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Freefall Summer
Not yet published
Expected 2 Jan 79"Hardship, adventure and adrenaline, as well as romance . . . This classic coming-of-age story begs to be advertised for summer reading." (School Library Journal )
Sixteen-year-old Clancy is no stranger to extreme sports. Her father runs a skydiving dropzone, but after her mother dies in a freak accident, her father grounds her--permanently. Clancy is resigned to being a whuffo and packing parachutes for her dad's latest girlfriend until cute college freshman Denny starts taking classes at the drop zone. Denny assumes Clancy is eighteen, an innocent mistake that gives her a rush--and that she doesn't correct.
But the lies snowball, relationships are damaged, and suddenly Clancy isn't the person she wants to be. She wants to make things right . . . but it seems the more Clancy imagines the life of a skydiver, the more she imagines she can escape her dull reality of life outside the drop zone. Will Clancy make the jump?
Sixteen-year-old Clancy is no stranger to extreme sports. Her father runs a skydiving dropzone, but after her mother dies in a freak accident, her father grounds her--permanently. Clancy is resigned to being a whuffo and packing parachutes for her dad's latest girlfriend until cute college freshman Denny starts taking classes at the drop zone. Denny assumes Clancy is eighteen, an innocent mistake that gives her a rush--and that she doesn't correct.
But the lies snowball, relationships are damaged, and suddenly Clancy isn't the person she wants to be. She wants to make things right . . . but it seems the more Clancy imagines the life of a skydiver, the more she imagines she can escape her dull reality of life outside the drop zone. Will Clancy make the jump?
272 pages, Paperback
First published April 3, 2018
7 people are currently reading
152 people want to read
About the author
Tracy Barrett
40 books142 followersTracy Barrett has written more than twenty books for children and young adults. She’s much too interested in too many things to stick to one genre, and has published nonfiction as well as historical fiction, mysteries, fantasy, time travel, myth and fairy-tale retellings, and contemporary realistic novels. She knows more about ancient Greece and Rome and the European Middle Ages than anyone really needs to know, can read lots of dead languages, and used to jump out of airplanes.
Tracy grew up near New York City, and went to college in New England and graduate school in California. She majored in Classics and earned a Ph.D. in Medieval Italian. She was awarded a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to study medieval women writers and won the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Work-in-Progress Grant in 2005. She taught Italian and other subjects at Vanderbilt University for almost thirty years. She lives in Tennessee with her 6’7” husband, a rescue cat, and two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.
Tracy grew up near New York City, and went to college in New England and graduate school in California. She majored in Classics and earned a Ph.D. in Medieval Italian. She was awarded a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to study medieval women writers and won the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Work-in-Progress Grant in 2005. She taught Italian and other subjects at Vanderbilt University for almost thirty years. She lives in Tennessee with her 6’7” husband, a rescue cat, and two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
May 27, 2018
I liked that this book has been so light and easy to read, sometimes that's just what I need. On the other hand I feel that the story is kind of weak, especially in the romantic aspects
2.5/5 Stars
You can find this one and more of my review on my blog A Book. a Thought.
The book follows Clancy, she's a 17 year old girl who has always been the good girl in her family. Since her mother died in a skydiving accident her father has become overprotective with Clancy and due to all the rules that her father imposes on her and the protection of her boyfriend, Clancy wishes to break the rules and feel free just for the summer. This is how she meets Danny, (skydiving student and university student), and it's here when the lies begin. Clancy makes Danny believe that she's older than she really is, to avoid being treated like a litlle girl. But relationships begin to be damaged and the lies are too big to hold them
I honestly think that Clancy has a very immature attitude in the book, which is funny cause she's trying to show how mature and independent she can be and how she no longer needs to be permanently cared. And I understand the bad situation that the family has been going through and I also understand that because of that there are many feelings involved and maybe sometimes one can make wrong decisions because of this. But at the same time I don't feel that what Clancy does with her lies and behavior has a real justification. I think she just wanted to behave in a rebellious way, doing things that she normally wouldn't do, without reason. I also feel sorry for those people who got hurt without deserving it
When the romance grows based on lies and deceptions it's very difficult for me to feel that I want to continue following the couple, you know?. I think the big mistake of the book is to focus on an unhealthy romantic relationship
It has a good reading rhythm, even though I'm not satisfied with the plot in general I think it's very easy to read so I didn't want to stop highlighting that
Even though the romance was too false and meaningless for me, I liked another aspect of the plot and that is the family dynamics, it's quite good, I think that dialogs and tension moments between father and daughter can happen in real life, and that seemed pretty well developed to me. In addition, although the father's behavior may be too much for some of you, I personally understand his motives, the man lost his wife and now he has to raise his daughter on his own, the sadness is so clear, and I think that at the end of all he's just looking to protect his daughter
Denny is not a bad character, I think his individual life is quite interesting and I think he's the best character in the book, it's a pity that he hasn't developed in a deeper way
The whole Skydiving topic has seemed very interesting to me especially because I'm very interested in the subject and had no previous knowledge about it.
I'm not sure if I would recommend the book, maybe if you're at that stage when you want to read something light and not so important, then it's great! Also if you're in some kind of read-a-thon it can work, it's a very short book, so I think it's perfect for it
April 6, 2018
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Clancy had been tiptoeing through life. She "colored between the lines", because she knew how deeply affected her father was by her mother's death. She could not do anything that would put her life or future in jeopardy. However, in her 16th summer, Clancy was through being treated like she would break. She was through letting other people make decisions for her. She was through having no voice in her own life, and she was ready to start living on her own terms. This was her coming-of-age, and I found Clancy's story to be quite enjoyable.
Who knew I would be saying something like this, but I really enjoyed learning about skydiving. A good chunk of this book takes place at the drop zone. I got to mingle with novice and seasoned skydivers, and I must say, I thought it was so interesting. I also got peeks at entries into Clancy's book, The Whuffo’s Guide to Skydiving. These entries were both informative and entertaining.
I also really appreciated the setting. I am doing a 50 states type reading challenge, and what I am noticing, is that the bulk of the books I have read take place in New York, California, or another coastal state. I was so delighted, that Barrett took me to Missouri. I feel like the middle states never get any love, and I enjoyed seeing some of them getting a little attention.
This father-daughter relationship needed a total makeover. Clancy's dad wasn't just overprotective, he also underestimated his daughter. Although Clancy went about it in the wrong way, she was able to show her father that there was a lot more to her than what he thought. Clancy was also able to open a line of communication between her and her father, that had not seem possible prior to this summer.
There were some wonderful and colorful characters at the drop zone too, many of whom were part of Clancy's defacto family. I loved meeting them all, and liked the support they gave to Clancy.
The book was a fairly quick paced read, with some action, romance and family drama, but my heart was won with the ending. There is nothing I love more than a jump-ahead ending, and Barrett's was so lovely. It gave me a ton of closure and put a huge smile on my face.
Overall: I really enjoyed this story of a girl trying to find her voice and come into her own.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
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Clancy had been tiptoeing through life. She "colored between the lines", because she knew how deeply affected her father was by her mother's death. She could not do anything that would put her life or future in jeopardy. However, in her 16th summer, Clancy was through being treated like she would break. She was through letting other people make decisions for her. She was through having no voice in her own life, and she was ready to start living on her own terms. This was her coming-of-age, and I found Clancy's story to be quite enjoyable.
Who knew I would be saying something like this, but I really enjoyed learning about skydiving. A good chunk of this book takes place at the drop zone. I got to mingle with novice and seasoned skydivers, and I must say, I thought it was so interesting. I also got peeks at entries into Clancy's book, The Whuffo’s Guide to Skydiving. These entries were both informative and entertaining.
I also really appreciated the setting. I am doing a 50 states type reading challenge, and what I am noticing, is that the bulk of the books I have read take place in New York, California, or another coastal state. I was so delighted, that Barrett took me to Missouri. I feel like the middle states never get any love, and I enjoyed seeing some of them getting a little attention.
This father-daughter relationship needed a total makeover. Clancy's dad wasn't just overprotective, he also underestimated his daughter. Although Clancy went about it in the wrong way, she was able to show her father that there was a lot more to her than what he thought. Clancy was also able to open a line of communication between her and her father, that had not seem possible prior to this summer.
There were some wonderful and colorful characters at the drop zone too, many of whom were part of Clancy's defacto family. I loved meeting them all, and liked the support they gave to Clancy.
The book was a fairly quick paced read, with some action, romance and family drama, but my heart was won with the ending. There is nothing I love more than a jump-ahead ending, and Barrett's was so lovely. It gave me a ton of closure and put a huge smile on my face.
What I did know was that from now on I'd be in charge of my own life - the good parts and the bad parts - and if things didn't work out the way I planned, I'd pull my own serve and land on my own two feet.
Overall: I really enjoyed this story of a girl trying to find her voice and come into her own.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
December 5, 2017
1.5 Stars
I think I can best sum up my thoughts as: eh. This was mostly a forgettable book for me, with underwhelming characters and poor relationships on all levels. The only character I really liked was Denny, and I thought he was underdeveloped. But I actively disliked Clancy, the main characters, and ALL the relationships in the story - familial, friendship, romantic - none of them were anything to aspire too. Plus I hate cheating plotlines, so that was a two-fold disappointment. I thought the story had potential - I loved the skydiving elements, and the Guide definitions at the beginning of the chapters, but the characters let me down.
I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I think I can best sum up my thoughts as: eh. This was mostly a forgettable book for me, with underwhelming characters and poor relationships on all levels. The only character I really liked was Denny, and I thought he was underdeveloped. But I actively disliked Clancy, the main characters, and ALL the relationships in the story - familial, friendship, romantic - none of them were anything to aspire too. Plus I hate cheating plotlines, so that was a two-fold disappointment. I thought the story had potential - I loved the skydiving elements, and the Guide definitions at the beginning of the chapters, but the characters let me down.
I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 3, 2024
4.5!
This book was really good! It was sadder than I expected when I picked it up off the library shelf 2 weeks ago, but overall, it was a very good story! I really enjoyed the romance in this! And i learned a lot about sky diving! And now I know for a matter of fact I will never go sky diving! EVER!
haha!
This book also had a great summer vibe.
That's all. ✌️
This book was really good! It was sadder than I expected when I picked it up off the library shelf 2 weeks ago, but overall, it was a very good story! I really enjoyed the romance in this! And i learned a lot about sky diving! And now I know for a matter of fact I will never go sky diving! EVER!
haha!
This book also had a great summer vibe.
That's all. ✌️
December 2, 2017
**Provided through NetGalley for free as part of Wish For It in exchange for my honest review**
If you like paternalistic and creepy boyfriends and fathers, you might enjoy FREEFALL SUMMER more than I did. I could understand why Clancy’s widowed father would be overprotective after his wife and her mother died skydiving. He elevated helicopter dad to a bad art form. He constantly projected his own needs and issues onto Clancy, in an enmeshed, not menacing, manner. If writer Tracy Barrett had addressed the unhealthy dynamic better, I might have bought into it.
Boyfriend Theo, more than Clancy’s father, gave me an uncomfortable vibe. I felt like I was reading about a relationship from the 1950s. I also didn’t like friend Julia laughing off her boyfriend’s racist comments, which was worse that not calling him in the comments.
I did like Denny, perhaps my favorite character
The secret about Clancy’s mother fell flat and made me dislike her father even more.
Barrett’s writing wasn’t awful and the premise of the story was a good one. I wish she had done a better job creating better characters. I can’t think of a reason anyone should read FREEFALL SUMMER.
If you like paternalistic and creepy boyfriends and fathers, you might enjoy FREEFALL SUMMER more than I did. I could understand why Clancy’s widowed father would be overprotective after his wife and her mother died skydiving. He elevated helicopter dad to a bad art form. He constantly projected his own needs and issues onto Clancy, in an enmeshed, not menacing, manner. If writer Tracy Barrett had addressed the unhealthy dynamic better, I might have bought into it.
Boyfriend Theo, more than Clancy’s father, gave me an uncomfortable vibe. I felt like I was reading about a relationship from the 1950s. I also didn’t like friend Julia laughing off her boyfriend’s racist comments, which was worse that not calling him in the comments.
I did like Denny, perhaps my favorite character
The secret about Clancy’s mother fell flat and made me dislike her father even more.
Barrett’s writing wasn’t awful and the premise of the story was a good one. I wish she had done a better job creating better characters. I can’t think of a reason anyone should read FREEFALL SUMMER.
December 7, 2018
Freefall Summer talks about the need for freedom and the lies that accompany it. Clancy lost her mother at a skydiving accident and since then her father and later her boyfriend have cared for her and looked after her like a baby who should always be kept in sight. But Clancy has an adventure bone that never stops itching.
Clancy is immature, and it only gets worse everytime she tries to prove that she doesn’t need to be spoon fed. She is also a rebel and takes risks for the heck of it.
The plot is okayish and certainly lags behind at places such as exploiting the romantic side of characters. The Romance is pretty normal too and mostly goes from good to bad and finally worse. Clancy just wants a way to do what she wants and would happily lie and betray people on her way.
The skydiving and its details were pretty new to me and I learned quite a bit there. The writing is average, with no major character developments or twists.
Freefall Summer is an easy going, relaxing read and I would consider it as a book to be read while taking a break or when craving for a lighter and carefree read.
Clancy is immature, and it only gets worse everytime she tries to prove that she doesn’t need to be spoon fed. She is also a rebel and takes risks for the heck of it.
The plot is okayish and certainly lags behind at places such as exploiting the romantic side of characters. The Romance is pretty normal too and mostly goes from good to bad and finally worse. Clancy just wants a way to do what she wants and would happily lie and betray people on her way.
The skydiving and its details were pretty new to me and I learned quite a bit there. The writing is average, with no major character developments or twists.
Freefall Summer is an easy going, relaxing read and I would consider it as a book to be read while taking a break or when craving for a lighter and carefree read.
June 15, 2018
This was a pretty amazing book!!
We are all struggling with different things like the main character in the book, but we all have to learn when to speak up and when to break boundaries. I went into this book thinking it was gonna be a suuuper slow paced book but it kept up quite well :) 4 Stars!
We are all struggling with different things like the main character in the book, but we all have to learn when to speak up and when to break boundaries. I went into this book thinking it was gonna be a suuuper slow paced book but it kept up quite well :) 4 Stars!
December 16, 2019
This was kinda dull but, for the most part, very average. I enjoyed it as I was reading it but nothing stands out for me so I can't really give it anymore than 2.5/3 stars.
April 18, 2018
*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review by Netgalley*
Freefall Summer is pure coming of age YA. The thing is that the main character is supposedly portrayed as a mature person, when let's face it, the first half of the book she was all whiny. Thankfully, the book gets more interesting as it progresses.
The thing that attracted me at first was the skydiving plot, so I was delighted when I saw that it delivered. It seriously made me want to try it at least once.
Freefall Summer is pure coming of age YA. The thing is that the main character is supposedly portrayed as a mature person, when let's face it, the first half of the book she was all whiny. Thankfully, the book gets more interesting as it progresses.
The thing that attracted me at first was the skydiving plot, so I was delighted when I saw that it delivered. It seriously made me want to try it at least once.
May 30, 2018
FREEFALL SUMMER by Tracy Barrett addresses that tenuous time in a parent and child relationship when the adult needs to allow their child freedom to make their own choices and the child needs to understand the responsibility that this entails.
This story follows 16-year-old Clancy Edwards, whose mother died in a skydiving accident when she was young. As a result of the death, Clancy’s devoted father is very over protective and has wrapped her safely in a cocoon; she has not experienced the bumps and thrills that can accompany life. But at 16, Clancy longs to do something more: she wants to attend school far away from her small town, she wants to experience new adventures and she specifically wants the opportunity to jump out of a plane.
With her father’s permission, Clancy works at the family skydiving drop zone over the summer where she meets Denny, an 18-year-old skydiving student. Denny does not see Clancy as the fragile and breakable being that her over protective father and boyfriend, Theo do, but someone who is able to withstand life’s challenges. Denny assumes Clancy is also 18, which Clancy does not correct, meaning that she is of an age where she can skydive without parent approval. He encourages her to give it a try and she is tempted to follow through with it to be able to connect with her mother’s spirit in the place that she loved most. However, ultimately the lies that ensue threaten to compromise Clancy’s belief in herself and make her question her character.
A prolific writer of over 20 books, Barrett is best known for her historical young adult novel, ANNA OF BYZANTIUM and THE SHERLOCK FILES, but this book is a bit more personal to her. A former skydiver herself, she wanted to incorporate her interest into the book and found that the struggles of teens making their way into the world mirrored that of being a jumper. Barrett effectively creates a parallel between Clancy’s desire to jump into life head first with her need to experience a jump out of a plane to feel a connection with her mother and escape the pain of the past. Barrett also employs captivating details within the novel about the skydiving, including beginning each chapter starts with a quote from “The Whuffo’s Guide to Skydiving.” The passages pulled from The Guide, which was directed to novice skydivers known as Whuffos, provides a creative hint about what is to come in Clancy’s journey in the specific chapter.
Ultimately, I found the novel engaging and was excited to accompany Clancy on her journey as she navigates her way into the world, trying to make her own decisions and beginning to live her life on her own terms. Barrett has developed complex characters during the course of the book, and tackled the difficult topic of death, yet has conveyed in a way that makes it a fun summer read. I highly recommend this novel for people toss this into their beach bag for a quick and fun read!
Reviewed by Ryan H., Teen Board Member
This story follows 16-year-old Clancy Edwards, whose mother died in a skydiving accident when she was young. As a result of the death, Clancy’s devoted father is very over protective and has wrapped her safely in a cocoon; she has not experienced the bumps and thrills that can accompany life. But at 16, Clancy longs to do something more: she wants to attend school far away from her small town, she wants to experience new adventures and she specifically wants the opportunity to jump out of a plane.
With her father’s permission, Clancy works at the family skydiving drop zone over the summer where she meets Denny, an 18-year-old skydiving student. Denny does not see Clancy as the fragile and breakable being that her over protective father and boyfriend, Theo do, but someone who is able to withstand life’s challenges. Denny assumes Clancy is also 18, which Clancy does not correct, meaning that she is of an age where she can skydive without parent approval. He encourages her to give it a try and she is tempted to follow through with it to be able to connect with her mother’s spirit in the place that she loved most. However, ultimately the lies that ensue threaten to compromise Clancy’s belief in herself and make her question her character.
A prolific writer of over 20 books, Barrett is best known for her historical young adult novel, ANNA OF BYZANTIUM and THE SHERLOCK FILES, but this book is a bit more personal to her. A former skydiver herself, she wanted to incorporate her interest into the book and found that the struggles of teens making their way into the world mirrored that of being a jumper. Barrett effectively creates a parallel between Clancy’s desire to jump into life head first with her need to experience a jump out of a plane to feel a connection with her mother and escape the pain of the past. Barrett also employs captivating details within the novel about the skydiving, including beginning each chapter starts with a quote from “The Whuffo’s Guide to Skydiving.” The passages pulled from The Guide, which was directed to novice skydivers known as Whuffos, provides a creative hint about what is to come in Clancy’s journey in the specific chapter.
Ultimately, I found the novel engaging and was excited to accompany Clancy on her journey as she navigates her way into the world, trying to make her own decisions and beginning to live her life on her own terms. Barrett has developed complex characters during the course of the book, and tackled the difficult topic of death, yet has conveyed in a way that makes it a fun summer read. I highly recommend this novel for people toss this into their beach bag for a quick and fun read!
Reviewed by Ryan H., Teen Board Member
December 2, 2017
1.5
When I saw the cover and blurb of Freefall Summer, I thought it was going to be a story like Heather Demetrios’s Bad Romance, in which I mean I thought it would be a gritty observation on the effect an unhealthy relationship can have on a teen. I was wrong. I could tell by the time I was about five chapters that this was not a book about abusive YA relationships, and next I believed that this novel would romanticize relationships between a high-schooler and an adult (and yes – even though Denny is only eighteen, he is an adult) but I was wrong again (kind of). Thankfully. What Freefall Summer actually is is exactly what you would think from only looking at the cover: a YA romance that might not be super deep, and might be cliché, but is really easy to read. One difference between Freefall Summer and other YA romance’s is the inclusion of some questionably amoral content.
The characters and plot in Freefall Summer were taken right out of some classic YA contemporary cookie-cutter tropes: cute, innocent, blonde female has a dad who is nice but kind of controlling, and she also has a boyfriend who is nice but kind of controlling (and who bores her); aforementioned cute, innocent, blonde female meets a new boy, they deny their feelings for each other, she tries to decide if she should break up with her nice but kind of controlling boo, drama ensues. I’ve read it before and I’m sure I’ll read it again. One thing better in Freefall Summer was the addition of some fun subplots and facts about sky-diving. I now really want to go sky-diving. I thought it was kind of weird how obsessed Clancy’s dad was about sky-diving, but we all have our quirks.
But, unfortunately, not only was the plot cliché, but it was also realllllllly slow. It was easy-reading, so it was fine for me, but I didn’t feel that the plot really got going until I was about 60 percent in. So much about the blurb and the first few chapters promises that Clancy’s lies would bring her life crashing down but they really….. didn’t???? I mean, some stuff did happen because of her choices, but there really wasn’t any giant emotional scarring going on for anyone involved. It was disappointingly dull in the drama department. I was sitting there waiting for everything to get started and then, before I knew it, the book was over.
If you’ve read the blurb, you know that Clancy falls in love with this guy who is a freshman in college, and leads him to believe that she, too, is eighteen. This is literally the main plot of the novel, and yet their relationship was completely underdeveloped and lacking in chemistry. In literally any other book, a relationship between an eighteen year-old and a high schooler is either romanticized (hate this) or challenged consistently throughout the novel (good, it should be), and Freefall Summer kind of falls into the first category, but, honestly, Clancy and Denny’s relationship was so bland and undeveloped that there wasn’t really any content to romanticize off of. The one passage that I did highlight pertaining to their relationship is this:
Yeah. Weird. Not okay. And yes, Clancy was an idiot for lying, but, more importantly, Denny was an idiot for not putting the pieces together because there were some pretty obvious clues being dropped that Clancy was underage. When it comes down to it, the age discrepancy was really not challenged enough, even for such a weakly written romance.
My main problem with this book, though, is the demonizing/flatness of Theo and, more importantly, the acceptance of cheating. Theo was by no means a perfect boyfriend, but I felt as though his main purpose in the novel was to show that Clancy needed someone “mature” who “treated her like an adult” as a boyfriend, which brings us back to the inevitable problematic romanticizing of a statutory relationship. Which in itself is not okay, but Freefall Summer took this to a whole other level, and what really pissed me off is the way this book portrays cheating. Clancy is literally emotionally cheating on Theo with Denny for a good 60/70 percent of the novel, but when it is revealed that , Clancy, and the book, uses this as a way to excuse Clancy’s emotional cheating, and implies that emotional cheating is an okay thing to do.
She even kind of admits that she’s emotionally cheating on Theo, with this passage: ”Also, I figured if I took [Denny] To Manuelito’s, no one who saw us would be suspicious, because if I was cheating, I wouldn’t be so public about it.” Uhhhhh. No. While reading, I just figured that Clancy would go through character development and realize that she was completely projecting her own cheating onto Theo and that she’d realize emotional cheating, even if you are planning on breaking up with your significant other, is wrong, but she never does. The book never challenges Clancy’s own cheating, rather, it does the opposite in Clancy’s projecting onto Theo, when she sees a picture of Theo with another girl and automatically assumes he’s cheating on her.
Like, girl, seriously. You just spent three chapters thinking about Denny and talking to your BFF about Denny and now you’re getting pissed over your boyfriend’s picture with another girl? Like???
There was also a kind of disturbing conversation between Clancy and her best friend Julia where Julia tries to convince Clancy to “play games” with Theo.
That whole conversation just made me really uncomfortable?? Idk. It’s just totally wrong to put forward the idea that telling your significant other things for the purpose of making them jealous or territorial is an okay and healthy thing to do in a relationship.
All in all, Freefall Summer is a a kind of typical YA romance read, but, at the same time, it’s slightly more problematic than most. I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone, really. It puts forth some not-so-good themes about statutory relationships and cheating.
I was provided an eARC by NetGalley in exchange for a complete and honest review.
When I saw the cover and blurb of Freefall Summer, I thought it was going to be a story like Heather Demetrios’s Bad Romance, in which I mean I thought it would be a gritty observation on the effect an unhealthy relationship can have on a teen. I was wrong. I could tell by the time I was about five chapters that this was not a book about abusive YA relationships, and next I believed that this novel would romanticize relationships between a high-schooler and an adult (and yes – even though Denny is only eighteen, he is an adult) but I was wrong again (kind of). Thankfully. What Freefall Summer actually is is exactly what you would think from only looking at the cover: a YA romance that might not be super deep, and might be cliché, but is really easy to read. One difference between Freefall Summer and other YA romance’s is the inclusion of some questionably amoral content.
The characters and plot in Freefall Summer were taken right out of some classic YA contemporary cookie-cutter tropes: cute, innocent, blonde female has a dad who is nice but kind of controlling, and she also has a boyfriend who is nice but kind of controlling (and who bores her); aforementioned cute, innocent, blonde female meets a new boy, they deny their feelings for each other, she tries to decide if she should break up with her nice but kind of controlling boo, drama ensues. I’ve read it before and I’m sure I’ll read it again. One thing better in Freefall Summer was the addition of some fun subplots and facts about sky-diving. I now really want to go sky-diving. I thought it was kind of weird how obsessed Clancy’s dad was about sky-diving, but we all have our quirks.
But, unfortunately, not only was the plot cliché, but it was also realllllllly slow. It was easy-reading, so it was fine for me, but I didn’t feel that the plot really got going until I was about 60 percent in. So much about the blurb and the first few chapters promises that Clancy’s lies would bring her life crashing down but they really….. didn’t???? I mean, some stuff did happen because of her choices, but there really wasn’t any giant emotional scarring going on for anyone involved. It was disappointingly dull in the drama department. I was sitting there waiting for everything to get started and then, before I knew it, the book was over.
If you’ve read the blurb, you know that Clancy falls in love with this guy who is a freshman in college, and leads him to believe that she, too, is eighteen. This is literally the main plot of the novel, and yet their relationship was completely underdeveloped and lacking in chemistry. In literally any other book, a relationship between an eighteen year-old and a high schooler is either romanticized (hate this) or challenged consistently throughout the novel (good, it should be), and Freefall Summer kind of falls into the first category, but, honestly, Clancy and Denny’s relationship was so bland and undeveloped that there wasn’t really any content to romanticize off of. The one passage that I did highlight pertaining to their relationship is this:
”Do I wish now, knowing everything that happened next, that I’d told him I was in high school and only sixteen? Everything would have been different. Most people would say that everything would have been better.
And maybe it would. But even so, if I had it all to do over again, I know I’d let him go on thinking I was a college student and eighteen years old.”
Yeah. Weird. Not okay. And yes, Clancy was an idiot for lying, but, more importantly, Denny was an idiot for not putting the pieces together because there were some pretty obvious clues being dropped that Clancy was underage. When it comes down to it, the age discrepancy was really not challenged enough, even for such a weakly written romance.
My main problem with this book, though, is the demonizing/flatness of Theo and, more importantly, the acceptance of cheating. Theo was by no means a perfect boyfriend, but I felt as though his main purpose in the novel was to show that Clancy needed someone “mature” who “treated her like an adult” as a boyfriend, which brings us back to the inevitable problematic romanticizing of a statutory relationship. Which in itself is not okay, but Freefall Summer took this to a whole other level, and what really pissed me off is the way this book portrays cheating. Clancy is literally emotionally cheating on Theo with Denny for a good 60/70 percent of the novel, but when it is revealed that , Clancy, and the book, uses this as a way to excuse Clancy’s emotional cheating, and implies that emotional cheating is an okay thing to do.
She even kind of admits that she’s emotionally cheating on Theo, with this passage: ”Also, I figured if I took [Denny] To Manuelito’s, no one who saw us would be suspicious, because if I was cheating, I wouldn’t be so public about it.” Uhhhhh. No. While reading, I just figured that Clancy would go through character development and realize that she was completely projecting her own cheating onto Theo and that she’d realize emotional cheating, even if you are planning on breaking up with your significant other, is wrong, but she never does. The book never challenges Clancy’s own cheating, rather, it does the opposite in Clancy’s projecting onto Theo, when she sees a picture of Theo with another girl and automatically assumes he’s cheating on her.
”Even though Cynthia’s jump had been awesome, it wasn’t enough to distract me from the picture of Theo. Why was he hugging that girl? Okay, maybe they were celebrating a hard climb or something, but th way she was leaning into him and he was squeezing her looked too cozy somehow.”
Like, girl, seriously. You just spent three chapters thinking about Denny and talking to your BFF about Denny and now you’re getting pissed over your boyfriend’s picture with another girl? Like???
There was also a kind of disturbing conversation between Clancy and her best friend Julia where Julia tries to convince Clancy to “play games” with Theo.
”It might be really good for your relationship with Theo if you dropped some hints about Denny. [sic] Even if you’re telling the truth, there’s no harm in making Theo think there is something going on.”
“I don’t see why, and besides, it’s childish to play games.”
“Oh, but playing games is fun! Why do you think they call it playing? Everyone does it anyway, and besides, it works.”
That whole conversation just made me really uncomfortable?? Idk. It’s just totally wrong to put forward the idea that telling your significant other things for the purpose of making them jealous or territorial is an okay and healthy thing to do in a relationship.
All in all, Freefall Summer is a a kind of typical YA romance read, but, at the same time, it’s slightly more problematic than most. I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone, really. It puts forth some not-so-good themes about statutory relationships and cheating.
I was provided an eARC by NetGalley in exchange for a complete and honest review.
August 23, 2018
First of all, thank you to Netgalley for a free copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.
"Freefall Summer" is the light, refreshing, entertaining page turned that I needed! The narrator of the story, Clancy, is a 16 year old girl who is being parented by a single dad who owns a drop zone (a skydiving facility). Clancy grew up in the drop zone and now spends her summer packing up parachutes for students and instructors to use. Her mother tragically died 10 years earlier in a skydiving accident right on the property that the majority of the story takes place on.
Clancy's character is smart and plays it safe - a perfectionist in every sense of the word, and she really seems to have a lot of things going for her in her life. Her dad loves her like crazy, she has a boyfriend who seems to be pretty crazy for her, and she gets paid a decent wage packing rigs at the drop zone. Clancy is tired of playing it safe though, and that's what Freefall Summer is all about - it's a coming of age book that allows us to see Clancy grow, mature, and take risks that she wouldn't normally take.
The development of her and her fathers relationship is a little rocky - he is a single dad that really doesn't know how to talk to his daughter. He hasn't had a serious relationship with a woman since Clancy's mother, so Clancy hasn't had a strong female in her home during these pivotal years of her life. There are women at the drop zone that love her and care for her, but she still is very clearly struggling without the presence of her mother.
The other main character in the book, Denny, seems witty, charming, and fun for her to hang out with, but she makes the mistake early on of lying about who she is and her age. Throughout the book, her feelings grow for Denny and she comes determined to prove that she can be independent and think for herself.
What I loved the most about the plot of this book is that the decision that Clancy makes to ultimately prove to herself that she is in control is brought on by herself - nobody tells her on encourages her to do it. It takes one last time of someone making a decision for her for her to put her foot down and decide to be her own person.
This book was fun, flirty, and an easy read. I very much enjoyed it and look forward to seeing more from Tracy Barrett in the future. 4/5 stars.
"Freefall Summer" is the light, refreshing, entertaining page turned that I needed! The narrator of the story, Clancy, is a 16 year old girl who is being parented by a single dad who owns a drop zone (a skydiving facility). Clancy grew up in the drop zone and now spends her summer packing up parachutes for students and instructors to use. Her mother tragically died 10 years earlier in a skydiving accident right on the property that the majority of the story takes place on.
Clancy's character is smart and plays it safe - a perfectionist in every sense of the word, and she really seems to have a lot of things going for her in her life. Her dad loves her like crazy, she has a boyfriend who seems to be pretty crazy for her, and she gets paid a decent wage packing rigs at the drop zone. Clancy is tired of playing it safe though, and that's what Freefall Summer is all about - it's a coming of age book that allows us to see Clancy grow, mature, and take risks that she wouldn't normally take.
The development of her and her fathers relationship is a little rocky - he is a single dad that really doesn't know how to talk to his daughter. He hasn't had a serious relationship with a woman since Clancy's mother, so Clancy hasn't had a strong female in her home during these pivotal years of her life. There are women at the drop zone that love her and care for her, but she still is very clearly struggling without the presence of her mother.
The other main character in the book, Denny, seems witty, charming, and fun for her to hang out with, but she makes the mistake early on of lying about who she is and her age. Throughout the book, her feelings grow for Denny and she comes determined to prove that she can be independent and think for herself.
What I loved the most about the plot of this book is that the decision that Clancy makes to ultimately prove to herself that she is in control is brought on by herself - nobody tells her on encourages her to do it. It takes one last time of someone making a decision for her for her to put her foot down and decide to be her own person.
This book was fun, flirty, and an easy read. I very much enjoyed it and look forward to seeing more from Tracy Barrett in the future. 4/5 stars.
December 5, 2017
I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Sixteen year old Clancy Edwards isn't your average whuffo (that is, a non-skydiver). In fact, she'd love to join her father, and everyone she's worked alongside since she was a baby, and leap from the plane with only an open parachute to bring her gently to the ground. At least, she thinks she would. There's also the fact that her mom died doing just that... so maybe she's not meant to be a skydiver. Maybe she's meant to keep both feet on the ground.
Still, she'd at least like the chance to make up her mind for herself. But with her overprotective father and her overprotective boyfriend Theo treating her like she's made of glass (and years younger than she actually is), it looks like she'll never get to make that choice. And it's all starting to get on her nerves.
So when skydiving student Denny shows up and assumes she's also 18, she doesn't correct him. He doesn't treat her like she's going to break. He thinks she can do whatever she puts her mind to... and that causes friction with her and Theo.
When Denny suggests maybe another location--you know, one not run by her overprotective father--might be the place to make her first jump, the lies start to catch up with her. But so does her own need to feel her mother in the place she loved the best--the sky. Being underage is just a little hiccup in the plan, right?
Besides. There's no way they'll treat her like a child after she proves to them she can make a solo jump from 3 miles up.
This book really grated at me. I loved Clancy, and I even understood where her dad was coming from. Losing someone the way he did, it makes total sense he'd be overprotective. But I. Hated. Theo. Like, so much. And I hated how much her dad liked him, because he was "so polite". Yeah, but he was also kind of a dick.
I wasn't even all that much a fan of Denny. I mean, I liked him...
But Clancy and the sky. That's where the real story here is. And I enjoyed it way more than I thought I would. No spoilers, but it's well worth reading!
Sixteen year old Clancy Edwards isn't your average whuffo (that is, a non-skydiver). In fact, she'd love to join her father, and everyone she's worked alongside since she was a baby, and leap from the plane with only an open parachute to bring her gently to the ground. At least, she thinks she would. There's also the fact that her mom died doing just that... so maybe she's not meant to be a skydiver. Maybe she's meant to keep both feet on the ground.
Still, she'd at least like the chance to make up her mind for herself. But with her overprotective father and her overprotective boyfriend Theo treating her like she's made of glass (and years younger than she actually is), it looks like she'll never get to make that choice. And it's all starting to get on her nerves.
So when skydiving student Denny shows up and assumes she's also 18, she doesn't correct him. He doesn't treat her like she's going to break. He thinks she can do whatever she puts her mind to... and that causes friction with her and Theo.
When Denny suggests maybe another location--you know, one not run by her overprotective father--might be the place to make her first jump, the lies start to catch up with her. But so does her own need to feel her mother in the place she loved the best--the sky. Being underage is just a little hiccup in the plan, right?
Besides. There's no way they'll treat her like a child after she proves to them she can make a solo jump from 3 miles up.
This book really grated at me. I loved Clancy, and I even understood where her dad was coming from. Losing someone the way he did, it makes total sense he'd be overprotective. But I. Hated. Theo. Like, so much. And I hated how much her dad liked him, because he was "so polite". Yeah, but he was also kind of a dick.
I wasn't even all that much a fan of Denny. I mean, I liked him...
But Clancy and the sky. That's where the real story here is. And I enjoyed it way more than I thought I would. No spoilers, but it's well worth reading!
September 6, 2018
To begin, I received a copy of this book for an honest review. What follows is my opinion and mine alone. There was no compensation aside from the enjoyment of reading the story.
I'm not usually a big coming-of-age reader and I personally don't care for heights, but there was something about the blurb or the cover that pulled me to try this book. I'm glad it did.
Carys Clancy is a teenager who lives with an overprotective father, a careful presence, and the constant reminder of her mother's death. The constant reminder is that of the DZ, Drop Zone. No, she doesn't seem haunted by her mother's death in the sense that she feels guilty, but there is a lingering presence of her mother in the story.
As the blurb states, Clancy meets a young man, Denny, and makes some decisions that may or may not have been the best, but definitely help her grow as a person.
To keep myself from spoiling you, I should say that I definitely relate to Clancy. I'm not the child of overprotective parents (at least, I don't think I am. Maybe I am. I don't know), however, I am cautious. Always have been. I like everything so, no surprises, and with just enough control that the world seems right.
But that doesn't mean that I starve for excitement.
It is the same way for Clancy. She starves for an opinion, excitement, and to break out of her shell in some way. This book is not only about her trying to find herself, but also trying to prove to herself and her father that she isn't a china doll.
Her character is so relatable that I don't think any adult has ever lived without these insecurities or desires. She's also intelligent and snarky. I found her to be an inspirational character.
To top it off, Barrett's writing style is smooth. You can see the world and the characters and aren't forced into a cookie cutter narrative. I actually wanted to be there. From the very beginning, I was pulled in.
I don't think I would be skydiving as my one act of self, but I do see how it could be freeing. This is definitely a good read.
Final Rating: 4/5
I'm not usually a big coming-of-age reader and I personally don't care for heights, but there was something about the blurb or the cover that pulled me to try this book. I'm glad it did.
Carys Clancy is a teenager who lives with an overprotective father, a careful presence, and the constant reminder of her mother's death. The constant reminder is that of the DZ, Drop Zone. No, she doesn't seem haunted by her mother's death in the sense that she feels guilty, but there is a lingering presence of her mother in the story.
As the blurb states, Clancy meets a young man, Denny, and makes some decisions that may or may not have been the best, but definitely help her grow as a person.
To keep myself from spoiling you, I should say that I definitely relate to Clancy. I'm not the child of overprotective parents (at least, I don't think I am. Maybe I am. I don't know), however, I am cautious. Always have been. I like everything so, no surprises, and with just enough control that the world seems right.
But that doesn't mean that I starve for excitement.
It is the same way for Clancy. She starves for an opinion, excitement, and to break out of her shell in some way. This book is not only about her trying to find herself, but also trying to prove to herself and her father that she isn't a china doll.
Her character is so relatable that I don't think any adult has ever lived without these insecurities or desires. She's also intelligent and snarky. I found her to be an inspirational character.
To top it off, Barrett's writing style is smooth. You can see the world and the characters and aren't forced into a cookie cutter narrative. I actually wanted to be there. From the very beginning, I was pulled in.
I don't think I would be skydiving as my one act of self, but I do see how it could be freeing. This is definitely a good read.
Final Rating: 4/5
August 26, 2018
Book Review- Free Fall Summer by Tracy Barrett
Clancy works with her dad at the DZ. They run the Drop Zone for the sky diving business her dad owns. She packs rigs as her job during the summer and on weekends. Her mother died in a diving accident when Clancy was six and her dad is extremely overprotective. I felt sorry for Clancy as her father made her sound like an airhead that couldn’t make a decision on her own. He and her boyfriend, Theo, treated her like she was made of glass. You could feel her frustration rising from the pages. She didn’t want to worry her dad, but she was a ticking timebomb. It was only going to be a matter of time.
Then Denny enters the picture. He is in college and there for an internship. He decides to jump tandem. That’s how they meet. He is nice and grabs her attention, but Clancy dismisses him as never seeing him again once his jump is over. However, he decides to take the classes and jump solo. So, Clancy sees him more often and gets to know him. He is easy to talk to and he reveals some of his own life. He isn’t trying to protect her from anything and it is refreshing. They hang out more when Theo leaves for a job in Idaho. I was glad to see that honestly. She needed a break from him even though she refused to admit it. She also needed to get real with her dad, but it wasn’t going to happen anytime soon.
She and Denny grow closer, but she hasn’t revealed how old she really is and when Theo comes home as a surprise, secrets are revealed. Clancy is beside herself and she is done. The explosion is big and powerful as she tries to prove to everyone that she is capable of taking care of herself.
She is an awesome character, very complex and layered. How she dealt with things was realistic and she could easily be a real person. It was a great read. I give it a 4 out of 5.
Clancy works with her dad at the DZ. They run the Drop Zone for the sky diving business her dad owns. She packs rigs as her job during the summer and on weekends. Her mother died in a diving accident when Clancy was six and her dad is extremely overprotective. I felt sorry for Clancy as her father made her sound like an airhead that couldn’t make a decision on her own. He and her boyfriend, Theo, treated her like she was made of glass. You could feel her frustration rising from the pages. She didn’t want to worry her dad, but she was a ticking timebomb. It was only going to be a matter of time.
Then Denny enters the picture. He is in college and there for an internship. He decides to jump tandem. That’s how they meet. He is nice and grabs her attention, but Clancy dismisses him as never seeing him again once his jump is over. However, he decides to take the classes and jump solo. So, Clancy sees him more often and gets to know him. He is easy to talk to and he reveals some of his own life. He isn’t trying to protect her from anything and it is refreshing. They hang out more when Theo leaves for a job in Idaho. I was glad to see that honestly. She needed a break from him even though she refused to admit it. She also needed to get real with her dad, but it wasn’t going to happen anytime soon.
She and Denny grow closer, but she hasn’t revealed how old she really is and when Theo comes home as a surprise, secrets are revealed. Clancy is beside herself and she is done. The explosion is big and powerful as she tries to prove to everyone that she is capable of taking care of herself.
She is an awesome character, very complex and layered. How she dealt with things was realistic and she could easily be a real person. It was a great read. I give it a 4 out of 5.
August 30, 2018
Noteworthy experiences while reading this book: If you wanted to learn about Skydiving in story form this is the book you should be reading! I found this a very exciting and interesting premise.
Do I Recommend this book? If you don't want to learn about skydiving this one may not be for you. A lot of the book talks about it.
Notes and Opinions: This was an interwoven story about skydiving and this one is set in Missouri which was a nice change of pace. I really enjoyed that Clancy's dad was actually in the picture, so many of these young adult books have absent parents that you wonder (me being a mom and an adult) why children services haven't busted down their doors. So even though Clancy's dad was WAY overprotective it was still a nice change of pace.
This was a very quick read with very nice pacing. I think the author did a wonderful job with all of the terminologies with the skydiving as well as with each of the characters. I loved meeting all of the people in the group as well as Clancy. Although with Clancy wanting freedom from her dad I think she went about it in a horrible way. Especially if things would have gone horribly wrong.
This story is one on the lighter side of things and I think would be a great read since school is just now starting for a lot of kids. This is one that you could speed through or take your time with.
This book also had a great story for those who are getting ready to graduate that you are in charge of your life. Your almost an adult and well your parents won't be there forever to tell you what to do. You need to start thinking on your own and take charge and owning up to your mistakes and learning to deal with bad and good choices no matter how they end up.
Go Into This One Knowing: Growing Up, Over Protective Parents, Skydiving
Do I Recommend this book? If you don't want to learn about skydiving this one may not be for you. A lot of the book talks about it.
Notes and Opinions: This was an interwoven story about skydiving and this one is set in Missouri which was a nice change of pace. I really enjoyed that Clancy's dad was actually in the picture, so many of these young adult books have absent parents that you wonder (me being a mom and an adult) why children services haven't busted down their doors. So even though Clancy's dad was WAY overprotective it was still a nice change of pace.
This was a very quick read with very nice pacing. I think the author did a wonderful job with all of the terminologies with the skydiving as well as with each of the characters. I loved meeting all of the people in the group as well as Clancy. Although with Clancy wanting freedom from her dad I think she went about it in a horrible way. Especially if things would have gone horribly wrong.
This story is one on the lighter side of things and I think would be a great read since school is just now starting for a lot of kids. This is one that you could speed through or take your time with.
This book also had a great story for those who are getting ready to graduate that you are in charge of your life. Your almost an adult and well your parents won't be there forever to tell you what to do. You need to start thinking on your own and take charge and owning up to your mistakes and learning to deal with bad and good choices no matter how they end up.
Go Into This One Knowing: Growing Up, Over Protective Parents, Skydiving
May 5, 2018
I got an arc copy of this book on a read-to-review basis via NetGalley.
Clancy is 16 and spends all her weekends of the summer with her dad at the Drop Zone he runs, but she’s only ever allowed to pack the parachutes and sometimes go on observer rides of the planes. Her father barely allows her to be driven around by her best friend, so skydiving is out of the question. With an overprotective father, and an equally overprotective boyfriend, Clancy is set for a very safe summer. Except she’s tired of being treated like she’s made of glass just because her mom died in an accident when she was six.
Freefall Summer was in the romance category of both NetGalley and Goodreads, but really, I feel like it’s a novel about finding yourself and becoming independent. Sure, Clancy finds her independence from her boyfriend as well as her father in part by finding a new boyfriend, but I felt like it was only a vector of her growing up.
Another thing I really liked was that there are a lot of details about the world of skydiving, from the different planes used to specific terminology. I kind of want to read her Whuffo’s Guide to Skydiving for myself. Though some of the details of actual skydiving made me very tense.
My only criticism is that I didn’t really feel like Clancy got to really tell her dad all that she was feeling. It was implied at the end of the book, but I think I would have enjoyed a more detailed scene. Other than that, the book was pretty good, and even kept me up so I could finish it.
You can also find this review on my blog
Clancy is 16 and spends all her weekends of the summer with her dad at the Drop Zone he runs, but she’s only ever allowed to pack the parachutes and sometimes go on observer rides of the planes. Her father barely allows her to be driven around by her best friend, so skydiving is out of the question. With an overprotective father, and an equally overprotective boyfriend, Clancy is set for a very safe summer. Except she’s tired of being treated like she’s made of glass just because her mom died in an accident when she was six.
Freefall Summer was in the romance category of both NetGalley and Goodreads, but really, I feel like it’s a novel about finding yourself and becoming independent. Sure, Clancy finds her independence from her boyfriend as well as her father in part by finding a new boyfriend, but I felt like it was only a vector of her growing up.
Another thing I really liked was that there are a lot of details about the world of skydiving, from the different planes used to specific terminology. I kind of want to read her Whuffo’s Guide to Skydiving for myself. Though some of the details of actual skydiving made me very tense.
My only criticism is that I didn’t really feel like Clancy got to really tell her dad all that she was feeling. It was implied at the end of the book, but I think I would have enjoyed a more detailed scene. Other than that, the book was pretty good, and even kept me up so I could finish it.
You can also find this review on my blog
July 20, 2018
Disclaimer: I received this book for free from KidLitExchange and Charlesbridge Teen. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Rating: 3/5
Genre: YA Contemporary Romance
Recommended Age: 14+ (romance, small graphic death at the beginning, slightly illegal romance)
Pages: 272
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Sixteen-year-old Clancy Edwards has always been "the good girl." Ever since her mother died in a skydiving accident when Clancy was young, Clancy's father has watched her like a hawk. Between her dad's rules and her boyfriend's protectiveness, she's longing for an escape this summer. Then she meets Denny.
Denny is a new skydiving student and college freshman. Clancy lets Denny think they're the same age--and that she's old enough to make decisions for herself. But the lies snowball, relationships are damaged, and suddenly Clancy isn't the person she wants to be. If only making choices were as simple as taking a leap out of a plane. Before Clancy can make things right, one last act of rebellion threatens her chance to do so--maybe forever.
I am absolutely afraid of heights so the concept of this book already intrigued me. I thought at the heart of the book it was pretty good. You’re introduced to a world that not written about a lot and the setting is in Missouri. I thought the pacing was also well done and the writing was as well.
However, the story didn’t grip me. The characters fell flat for me and I felt that they could have been great.
Verdict: Decent story with skydiving!
Rating: 3/5
Genre: YA Contemporary Romance
Recommended Age: 14+ (romance, small graphic death at the beginning, slightly illegal romance)
Pages: 272
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Sixteen-year-old Clancy Edwards has always been "the good girl." Ever since her mother died in a skydiving accident when Clancy was young, Clancy's father has watched her like a hawk. Between her dad's rules and her boyfriend's protectiveness, she's longing for an escape this summer. Then she meets Denny.
Denny is a new skydiving student and college freshman. Clancy lets Denny think they're the same age--and that she's old enough to make decisions for herself. But the lies snowball, relationships are damaged, and suddenly Clancy isn't the person she wants to be. If only making choices were as simple as taking a leap out of a plane. Before Clancy can make things right, one last act of rebellion threatens her chance to do so--maybe forever.
I am absolutely afraid of heights so the concept of this book already intrigued me. I thought at the heart of the book it was pretty good. You’re introduced to a world that not written about a lot and the setting is in Missouri. I thought the pacing was also well done and the writing was as well.
However, the story didn’t grip me. The characters fell flat for me and I felt that they could have been great.
Verdict: Decent story with skydiving!
December 15, 2018
This book is more complicated than it seems. On a surface level it's about an over-protected sixteen-year-old girl who is ready to break out of her confines. She steams about it all summer long until she finally acts up. What happens is a bit predictable, but I think there's more to this book than a simple plot summary. Clancy's father is an expert skydiver, and he runs a sky-diving venue on the weekends. His wife died tragically from a failed skydive, and because of that, he refuses to allow Clancy to do it. Instead, he makes her work at the drop zone packing rigs for other skydivers. It's a cruel punishment that he doesn't seem to know he's doing. Clancy finds herself an equally over-protective boyfriend who winds up hurting their relationship because he doesn't like his role. The only man that comes along who encourages her, is a college student, to whom she lies about her age so he'll continue to hang around her. In the end, this novel does what all good YA contemporary novels should do: encourage young people to find their true inner strength. By the end of this novel, Clancy is clearer and stronger and ready to fly. I was very impressed. (On a side note, I surely would love to read a novel geared toward grownups from her dad's POV. His psychology is pretty messed up. The fact that he continues skydiving after his wife's accident, teaches others to do it, won't date a woman unless she approves and/or tries it herself, AND still won't let his daughter do it? Yeah, he's got some real issues.)
April 17, 2018
Freefall Summer by Tracy Barrett
@kidlitexchange #partner All opinions in this review are my own.
A realistic teen fiction book with a flare for drama. Barrett’s writing flows easily as she weaves through the life of angsty teenager, Clancy, as she learns to navigate through her whirlwind life jumping-literally head first- into anything hat will make her feel alive. Personally, the metaphor felt a little heavy but I’m a visual person.
The idea of Clancy free-falling to escape pain, the past, and to feel, seems poetic to me as a reader. A knowing way to cope when everything else feels out of control.
Her mother died from a freak skydiving accident, her father pushes his agenda on those around him to fit into his lifestyle, and her boyfriend, Theo, watches over her like a hawk.
At first, I enjoyed the overall focus on skydiving. A topic interesting, refreshing, and unfamiliar. Barrett creates an original tale using the world of skydiving in a Missouri town. Stepping away from typical cliche realistic fiction settings which was a breath of fresh air.
At times, the central characters felt flat, predictable, and hard to root for even though Barrett works to build relatable scenarios using parent/child and girlfriend/boyfriend conflicts. Clancy wants a life of her own as she struggles for independence. A seemingly relatable focus for young teens which is a plus.
Overall, I found the book refreshing yet lacking substance among its characters.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
@kidlitexchange #partner All opinions in this review are my own.
A realistic teen fiction book with a flare for drama. Barrett’s writing flows easily as she weaves through the life of angsty teenager, Clancy, as she learns to navigate through her whirlwind life jumping-literally head first- into anything hat will make her feel alive. Personally, the metaphor felt a little heavy but I’m a visual person.
The idea of Clancy free-falling to escape pain, the past, and to feel, seems poetic to me as a reader. A knowing way to cope when everything else feels out of control.
Her mother died from a freak skydiving accident, her father pushes his agenda on those around him to fit into his lifestyle, and her boyfriend, Theo, watches over her like a hawk.
At first, I enjoyed the overall focus on skydiving. A topic interesting, refreshing, and unfamiliar. Barrett creates an original tale using the world of skydiving in a Missouri town. Stepping away from typical cliche realistic fiction settings which was a breath of fresh air.
At times, the central characters felt flat, predictable, and hard to root for even though Barrett works to build relatable scenarios using parent/child and girlfriend/boyfriend conflicts. Clancy wants a life of her own as she struggles for independence. A seemingly relatable focus for young teens which is a plus.
Overall, I found the book refreshing yet lacking substance among its characters.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
April 22, 2018
I liked the cover of Freefall Summer and I will admit that it was the sole reason I requested it from NetGalley. Later, I looked at it on Goodreads and saw that it had below three stars and I panicked a little. Another book that may be hard work to get through. I have to say though that I have no idea why it is rated low on Goodreads because I thought it was great.
It is the story of Clancy who has made it her life goal not to let her dad worry. Her mother passed away when she was six and since then here dad has tightened the reins on Clancy; rather than push against them she has allowed him to wrap her in cotton wool. Things start to come to a head when she starts to have bigger dreams than just living a humdrum life in her little town. She wants adventure, she wants to study in a university far away. More than anything she wants to discuss this with her dad but she still feels like she can’t.
Freefall Summer is a great coming-of-age story about learning to be grown up with your parents and crossing that invisible line of child to adult. It has wonderful family dynamics and a great storyline of breaking the mould that someone has set for you.
Freefall Summer by Tracy Barrett is available now.
For more information regarding Tracy Barrett (@writingtracy) please visit www.tracybarrett.com.
For more information regarding Charlesbridge Teen (@CharlesbridgeYA) please visit www.charlesbridgeteen.com.
It is the story of Clancy who has made it her life goal not to let her dad worry. Her mother passed away when she was six and since then here dad has tightened the reins on Clancy; rather than push against them she has allowed him to wrap her in cotton wool. Things start to come to a head when she starts to have bigger dreams than just living a humdrum life in her little town. She wants adventure, she wants to study in a university far away. More than anything she wants to discuss this with her dad but she still feels like she can’t.
Freefall Summer is a great coming-of-age story about learning to be grown up with your parents and crossing that invisible line of child to adult. It has wonderful family dynamics and a great storyline of breaking the mould that someone has set for you.
Freefall Summer by Tracy Barrett is available now.
For more information regarding Tracy Barrett (@writingtracy) please visit www.tracybarrett.com.
For more information regarding Charlesbridge Teen (@CharlesbridgeYA) please visit www.charlesbridgeteen.com.
May 16, 2018
A Five Star Review of FREEFALL SUMMER, by Tracy Barrett
After reading FREEFALL SUMMER from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, I went online and bought the hardcopy. That’s a first for me in the few years that I’ve been reading-for-reviews, and perhaps the most honest indication I can give that I loved and admired this book.
I really liked Clancy. She’s a high school junior that works hard at school, gets great grades and has clear college plans that she’s working toward both academically and financially. Clancy spends her weekends and summers working hard at the DZ – her dad’s skydiving school - to earn enough money to go away to college. But despite being obviously clever and capable she’s been pigeonholed by both her caring, if wildly overprotective dad and her boyfriend as a girl who needs protecting. And it’s driving her crazy. FREEFALL SUMMER is the story of how Clancy claims her voice.
I love reading fiction that also contains authentic facts whether it’s history, science, art, sport… FREEFALL SUMMER has that in spades. I found the details about skydiving, from the equipment to the people who jump, were fantastic (even though I learned that my one static-line jump while in college was kind of cliché).
This was so tightly written that while I was reading the climax scene a friend turned to me and asked if I was all right. Apparently I was so wound up in the scene that I was moaning.
After reading FREEFALL SUMMER from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, I went online and bought the hardcopy. That’s a first for me in the few years that I’ve been reading-for-reviews, and perhaps the most honest indication I can give that I loved and admired this book.
I really liked Clancy. She’s a high school junior that works hard at school, gets great grades and has clear college plans that she’s working toward both academically and financially. Clancy spends her weekends and summers working hard at the DZ – her dad’s skydiving school - to earn enough money to go away to college. But despite being obviously clever and capable she’s been pigeonholed by both her caring, if wildly overprotective dad and her boyfriend as a girl who needs protecting. And it’s driving her crazy. FREEFALL SUMMER is the story of how Clancy claims her voice.
I love reading fiction that also contains authentic facts whether it’s history, science, art, sport… FREEFALL SUMMER has that in spades. I found the details about skydiving, from the equipment to the people who jump, were fantastic (even though I learned that my one static-line jump while in college was kind of cliché).
This was so tightly written that while I was reading the climax scene a friend turned to me and asked if I was all right. Apparently I was so wound up in the scene that I was moaning.
December 6, 2020
Charlesbridge Teen and NetGalley provided me with an Advanced Reader's Copy of Freefall Summer. The choice to review this book was my own.
Sixteen-year-old Clancy Edwards has been under the shadow of her mother's death since she was a young child. Raised by her single father, Clancy spends her free time helping out at the family skydiving school. Always looking upwards, but forbidden to jump because of her mother died from a skydiving accident, Clancy comes to certain realizations about her life when a new student comes to the school. Will Clancy make choices that are will ultimately affect her life?
Freefall Summer is full of teenage angst and touches upon certain issues that are relatable to the target teenage audience. The overprotectiveness of Clancy's father is a little overdone, as well as some of the situations that the characters face, but this is nothing new in YA novels. I find it hard to believe that Clancy, with all of the research she has done regarding her mother's death, she did not search a little closer to home to find out the truth. Overall, Freefall Summer is a quick read and one that teenagers may find relatable on some level.
Sixteen-year-old Clancy Edwards has been under the shadow of her mother's death since she was a young child. Raised by her single father, Clancy spends her free time helping out at the family skydiving school. Always looking upwards, but forbidden to jump because of her mother died from a skydiving accident, Clancy comes to certain realizations about her life when a new student comes to the school. Will Clancy make choices that are will ultimately affect her life?
Freefall Summer is full of teenage angst and touches upon certain issues that are relatable to the target teenage audience. The overprotectiveness of Clancy's father is a little overdone, as well as some of the situations that the characters face, but this is nothing new in YA novels. I find it hard to believe that Clancy, with all of the research she has done regarding her mother's death, she did not search a little closer to home to find out the truth. Overall, Freefall Summer is a quick read and one that teenagers may find relatable on some level.
November 18, 2017
What I liked best about the book was the Whuffo’s Guide to Skydiving! Freefall Summer is fine for a YA read if readers are prompted to think about what is wrong with the relationships.
Clancy seems so outspoken in her mind. Why not try talking (not yelling or screaming) at her Dad and her boyfriend? Young women need to know that They need to speak up for what they want and do not want.
See what happens when we don’t disclose? It is tough to tell a friend you no longer want the same relationship you once had, but it needs to be done. Life lesson! Also I want to tell all young people to ask the age of the person you are involved with early in the relationship!
I didn’t like the “surprise” news about Clancy’s Mom and felt it really didn’t fit well with the storyline.
Many YA readers will enjoy the story and will not see the characters as models to follow.
I received an arc from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
Clancy seems so outspoken in her mind. Why not try talking (not yelling or screaming) at her Dad and her boyfriend? Young women need to know that They need to speak up for what they want and do not want.
See what happens when we don’t disclose? It is tough to tell a friend you no longer want the same relationship you once had, but it needs to be done. Life lesson! Also I want to tell all young people to ask the age of the person you are involved with early in the relationship!
I didn’t like the “surprise” news about Clancy’s Mom and felt it really didn’t fit well with the storyline.
Many YA readers will enjoy the story and will not see the characters as models to follow.
I received an arc from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 6, 2018
I had just read a book that I couldn’t finish because it wasn’t holding my attention so I was really hoping this would keep me interested and I’m pleased to say it certainly did that - I couldn’t stop reading!
Clancy was a character who I liked straight away, she seemed so tied down that I was willing her to break free and do what felt right for her. I was gripped by the events happening before me and filled with a variety of emotions as Clancy navigated her way through a tumultuous time.
Skydiving has never been something that appealed to me and, while I still have no desire to jump out of a plane, I found this side of the storyline fascinating. Finding out more about what goes on behind the scenes of a drop zone was surprisingly addictive!
This was a quick read for me that ticked all the boxes and left me wanting to know what’s next for the characters.
Clancy was a character who I liked straight away, she seemed so tied down that I was willing her to break free and do what felt right for her. I was gripped by the events happening before me and filled with a variety of emotions as Clancy navigated her way through a tumultuous time.
Skydiving has never been something that appealed to me and, while I still have no desire to jump out of a plane, I found this side of the storyline fascinating. Finding out more about what goes on behind the scenes of a drop zone was surprisingly addictive!
This was a quick read for me that ticked all the boxes and left me wanting to know what’s next for the characters.
November 25, 2017
The best part of this book is the Whuffo's Guide to Skydiving and how it helped give me an insight to a sport I didn't have any knowledge of. The skydiving aspect of a whole from the descriptions of days at the DZ, the staff, and the jumps really gave this book something different from other YA novels. I see this book to be less of a romance and more of a drama/coming of age story despite how it is marketed as a romance. The chemistry between Denny and Clancy as well as Clancy and Theo both fall flat. The romance aspect between both couples of the novel is cliche. However, I did enjoy the transformation of Clancy and how she finds her voice as the summer progresses.
My copy was provided by NetGalley for an honest review.
My copy was provided by NetGalley for an honest review.
August 30, 2019
Freefall Summer by Tracy Barrett
Knowing how hard Clancy's father took her mother's death, she always played it safe. Starting her senior year soon, 16 year old Clancy decides she is tired of tiptoeing through life. She wants to break free from the rules her father imposes and from the protection of her boyfriend. Then she meets an older guy, Denny.
Freefall Summer was an easy summer read. A little romance, a little skydiving, and some family drama. Although I liked the idea of the book, I think it could have been better. The underdeveloped characters and relationships left the book lacking. I found the book to be forgettable.
Knowing how hard Clancy's father took her mother's death, she always played it safe. Starting her senior year soon, 16 year old Clancy decides she is tired of tiptoeing through life. She wants to break free from the rules her father imposes and from the protection of her boyfriend. Then she meets an older guy, Denny.
Freefall Summer was an easy summer read. A little romance, a little skydiving, and some family drama. Although I liked the idea of the book, I think it could have been better. The underdeveloped characters and relationships left the book lacking. I found the book to be forgettable.
September 3, 2019
Freefall Summer by Tracy Barrett
Knowing how hard Clancy's father took her mother's death, she always played it safe. Starting her senior year soon, 16 year old Clancy decides she is tired of tiptoeing through life. She wants to break free from the rules her father imposes and from the protection of her boyfriend. Then she meets an older guy, Denny.
Freefall Summer was an easy summer read. A little romance, a little skydiving, and some family drama. Although I liked the idea of the book, I think it could have been better. The underdeveloped characters and relationships left the book lacking. I found the book to be forgettable.
Knowing how hard Clancy's father took her mother's death, she always played it safe. Starting her senior year soon, 16 year old Clancy decides she is tired of tiptoeing through life. She wants to break free from the rules her father imposes and from the protection of her boyfriend. Then she meets an older guy, Denny.
Freefall Summer was an easy summer read. A little romance, a little skydiving, and some family drama. Although I liked the idea of the book, I think it could have been better. The underdeveloped characters and relationships left the book lacking. I found the book to be forgettable.
March 30, 2018
I was drawn to this book initially because of the skydiving factor (something everyone should try at some point,) but I found myself intrigued by the story and the characters. As the protagonist maneuvers life after losing her mother, all the while figuring out how to deal with the protectiveness of those that love her and a confusing new relationship, her reactions establish her as a realistic character.
The parallels to the tale of Icarus are present, but not distracting. Overall a great read!
The parallels to the tale of Icarus are present, but not distracting. Overall a great read!
July 19, 2018
Thank you #kidlitexchange for sharing a review copy of this book.
Freefall Summer is a middle grade book that follows Clancy’s summer of escape! She has been dealing with her overprotective father for too long and wants to break free! She makes some drastic decisions with her sky diving life that could end her life altogether! ✨This book includes romance, deals with grief and sickness, and is relatable for teens/parent relationships. I actually learned a lot about sky diving by reading this book. (No -I am not trying it!)
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Freefall Summer is a middle grade book that follows Clancy’s summer of escape! She has been dealing with her overprotective father for too long and wants to break free! She makes some drastic decisions with her sky diving life that could end her life altogether! ✨This book includes romance, deals with grief and sickness, and is relatable for teens/parent relationships. I actually learned a lot about sky diving by reading this book. (No -I am not trying it!)
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