The Windmill Summer

by Hila Feil

Tired of being nagged by her relatives, a young girl goes to live by herself in her greatgrandfather's windmill.

Genres: Middle Grade

Paperback

First published January 1, 1972

About the author

Hila Feil is the daughter of author Robert Newman.

She divides her time between New York City; Montreal; and Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

Reviews

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. A short read about a girl fed up with her interfering Aunts and Uncles going to live in a windmill on her land to enjoy cooking, reading, wildlife and solitude. The descriptions of the windmill and surrounding wildlife were wonderful, what could be better to escape to? Being outside all day, watching wildlife and cooking are things we do all the time anyway so this book may have more appeal to children who do not have these activities available. The story looked at how everyone needs to get away sometimes and be left to do their own thing, we liked the way the story showed respect for wildlife and watching from a distance.

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book enchanted me. The idea of spending the summer alone in a windmill, surrounded by nature, with lots of peace and quiet and time to read, would have appealed to me as a kid, and appeals to me now. Arabella moves into the windmill to escape her quirky relatives. She cooks for herself (and it sounded pretty good!) and looks after the various animals and birds that live around her. Because she spends time observing nature she understands it, and can live with it. I know just how she felt, rigging an alarm to alert her when the raccoon was eating the food, just so she could get a glimpse of him. I've done the same myself! I wish I'd found this book when I was a kid, but I'm glad I've found it now. What a treasure! Highly recommended!

[Melody · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful. Purely wonderful. I wish I'd had this book to grow up with. An 11 year old girl, fed to the teeth with her houseful of querulous relatives, moves into a windmill for the summer. She loves and cares for several different animals, while honoring their wild natures. There's no talk of taming anyone, no petting, no sweet cuddles. There is respect and love and stewardship. Not to mention some sly fun at the expense of old stick-in-the-mud uncles. And bonus points for a mention of Elizabeth David & scrumptious food discussions. What a lovely little story.

Susann, thank you so very much. Do you want me to send it back to you?

[Kimberley Rider · Rating 5 out of 5]

I still have the original copy I got as a Christmas gift when I was 9 years old in 1973. I re-read it every couple years and read it to my 8 year old as well. It is a wonderfully enchanting story. Not sure why, but I have never read any of the authors other books. I loved the setting and the imagination that it inspired in me. As a child, I wished I could be Arabella and when I re-read it, I remember why I felt this way and wish it all over again!

[Alexander · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not much of a story or plot, you know those cool summer days down by the lake you always hear about? Where not much may be going on, but it's still very enjoyable? This book is basically that experience in literary form, a quite, nothing going on, but still enjoyable kind of thing.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would have been happy to keep reading this for much longer, but the author seemed to know what she was doing.

[Benita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Years ago I watched a children’s show that featured a man telling about Windmill Summer while drawing a scene from the story. I always thought it was an amazing and entertaining way to tell about a book. Windmill Summer was written in 1972. I have looked for the book over the years but never seriously searched for it. I found it on a used books site and ordered it. It’s the story of 11 year-old Arabella living in an old family home with lots of annoying relatives. She decides to escape to an old windmill on the property. Built by her grandfather, the windmill has everything she needs including a bed and cooking stove. Arabella spends her summer reading books and feeding the small animals that show up around the windmill. She thoroughly enjoys her peace and quiet and I can imagine if I had read this book when I was 11, I would have been envious.

[Petrichor · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. Overall a pleasant—if uneventful—work of wish fulfillment for children who dream of running away and "roughing it" in the woods while simultaneously enjoying lavish cuisine and luxurious housing.

The book took a weird, dark turn in one of the final chapters and then abruptly surfaced out of it, but I found it an off-putting note at the end of an otherwise nice little story.

[Charlotte · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a pleasant enough story, but I'm annoyed at the girl's parents, who do nothing to sheild her from the infestation of truly annoying old relatives. Also, the girl never really explores all the stuff left behind in the old windmill, which I would have enjoyed.

[Carlotta · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
Pleasantly uneventful.

[Suetr · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my favorite books as a child and I'm so happy I got to share it with my girls.

[Allison Henle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this as a child and utterly loved it.

[Madeline Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jess bought this for me up north. It's the fantasy I always dreamed of when I was a little girl.