instantly bond over their messed-up families. To help Brian repair his brother’s truck, they concoct a scheme to build and sell tickets to a UFO display. Even Elaine agrees to help…until unexpected events test the limits of Joyce’s family ties.
May 6, 2017
True story, true nostalgia
Joyce's writing is always delightful, and this story is especially good because it's based on her own weird and wonderful childhood. I laughed the best laugh I've had in months over a line in the chapter about the A-bomb and sobbed happy tears at the end. The whole way through, wave after wave of nostalgia washed over me as she sprinkled tidbits of my own 1950/60s childhood on the pages. Get this book for your kid or grandkid. Get it for yourself.
Joyce's writing is always delightful, and this story is especially good because it's based on her own weird and wonderful childhood. I laughed the best laugh I've had in months over a line in the chapter about the A-bomb and sobbed happy tears at the end. The whole way through, wave after wave of nostalgia washed over me as she sprinkled tidbits of my own 1950/60s childhood on the pages. Get this book for your kid or grandkid. Get it for yourself.
July 22, 2017
Trip down memory lane for those of us old enough to experienced the 60's and Veit Nam, but I'm not sure todays kids are going to get all the references unless a grandparent is around to explain them to them. Not a bad story, just one I think might lose the kids reading it...
March 4, 2018
3.5 stars
Living on the roof to escape her crazy family works…until reality pulls Joyce back to the ground
Joyce has had it with her family (especially with UFO-sighting Elaine who loves her guinea pig more than her own sister). Her solution? Move out of the house and pitch a tent on the roof for the summer. But when she spots a boy watching her from a neighboring roof she’s stunned—and intrigued.
Brian recently lost his brother, and the two instantly bond over their messed-up families. To help Brian repair his brother’s truck, they concoct a scheme to build and sell tickets to a UFO display. Even Elaine agrees to help…until unexpected events test the limits of Joyce’s family ties.
MY THOUGHTS:
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
When you have 1st-person narrative and an eleven year old professing a deep inner philosophy far exceeding her years, third person should be used. This gives the reader a better perspective to read and feel the emotions instead of awkwardly having a child character appear unreal and one-dimensional. This is a common mistake many children’s book authors make, they write from an adult perspective which takes so much away from a story being told by a child. The child doesn’t sound convincing and real because the voice of the character is too old and portrayed incorrectly.
I think this story would have worked better if the character had been thirteen or fourteen. However, the very childish antics wouldn’t have fit so well and would need to be changed. Unfortunately, this wouldn’t work since the story seems to be written from the author’s past.
The premise of the story is great and the author’s voice is also very good. The plot moves along nicely paced well and not jumpy. The setting is the sixties and the author is the main character (both possessing the same name) so presumably this is an autobiography?
I think the author had a story from her childhood that she wanted to share but wasn’t sure about how to go about it. With all this said, I still found the story enjoyable. It’s filled with a young girl’s thoughts, feelings and experiences remembered of a time when her country was engaged in a war. There will be those who read this book that will suffer from waves of nostalgia, and find many references and prose hysterical and reminiscent of their own childhood.
This author can weave a tale of fun, laughter and silly antics using her own past experiences as a foundation to create great adventures such as Jelly Bean (the guinea pig that looks like a little cow) Summer.
I recommend this book to both middle-grade readers and especially to adults who love reading stories depicted in the sixties and seventies.
Living on the roof to escape her crazy family works…until reality pulls Joyce back to the ground
Joyce has had it with her family (especially with UFO-sighting Elaine who loves her guinea pig more than her own sister). Her solution? Move out of the house and pitch a tent on the roof for the summer. But when she spots a boy watching her from a neighboring roof she’s stunned—and intrigued.
Brian recently lost his brother, and the two instantly bond over their messed-up families. To help Brian repair his brother’s truck, they concoct a scheme to build and sell tickets to a UFO display. Even Elaine agrees to help…until unexpected events test the limits of Joyce’s family ties.
MY THOUGHTS:
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
When you have 1st-person narrative and an eleven year old professing a deep inner philosophy far exceeding her years, third person should be used. This gives the reader a better perspective to read and feel the emotions instead of awkwardly having a child character appear unreal and one-dimensional. This is a common mistake many children’s book authors make, they write from an adult perspective which takes so much away from a story being told by a child. The child doesn’t sound convincing and real because the voice of the character is too old and portrayed incorrectly.
I think this story would have worked better if the character had been thirteen or fourteen. However, the very childish antics wouldn’t have fit so well and would need to be changed. Unfortunately, this wouldn’t work since the story seems to be written from the author’s past.
The premise of the story is great and the author’s voice is also very good. The plot moves along nicely paced well and not jumpy. The setting is the sixties and the author is the main character (both possessing the same name) so presumably this is an autobiography?
I think the author had a story from her childhood that she wanted to share but wasn’t sure about how to go about it. With all this said, I still found the story enjoyable. It’s filled with a young girl’s thoughts, feelings and experiences remembered of a time when her country was engaged in a war. There will be those who read this book that will suffer from waves of nostalgia, and find many references and prose hysterical and reminiscent of their own childhood.
This author can weave a tale of fun, laughter and silly antics using her own past experiences as a foundation to create great adventures such as Jelly Bean (the guinea pig that looks like a little cow) Summer.
I recommend this book to both middle-grade readers and especially to adults who love reading stories depicted in the sixties and seventies.
May 12, 2017
Joyce Anne is an eleven-year-old girl who shares a bedroom with her older sister Elaine and Elaine's pet guinea pig, Jelly Bean. Her older brother is missing in the Vietnam War. Her missing brother causes a lot of tension in her house. Elaine constantly claims to see UFOs in the sky. One day, Joyce gets sick of hearing about her sister's UFO sightings and she decides to move to the roof. She brings a tent up along with some books and binoculars to keep an eye on the neighbours. As she watches the other houses, she sees a teenage boy standing on another roof, also looking through binoculars. They write on papers and hold them up to each other to communicate. When Joyce goes over to meet the boy, Brian, she learns that his brother died in the war. His mother also died long ago so he just lives with his father. But his father doesn't want to take care of him anymore. He thinks Brian would be better off living with his aunt in Arizona. Brian is currently working on a car so that he can drive it to Arizona, but he needs money to finish the job. Joyce has the idea to create a miniature UFO and sell tickets for people to see it. The problem is that Joyce will need her sister's help to build it. Can they put aside their differences to help the cute boy from down the street?
I liked the way this story demonstrated the effects of the Vietnam war on the families of the soldiers. It changed the way that Brian's family and Joyce's family lived. It also gave Joyce and Brian something in common (both having brothers who fought in the war), despite their age difference.
I didn't feel a strong connection with the characters. They all seemed a little one-dimensional, including Joyce who is the main character and the narrator. She has a one-track mind, and only focuses on helping Brian get his car working.
I also struggled with the title of the book. I don't think it is descriptive of what actually happens. Jelly Bean, the guinea pig, is only a small part of the story. I think the title could have told more about the plot of the novel.
I liked the way this story demonstrated the effects of the Vietnam war on the families of the soldiers. It changed the way that Brian's family and Joyce's family lived. It also gave Joyce and Brian something in common (both having brothers who fought in the war), despite their age difference.
I didn't feel a strong connection with the characters. They all seemed a little one-dimensional, including Joyce who is the main character and the narrator. She has a one-track mind, and only focuses on helping Brian get his car working.
I also struggled with the title of the book. I don't think it is descriptive of what actually happens. Jelly Bean, the guinea pig, is only a small part of the story. I think the title could have told more about the plot of the novel.
July 7, 2017
How many kids do you think ever wanted to go live on the roof while growing up? For me, I dreamed of living off the grid in a park. Joyce, however, does go live on her roof, during one unforgettable summer of her life. Told against the backdrop of the Vietnam War, Joyce's humor and unique perspective read like present-day times--minus all the devices. As in other books by Joyce Magnin (yes, the main character has the same name--see my Q & A Interview with the author on my website, ChildressInk.com.), the author is able to get into the minds of these children, all her characters, and bring them to life for the readers.
For Joyce (the character), she announces her plan to live on the roof, and to her surprise, her parents agree. She wants an adventure, but the real reason she wants to live on the roof is to escape the strangling atmosphere inside their house ever since her brother went missing in the Vietnam War--and also to escape the infernal squeaking of her sister's guinea pig, Jelly Bean. The summer that ensues is not at all what Joyce--or the readers--expect. The surprises begin on the roof, when she discovers another pair of binoculars with a person behind them, staring back at her from another roof!
What ensues is hilarious, tragic, yet ultimately satisfying in the best of ways. I highly recommend this book and all those by Joyce Magin, for her witty humor and uncanny ability to get inside the heads of her characters and bring them to life.
For Joyce (the character), she announces her plan to live on the roof, and to her surprise, her parents agree. She wants an adventure, but the real reason she wants to live on the roof is to escape the strangling atmosphere inside their house ever since her brother went missing in the Vietnam War--and also to escape the infernal squeaking of her sister's guinea pig, Jelly Bean. The summer that ensues is not at all what Joyce--or the readers--expect. The surprises begin on the roof, when she discovers another pair of binoculars with a person behind them, staring back at her from another roof!
What ensues is hilarious, tragic, yet ultimately satisfying in the best of ways. I highly recommend this book and all those by Joyce Magin, for her witty humor and uncanny ability to get inside the heads of her characters and bring them to life.
April 13, 2022
This is my third time reading Jelly Bean Summer, and I can tell you it was amazing each time I read it. Joyce, the main character, adds humor to every situation and her sarcasm make the book even more enjoyable. It was interesting to learn how life was during World War II. I had a new perspective on how daily life, relationships, and the economy was. Joyce is definitely mature for her age, and she went through things and felt emotions that were not what someone her age would feel. I was truly put into Joyce’s life. I felt extremely bad for her in some parts of the book. No one understood what she was going through and she had to hide her feelings from her family. Every time she tried explaining what she did to her family, they would think it was an excuse and push her aside. Aside from all the sadness, Joyce made me laugh out loud with her truthfulness and humor. Jelly Bean Summer was truly a good book, and an excellent read!
May 9, 2017
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I have read several of Joyce Magnin's adult fiction books but this was my first juvenile fiction. This was set in one of my favorite time periods. It took me back to my own childhood and a time when things were much simpler than today. Joyce Ann's family is much like my own--hard-working and doing what needs to be done to get by. They are struggling with their son Bud being MIA in Vietnam and it has impacted the whole family. Elaine, the middle child, is portrayed as being self-centered. I think this book accurately reflects the animosity between siblings in our everyday lives as well. It was tragic when Jelly Bean was "murdered" but the ending brought a smile and warm feeling inside. I will definitely be recommending this book to juvenile readers!
May 12, 2017
This is a really sad middle grade fiction book. It's about a girl named Joyce who is growing up in the late 1960s. She has a big sister who believes she is seeing aliens and an older brother who is missing in action in the Viet Nam War. Joyce is annoyed by her older sister to a point where she decides to move up on to the roof. She meets a boy in her neighborhood who is also dealing with death (his mom died when he was younger and HIS brother was killed in the Viet Nam War). She tries to help him as a way of dealing with her own issues. I think some kids will like this one because of all the tragedy in this one. There were a lot of cultural references to things during the 1960s that I'm pretty sure will just sail past modern kids. It wasn't my favorite.
October 29, 2017
In 1968, Joyce Ann must grapple with her older brother MIA in Vietnam Nam, her older sister preferring her pet guinea pig over time spent together and a long summer ahead with nothing much to do. In response, she decides to move to the roof and set up camp, in the process finding another roof-dweller also dealing with a brother who went to Vietnam Nam but is not coming home. While the narrator may seem too knowledgeable for adult readers, middle graders will enjoy this historical fiction and the world it opens up for them. The story resolves nicely and Joyce is back in her own room again in time for school to start. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.
June 2, 2018
I like to read as many of my classroom titles as I can before putting them out for the students. I am not certain that my students will be able to relate to a story set in the Viet Nam era. I was older than the sisters in this book during the Viet Nam war, and for my students, it is ancient history. As an adult I can draw parallels to subsequent military involvements, however, my students may find that difficult. It might resonant with some of my kiddos who have sibling issues. There is a glaring anachronism toward the end when the mother plays a CD on a CD player--definitely not available during the sixties.
March 14, 2017
*Copy received from Netgalley in exchange for a honest review*
Joyce is having a rough summer, and decides to move to the roof of her house to cope. Her brother was just reported missing while serving in the Vietnam War. Her parents bicker, and her sister Elaine claims to see little UFOs. Joyce sees Brian on a nearby roof, and quickly becomes friends with him..She learns that his own brother died in the War, and that Brian's being sent away to live with his Aunt.
Joyce then accidentally causes a family tragedy to occur, and decides that she needs to run away with Brian.
I liked what this book was trying to do. Introducing death, war, and change to younger readers can be difficult, and it felt right that some of the events went right over Joyce's head. The biggest problem was the first person narrative. We are constantly stuck in Joyce's head, which is full of cliches (she cried fifty buckets, for example). We get a lot of descriptions of the homey way Joyce has arranged the roof, and the UFO she is building with Brian, but not so much what her parents are thinking or how their reactions might betray them as they think of their MIA son. When Joyce is confronted with something emotional, I wanted more, a sentence or two, something deeper than "I cried fifty buckets." But sadly, I wasn't able to get close enough to any of the characters, even Joyce herself.
Joyce is having a rough summer, and decides to move to the roof of her house to cope. Her brother was just reported missing while serving in the Vietnam War. Her parents bicker, and her sister Elaine claims to see little UFOs. Joyce sees Brian on a nearby roof, and quickly becomes friends with him..She learns that his own brother died in the War, and that Brian's being sent away to live with his Aunt.
Joyce then accidentally causes a family tragedy to occur, and decides that she needs to run away with Brian.
I liked what this book was trying to do. Introducing death, war, and change to younger readers can be difficult, and it felt right that some of the events went right over Joyce's head. The biggest problem was the first person narrative. We are constantly stuck in Joyce's head, which is full of cliches (she cried fifty buckets, for example). We get a lot of descriptions of the homey way Joyce has arranged the roof, and the UFO she is building with Brian, but not so much what her parents are thinking or how their reactions might betray them as they think of their MIA son. When Joyce is confronted with something emotional, I wanted more, a sentence or two, something deeper than "I cried fifty buckets." But sadly, I wasn't able to get close enough to any of the characters, even Joyce herself.
July 13, 2017
It's the summer of 1968 and Joyce Ann is eleven. The Vietnam war is happening and Joyce's brother is MIA. Nothing seems to be going right for Joyce so she moves to the roof of the house. But then she discovers another roof dweller and maybe, just maybe, Joyce can find a reason to do something that matters. While this book is definitely sad, I recommend it because it will spark many conversations not only about the time period, but about what really matters in life and how to be "OK."
April 11, 2018
It was a Trashy middle grade book that I actually enjoyed very much haha !! I feel like a lot of things were missing and the book was kind of a try hard, but it’s a middle grade book. I wasn’t expecting much from it, my friend got it for me and so I decided to read it really quick before I start a YA book. It was a quick and fun read. I would recommend to anyone who just wants to read something really quick that doesn’t require much focusing !!
April 30, 2020
I've read this book at least six times and I've cried every time. Every, stinking time. I am that attached to young Joyce. Her pain is my pain.
This is a Viet Nam era book that deals with the pain of loss and death in a safe way. Quirky characters and humorous situations help to lighten the loss and to assure young readers that life does go on and things will be OK again. Maybe not the same, but OK.
This is a Viet Nam era book that deals with the pain of loss and death in a safe way. Quirky characters and humorous situations help to lighten the loss and to assure young readers that life does go on and things will be OK again. Maybe not the same, but OK.
May 17, 2022
This book captures a really sad and unsettled summer, with tough situations far more real and grown up than the cover would suggest. The title is based on the Guinea Pig named Jelly Bean (in the book), but that didn't really capture what the book was about to me. It sounds like it was based on the author's childhood, and probably deserved different cover art and a different title.
Btw, page 215 mentions a portable CD player. It takes place in 1968. CDs are more than a decade away. Oops.
Btw, page 215 mentions a portable CD player. It takes place in 1968. CDs are more than a decade away. Oops.
July 26, 2017
This is a wonderful book that is written with such originality that a lot of authors lack these days. It is a heartfelt story of family, life's hardships and faith in knowing that things come to be within time. The author really creates something beautiful that I look forward in sharing with other readers, including my students.
July 30, 2017
If this was a YA book I would have wanted some more from this book, but as a kids book, I loved it! It's nice to jump back into the mind of a kid once in a while. I also really loved that this was based on a true story. It might have been a kids book, but it made me think about a lot of different things!
March 1, 2018
Did I like this book? No.
Everyone in this book spends most of their time being a jerk to everyone else.
I found the characters to be spoiled, shallow and silly.
The storyline was dull and lacking in depth.
If you want to read a book about a spoiled kid who lies to her parents and get’s away with it, look no further, this is the book for you!
Everyone in this book spends most of their time being a jerk to everyone else.
I found the characters to be spoiled, shallow and silly.
The storyline was dull and lacking in depth.
If you want to read a book about a spoiled kid who lies to her parents and get’s away with it, look no further, this is the book for you!
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