The Summer Girl

by K. Hill Brown

It is the summer of 1976, and as the United States celebrates its 200th birthday, Sonia Brooks has nothing to smile about. Her best friend just moved away, her sister is too busy with work and boys to bother, and William Pendergast - the farm kid who reeks of cow manure - simply won't leave her alone. But when arson destroys a crumbling resort in her hometown, Sonia teams up with Ruthie Rosenthal, a spunky Jewish girl from Brooklyn, and together they find themselves caught in a firestorm of old suspicions and new perils.

The Summer Girl tackles the subject of anti-Semitism in a delicate manner. While many similar books concentrate on World War II and the Holocaust, this story offers the reader a different perspective. The Summer Girl demonstrates how discrimination can fester within a community, and yet, with the help of two determined girls, truth is revealed.

192 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 20, 2018

Reviews

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s the summer of 1976 in Crystal Springs (read Sharon Springs) in Upstate New York. There is a divide between the mostly Orthodox Jews who come for the summer to the tiny village and the people who live there all year round. That divide leads to anti- Semitism. Sonia is lonely and befriends Ruthie. Together, they investigate the crumbling old hotels, before they burn, or are crushed by snow.

“If I had to pick one place to live for the rest of my life it would be Woolworth’s. It’s this store where they have absolutely everything—from Barbie’s, to bras, jacks to jumping beans. There’s even a pet section with hamsters, parakeets and all sorts of fish. Mom and I are here because I had a dentist appointment this morning in Riverdale. That’s a town just down the road about half an hour. There’s a movie theater, an A & P, a Pizza Hut, and a bowling alley. But my favorite place is Woolworth’s.” (89) (That’s the Village I live in. It no longer has a Woolworth’s, it has a different grocery chain, the bowling alley closed from mismanagement. The dentists, Pizza Hut and movie theater are all still there, though we’re on a creek, not a river.) I bought this for $12 at Cobbler & Company in Sharon Springs autographed on 11.15.20 and gave it to myself for Hanukkah.

[Stacey B · Rating 3 out of 5]

The theme of this book is antisemitism.
An important and sensitive subject.
I gave it 3* because I understood the path the author was taking, but felt she got a bit lost.
Two young girls meet during a summer and decide to do a project together; one jewish, one non jewish.
The author does make her point, both at the beginning and at the end of the book, though weak.
If this book were in the Y/A category, I would have rated it higher.
If it is, and I missed it, I will change my rating.

[Dwight A. Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is really interesting and relevant in a time when we can't seem to get along with each other and people fall into stereotypes that are taking our humanity in the wrong direction. The writing is really good! Its a fun read!

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This may not be great literature, but it was a very enjoyable story that appeared to be set in my own hometown of Sharon Springs New York. The descriptions of the area, the community pool, some of the hotels, were all too similar to be coincidental. As I got farther into the story it became more obvious that it was the same town as some of the names had only been slightly changed. Perhaps I liked the story so much because it reminded me of my old hometown, but it was an enjoyable story about two 13 year old girls - with no violence or sex or bad language.

[Carol Tucker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grew up in the town that is the inspiration for this book and I worked for several summers in the 1970s in the hotels. The author quite accurately captures the unique experience of that time and place. I think the storyline is sweet and interesting and the book would make a great YA novel. I highly recommend this glimpse into a traditional Jewish community.

[Amy Goodrich · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well-written and poignant book. I was fully engrossed in the characters and plot. It really hits home in comparison to my growing up. The details really took me back! Sweet Honesty, Bazooka, and flash cubes! :-)