Summer of the Skunks

by Wilmoth Foreman

Told from the point of view of the third of four children, ten-year-old Jill, this moving novel portrays one summer in the life of a family being raised by two loving parents. Jill's dad is a factory foreman, while her mom is a homemaker. The three eldest children help around the house, but 16-year-old Margo hates country living, and Jill's adored brother Calvin is growing up and ignoring her. It seems only her four-year-old brother is really happy at home. The family's summer begins with their discovery that a family of skunks has moved in under their house. Afraid that the skunks will be startled and release their scents, the family tiptoes around until Calvin devises a plan to remove them. The skunks bring a myriad of problems, but the real change comes when a childhood friend of Jill's father shows up drunk one night, rousing the entire family from their beds. The children take J. B. in and sneak food to him in his hideaway in a distant corner of their property. Jill's limitless spunk and courage help her learn the value of family and friends as she comes to understand her own identity and role within the family.

156 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Shauna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a sweet little book. You follow 10 year old Jill through a summer spent chasing skunks from under the house, hiding an old family friend on a land locked pontoon named Polly, skinning knees, reading comics, doing chores, and all the while wishing her older siblings would pay just a bit more attention to her. It didn't take long before I could hear the voices of each character in my head, especially Jill's. I felt as though I was listening in on the inner workings of a 10 year old's mind.

I loved the author's turn of phrase. I loved the simplicity of the story. I loved the reality of the characters.

This is one I plan on reading aloud to my kids before the summer is over. I hope they love it as much as I did.

"Minnows bounce nibbles off my legs, but I don't twitch to scare them away. The current goes right over my stomach, not noticing I'm new. I stay still long enough for crawfish to think I'm a rock and scoot under my back. It isn't the tickle of their crawling I like. It's the stillness, the turning into a quite thing, being a solid place in the world." -Page 83

[Virginia B · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a lovely story. Beautifully written, very believable. From the point of view of a 10 year old living with her family on a southern farm in the 40’s. Very funny and sweet.

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Wilmoth Foreman, is one of my new favorite people, another VCFA writer.