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Summerlings
A Cold War coming-of-age story in which three best friends confront their fears of the Bomb, Russian spies, bullies, and their role in the tragic event that ushers them into adulthood.
It's the summer of 1959. For the families who live on Connors Lane in Washington DC, life is still defined by what one did during WWII. Behind each door lives a possible spy or Nazi sympathizer, the family of a foreign diplomat, or someone who escaped the conflagration in Europe just in time.
But it is also the summer of an inexplicable spider infestation--surely evidence of "insect warfare" by the Russians, thinks our young narrator John, and his best friends, Ivan and Max. When a rare, scorpion-like vinegaroon is discovered and sequestered for museum study, the boys, along with their tomboy accomplice, Beatriz, hatch a risky midnight plan to steal the poisonous creature for their own devious purposes.
At the same time, under the tutelage of Ivan's glamorous aunt Elena, they plan to forge a spirit of bonhomie in the neighborhood by throwing a party in John's grandparents' backyard. Fueled by punch the boys doctor with a jug of Brazilian rum, the adults let down their defenses until Elena, already a lightning rod for her Ukrainian birth, swinging social life, and outspokenness on behalf of refugees, roars off with a stranger on his motorcycle. What happens next will change John's life forever.
It's the summer of 1959. For the families who live on Connors Lane in Washington DC, life is still defined by what one did during WWII. Behind each door lives a possible spy or Nazi sympathizer, the family of a foreign diplomat, or someone who escaped the conflagration in Europe just in time.
But it is also the summer of an inexplicable spider infestation--surely evidence of "insect warfare" by the Russians, thinks our young narrator John, and his best friends, Ivan and Max. When a rare, scorpion-like vinegaroon is discovered and sequestered for museum study, the boys, along with their tomboy accomplice, Beatriz, hatch a risky midnight plan to steal the poisonous creature for their own devious purposes.
At the same time, under the tutelage of Ivan's glamorous aunt Elena, they plan to forge a spirit of bonhomie in the neighborhood by throwing a party in John's grandparents' backyard. Fueled by punch the boys doctor with a jug of Brazilian rum, the adults let down their defenses until Elena, already a lightning rod for her Ukrainian birth, swinging social life, and outspokenness on behalf of refugees, roars off with a stranger on his motorcycle. What happens next will change John's life forever.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published August 6, 2019
39 people are currently reading
2696 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Howorth
6 books64 followersLISA HOWORTH was born in Washington, D.C., where her family has lived for four generations. She is a former librarian and the author of the novel Flying Shoes. She has written on art, travel, dogs, and music for the Oxford American and Garden & Gun, among other publications. Howorth lives in Oxford, Mississippi, where she and her husband, Richard, founded Square Books in 1979.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
August 30, 2019
Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
I wanted to read Summerlings for the cover as soon as I saw it via my local indie book store’s weekly email. Period. I did sneak a peek at what I was getting into before my turn came around at the library and thought a story about a group of kids that takes place in Cold War era D.C. during the dog days of summer would probably be right up my alley. I started reading and could hear Richard Dreyfus’ voice in my head narrating to me a la Stand by Me. Unfortunately, it lost me almost immediately.
The premise revolves around the kids attempting to plan a block party for their “Whitman’s Sampler” type of neighborhood in order to bring everyone together (and hopefully earn them an invite to the De Haans’ pool). They also hope they’ll finally get revenge on the local bully. Oh, and there’s a spider infestation happening. The kids are supposed to be between 8 and 10 years old - and sometimes it seems they are, like when it comes to their snappy comebacks . . . . .
But then they do things like wait until 11:00 to sneak out at night and break into a museum and . . . . .
Not to mention the glaring reality that despite there being a lot of various plotlines going on per the description above, there just wasn’t much to this story. And the dialogue??? At times the only way I could describe it would be . . . . .
So mad props to whoever designed this cover. It’s sure to sell some copies. As for the content? Aside from the very very very end of the story, I would probably market it as Young Adult and roll the dice that kids might want to read about life in the late ‘50s.
If you do read/do like this one or are looking for a trip on the wayback machine via a young narrator, I highly recommend picking up some Gary D. Schmidt. He’s pretty remarkable.
I wanted to read Summerlings for the cover as soon as I saw it via my local indie book store’s weekly email. Period. I did sneak a peek at what I was getting into before my turn came around at the library and thought a story about a group of kids that takes place in Cold War era D.C. during the dog days of summer would probably be right up my alley. I started reading and could hear Richard Dreyfus’ voice in my head narrating to me a la Stand by Me. Unfortunately, it lost me almost immediately.
The premise revolves around the kids attempting to plan a block party for their “Whitman’s Sampler” type of neighborhood in order to bring everyone together (and hopefully earn them an invite to the De Haans’ pool). They also hope they’ll finally get revenge on the local bully. Oh, and there’s a spider infestation happening. The kids are supposed to be between 8 and 10 years old - and sometimes it seems they are, like when it comes to their snappy comebacks . . . . .
But then they do things like wait until 11:00 to sneak out at night and break into a museum and . . . . .
Not to mention the glaring reality that despite there being a lot of various plotlines going on per the description above, there just wasn’t much to this story. And the dialogue??? At times the only way I could describe it would be . . . . .
So mad props to whoever designed this cover. It’s sure to sell some copies. As for the content? Aside from the very very very end of the story, I would probably market it as Young Adult and roll the dice that kids might want to read about life in the late ‘50s.
If you do read/do like this one or are looking for a trip on the wayback machine via a young narrator, I highly recommend picking up some Gary D. Schmidt. He’s pretty remarkable.
August 28, 2019
Another absolute gem by a great writer.
July 6, 2019
This was a cute story and a quick one to read. Very cute for a summer read. It's about one neighbourhood in Washington during a sweltering summer in 1959 and is told by our 10 year old John (8 years old? Maybe it's some of his friends that are 10 - it's around that age anyway) his little gang of neighbourhood friends. We hear John's perspective of his post-war neighbourhood made up of many that have fled Europe and Mexico, etc. We are given a detailed breakdown of each of the neighbours including the Dutch family and a Jewish family - Max being one of his best friends -and how Max is not allowed to play with the Dutch boys their age because his being Jewish, there was their beloved neighbour Elena that was helping refugees, neighbours that could have been Nazi sympathizers, etc. Each of these people were described through the eyes of John. Running throughout is the Cold War sentimentality and one giant spider invasion.
Overall, a cute coming of age story told through the eyes of a young boy.
Overall, a cute coming of age story told through the eyes of a young boy.
June 18, 2019
via my blog: https://bookstalkerblog.wordpress.com/
'We existed in a smaller world of our own daunting challenges, peopled with gods and monsters. Sometimes they were the same.'
It is the summer of 1959 and there is a plague of spiders on the streets of Washington DC, an exciting occurrence for John and his friends. Living with his grandparents he is part of a family of oddball Washington natives on his mother’s side, of course he knows nothing of his father’s family since his parents divorced when he was five. His grandfather John, but called Brickie, swears his daddy is allergic to work, lazy. It is true his father was spoiled, but his mother needed so much attention. Both good looking and wild, their marriage ended and John’s mother contracted tuberculosis, so they say, and for two years now that’s where she is still at the sanatorium, St. Elizabeth’s. Children of divorce an anomaly in the 1950’s could make for a lonely life, his sister Liz is away at camp, but John has his buddies Ivan, Max and girl pal Beatriz.
This was a period of time after World War II when your neighbors all knew each other and anyone foreign was suspect. The Russians were still enemies to the American way of thinking and any strange occurrence could well be a part of their schemes. Even grandpa Brickie thinks the Russians are behind the spiders! Spending their lazy days of summer concocting a plan to catch poisonous bugs to defend themselves against their bully, nemesis Slutcheon -leads the children into a far bigger story, one that may make them criminals.
Then there is the beautiful Elena, Ivan’s aunt, whose presence does strange things to John. Enlisting the beauty to help them hatch the “Beaver Plan”, a neighborhood party, something to help everyone be nicer to each other is perfect, when she has the time and isn’t busy going out with different men. “Air-conditioning and privacy were luxuries few people had in those days”, everyone knows Elena’s business, there are no secrets in these sort of neighborhoods, not for a party girl who hangs out with ‘Commies’ and comes home far too late in the night. There could be Russian spies everywhere, and even a school mate with a gorgeous aunt could be one. She spends too much time helping refugees, and then there is the mysterious Cuban on the motorbike.
The children play war with cherry bombs, drive the adults crazy in each other’s yards, bicycle through the streets, swim in a play pool until it gets dirty wondering if it could give them polio, that dreaded disease instilling fear in the hearts of children of the 50’s and flirt on the edge of adulthood. The boys don’t fully understand the fights between Elena and Josef, why her ‘refugee friends’ embarrass him so nor Ivan’s rage at his father. Nor does John comprehend why his mother is suing his own father. The adults world is one of confusion, conflicting information like the war, and spies… everyone spies, everyone! Heck, on their own street they all spy on each other and suspect them! Why is it wrong for one country but not another, and why do all the adults always say ‘you’ll understand when you’re older’ about all the complicated questions? And will Dimma (his grandmother) really give him an enema? A dreaded enema? Just what role is a vinegaroon going to have in this story? In fact, what IS a vinegaroon anyway?
A heist the children plan, special tropical punch, a party where everyone drops their guard and a tragic turn of events come morning changes everything causing an abrupt end to the summer and their innocence. The world keeps turning, people move on but memories remain. A story of innocence before the dawning of adulthood. By far the cutest book cover!
Publication Date: August 6, 2019
Doubleday Books
'We existed in a smaller world of our own daunting challenges, peopled with gods and monsters. Sometimes they were the same.'
It is the summer of 1959 and there is a plague of spiders on the streets of Washington DC, an exciting occurrence for John and his friends. Living with his grandparents he is part of a family of oddball Washington natives on his mother’s side, of course he knows nothing of his father’s family since his parents divorced when he was five. His grandfather John, but called Brickie, swears his daddy is allergic to work, lazy. It is true his father was spoiled, but his mother needed so much attention. Both good looking and wild, their marriage ended and John’s mother contracted tuberculosis, so they say, and for two years now that’s where she is still at the sanatorium, St. Elizabeth’s. Children of divorce an anomaly in the 1950’s could make for a lonely life, his sister Liz is away at camp, but John has his buddies Ivan, Max and girl pal Beatriz.
This was a period of time after World War II when your neighbors all knew each other and anyone foreign was suspect. The Russians were still enemies to the American way of thinking and any strange occurrence could well be a part of their schemes. Even grandpa Brickie thinks the Russians are behind the spiders! Spending their lazy days of summer concocting a plan to catch poisonous bugs to defend themselves against their bully, nemesis Slutcheon -leads the children into a far bigger story, one that may make them criminals.
Then there is the beautiful Elena, Ivan’s aunt, whose presence does strange things to John. Enlisting the beauty to help them hatch the “Beaver Plan”, a neighborhood party, something to help everyone be nicer to each other is perfect, when she has the time and isn’t busy going out with different men. “Air-conditioning and privacy were luxuries few people had in those days”, everyone knows Elena’s business, there are no secrets in these sort of neighborhoods, not for a party girl who hangs out with ‘Commies’ and comes home far too late in the night. There could be Russian spies everywhere, and even a school mate with a gorgeous aunt could be one. She spends too much time helping refugees, and then there is the mysterious Cuban on the motorbike.
The children play war with cherry bombs, drive the adults crazy in each other’s yards, bicycle through the streets, swim in a play pool until it gets dirty wondering if it could give them polio, that dreaded disease instilling fear in the hearts of children of the 50’s and flirt on the edge of adulthood. The boys don’t fully understand the fights between Elena and Josef, why her ‘refugee friends’ embarrass him so nor Ivan’s rage at his father. Nor does John comprehend why his mother is suing his own father. The adults world is one of confusion, conflicting information like the war, and spies… everyone spies, everyone! Heck, on their own street they all spy on each other and suspect them! Why is it wrong for one country but not another, and why do all the adults always say ‘you’ll understand when you’re older’ about all the complicated questions? And will Dimma (his grandmother) really give him an enema? A dreaded enema? Just what role is a vinegaroon going to have in this story? In fact, what IS a vinegaroon anyway?
A heist the children plan, special tropical punch, a party where everyone drops their guard and a tragic turn of events come morning changes everything causing an abrupt end to the summer and their innocence. The world keeps turning, people move on but memories remain. A story of innocence before the dawning of adulthood. By far the cutest book cover!
Publication Date: August 6, 2019
Doubleday Books
November 8, 2019
Heartwarming story of 4-10-year-olds (3 boys and 1 tomboy) during the summer of 1959. John, the narrator, lives with his grandparents in an ethnically diverse neighborhood. There seems to be a spider infestation that results in thoughts that the infestation might be don by the Russians AND a project for the kids to collect spiders. The latter grows into a scheme that will leave an emotional mark on all the kids.
I was this age at this time and re-lived some of my thoughts from those days. Ah, nostalgia!
A pleasant read.
I was this age at this time and re-lived some of my thoughts from those days. Ah, nostalgia!
A pleasant read.
August 14, 2019
This book reads like directions on how to pedal a bike. Details that are page consuming but add zero to the overall experience.
September 16, 2019
This was okay but there were some odd things in the story - for example: the spiders. I don't know if that event really happened in Washington (or ever) and wasn't inclined to look it up but what was unbelievable about it was that it was all different kinds of spiders -not just one type. I could not get past my disbelief on that one. There were other things that I felt were dropped in the story There was some hint of something going on between Ivan and Joseph (his father) but it was never fleshed out. This story took place during the height of the Cold War and I can't believe that after the authorities found out about Elena's activities that Joseph would receive another posting - guilt by association. And, the authorities somehow knew that a girl stole the scorpion- how did the know that?
I did like the tone and feeling of the story - it really did evoke summers as a kid. I really liked the relationship of the boys and how they accepted Beatriz into their adventures. I liked the heist and I liked their plans of the neighborhood party.
One final thought though. Do scorpion bites present the same as spider bites? Does the toxin look the same in an autopsy? I get why everyone thought spider bites - and you don't test for what you don't know but in my reading Elena died because of the scorpion bite. While she was not the intended victim it was still murder and even if it was indeed a spider bite - Ivan tried to kill his father. It bothered me that that point was not addressed.
I did like the tone and feeling of the story - it really did evoke summers as a kid. I really liked the relationship of the boys and how they accepted Beatriz into their adventures. I liked the heist and I liked their plans of the neighborhood party.
One final thought though. Do scorpion bites present the same as spider bites? Does the toxin look the same in an autopsy? I get why everyone thought spider bites - and you don't test for what you don't know but in my reading Elena died because of the scorpion bite. While she was not the intended victim it was still murder and even if it was indeed a spider bite - Ivan tried to kill his father. It bothered me that that point was not addressed.
August 31, 2019
A fantastic book. Loved this coming of age story set in Cold War era Washington DC. Well written and a such a pleasure to read. Brought back wonderful memories of bug collecting, bike riding, schemings, etc... of being a child in a simpler time.
May 15, 2020
Awful character development. Great cover. I can think of worse things I’ve read. It did force me to look up what a Pirate Vinegroon is!
April 24, 2021
An engaging story with a unique plot. This quick read provided a welcome reprieve the the grind of my grown-up world.
September 15, 2019
Love this book! It's LEAVE IT TO BEAVER on steroids. A lot of interesting lessons on the way. SUMMERLINGS would make a really good movie.
July 5, 2019
Lisa Howorth's "Summerlings" is a nostalgic summer read told from the perspective of an 8 year old boy growing up in the suburbs of DC in 1959. It was a quick read, and held my attention though it wasn't my favorite. John, Max and Ivan are charming 8-year-old boys who love joking about bodily fluids, scheming in their neighborhood, and ultimately plan a Family Fiesta to make peace with their different neighbors. Eventually, their summer comes to an end with somewhat of a tragedy but it was fun to read along and picture myself having a carefree summer in 1959 DC!
September 8, 2019
This was an enjoyable read and highly recommended. It is almost a prequel to a coming of age story where much of the interesting bits are how much information kids absorb and how they internalize things. Fans of films such as a Christmas Story or Ollie Hopnoodle's Haven of Bliss would enjoy this book. It has the tender-hearted earnestness of the works of Alexander Mcall-Smith without being saccharine or flimsy.
September 9, 2019
Serious and funny all at the same time - great book
August 12, 2019
Three kids in the late 1950's experience a summer of spiders. The three kids grow up in a very diverse neighborhood with lots of interesting characters. They concoct a plan to get back at a neighbor bully by capturing a poisonous spider. The book was very short and while I did find it entertaining, I felt that there were just too many characters, many of which were not developed enough. The book was just a bit too light for me as well.
August 18, 2019
I was a child in Washington during the time covered in this book and it brought back so many memories. This is a bittersweet novel but so evocative of time and place - not just D.C. but of summer childhood, at least for those of us of a certain age.
August 23, 2019
Coming of Age Story
This captures explicit details of an era when Eisenhower was President and Russia was leading in the space race all during the height of the Cold War. Through the eyes and mind of John, an inquisitive adolescent, and his closest friends, their individual limitations and fears are revealed. They embark on several escapades mainly at night by sneaking out and meeting up to fulfill their daily curiosities. Waking one morning to a strange Arachnoid phenomenon, they soon add this new obsession to their task list for these lazy days of Summer.As
Inter-personal relationships between close friends and surrounding multi-cultural families all add to this endearing story. Ultimately, they bring people together in their neighborhood who wouldn't normally mix with a Fiesta party. Ugly truths are revealed during the planning phase pushing these youngsters to face the inevitable growing pains of life.
This captures explicit details of an era when Eisenhower was President and Russia was leading in the space race all during the height of the Cold War. Through the eyes and mind of John, an inquisitive adolescent, and his closest friends, their individual limitations and fears are revealed. They embark on several escapades mainly at night by sneaking out and meeting up to fulfill their daily curiosities. Waking one morning to a strange Arachnoid phenomenon, they soon add this new obsession to their task list for these lazy days of Summer.As
Inter-personal relationships between close friends and surrounding multi-cultural families all add to this endearing story. Ultimately, they bring people together in their neighborhood who wouldn't normally mix with a Fiesta party. Ugly truths are revealed during the planning phase pushing these youngsters to face the inevitable growing pains of life.
September 10, 2019
Full review at: http://www.everydayiwritethebookblog....
Summerlings by Lisa Howorth is a short novel about a pack of 10 (11?) year-old boys living just outside Washington, DC in the 1950s. John, the narrator, is best friends with two other boys, Max and Ivan, on his block. Together, they explore the neighborhood on their bikes and conjecture about their neighbors, a mix of expats, diplomats, feds and potential spies. Some are friendly, some are not, and the boys spend their long summer days trying to figure out more about the adults around them. They are particularly intrigued by Elena, Ivan’s glamorous, mysterious Ukranian aunt, who is kind to them, prompting them all to fall in love with her. Meanwhile, John’s mother is off “recovering” in a nearby sanitarium (depression?) and his father has moved out, leaving him and his distant older sister under the care of their grandparents.
Summerlings takes place about 3 blocks from my house, so I loved the DC references sprinkled liberally throughout the book. Howorth even mentioned my street at one point. That was fun. Generally, though, I had a hard time getting into this book. Not much happens, there is tons of detail, and the plot is pretty superficial. Summerlings takes place during the Cold War and people are therefore suspicious of each other, and adults drink a lot and don’t tell their kids much of what is going on. That’s about it. There is one subplot involving the kids’ plot to steal a rare, dangerous spider from the National Museum of Natural History, and that is as close to suspense as I got from the book. (I could actually picture their whole bike ride down to the Mall as Howorth described it, so that was fun.) But generally, Summerlings was disappointing. I almost didn’t finish it, but because it was so short, I powered through.
If you want to read a sweet book about 11 year olds coming of age during a less complicated time, and you’re interested in the 50s in Washington, DC, then give Summerlings a try. But if you’re looking for something more substantive, I’d give it a pass.
Summerlings by Lisa Howorth is a short novel about a pack of 10 (11?) year-old boys living just outside Washington, DC in the 1950s. John, the narrator, is best friends with two other boys, Max and Ivan, on his block. Together, they explore the neighborhood on their bikes and conjecture about their neighbors, a mix of expats, diplomats, feds and potential spies. Some are friendly, some are not, and the boys spend their long summer days trying to figure out more about the adults around them. They are particularly intrigued by Elena, Ivan’s glamorous, mysterious Ukranian aunt, who is kind to them, prompting them all to fall in love with her. Meanwhile, John’s mother is off “recovering” in a nearby sanitarium (depression?) and his father has moved out, leaving him and his distant older sister under the care of their grandparents.
Summerlings takes place about 3 blocks from my house, so I loved the DC references sprinkled liberally throughout the book. Howorth even mentioned my street at one point. That was fun. Generally, though, I had a hard time getting into this book. Not much happens, there is tons of detail, and the plot is pretty superficial. Summerlings takes place during the Cold War and people are therefore suspicious of each other, and adults drink a lot and don’t tell their kids much of what is going on. That’s about it. There is one subplot involving the kids’ plot to steal a rare, dangerous spider from the National Museum of Natural History, and that is as close to suspense as I got from the book. (I could actually picture their whole bike ride down to the Mall as Howorth described it, so that was fun.) But generally, Summerlings was disappointing. I almost didn’t finish it, but because it was so short, I powered through.
If you want to read a sweet book about 11 year olds coming of age during a less complicated time, and you’re interested in the 50s in Washington, DC, then give Summerlings a try. But if you’re looking for something more substantive, I’d give it a pass.
August 22, 2019
I received an E-ARC of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Let me just cut to the chase...I have no clue what this book was on about. I can't even begin to try and give you a summary of the story, so I'm not going to. That's how much I didn't understand this book.
The characters were way too young to understand half of the things that were going on and doing in this novel. They essentially try to pull off a heist, which is something that no average 8-10 year old kid is going to know the consequences of, let alone how to pull it off. Needless to say, I found Lisa Howorth's writing to be far-fetched.
On top of that, nothing of this book seemed to be important. None of the neighbors seemed important, except for Ivan's aunt Elena. Nothing that anyone was doing in the novel seemed important, except for the unbelievable heist.
I found no enjoyment from this. It was honestly a miracle I even finished the book. It was rushed, and honestly looked like it had never touched an editor's desk. Nothing made sense, and nothing was clear as to why it was important.
Rating: 2/5 stars
Let me just cut to the chase...I have no clue what this book was on about. I can't even begin to try and give you a summary of the story, so I'm not going to. That's how much I didn't understand this book.
The characters were way too young to understand half of the things that were going on and doing in this novel. They essentially try to pull off a heist, which is something that no average 8-10 year old kid is going to know the consequences of, let alone how to pull it off. Needless to say, I found Lisa Howorth's writing to be far-fetched.
On top of that, nothing of this book seemed to be important. None of the neighbors seemed important, except for Ivan's aunt Elena. Nothing that anyone was doing in the novel seemed important, except for the unbelievable heist.
I found no enjoyment from this. It was honestly a miracle I even finished the book. It was rushed, and honestly looked like it had never touched an editor's desk. Nothing made sense, and nothing was clear as to why it was important.
Rating: 2/5 stars
September 16, 2019
Rating:3.5
This charming coming-of-age story is set in the Washington D.C. suburbs at the end of the summer of 1959. John, our 9-year-old narrator, his two friends Jewish Max and Ukrainian Ivan along with Brazilian diplomat's daughter Beatriz live in an ethnically mixed and decidedly middle-class neighborhood. The city is being plagued by an infestation of spiders, and all the various ethnicities and ages in the neighborhood are not getting along. The four friends decide to start a collection of venomous spiders and host a Family Neighborhood Fiesta to bring the crowd together. What could possibly go wrong? The 8 and 9-year-old characters are well-drawn; there's a hilarious caper at the Museum of Natural History, and lots of concern generated by Ivan's glamorous aunt Elena. This is a quick, light,mostly fun read with some good 1959 nostalgia if one is old enough to remember the time frame.
This charming coming-of-age story is set in the Washington D.C. suburbs at the end of the summer of 1959. John, our 9-year-old narrator, his two friends Jewish Max and Ukrainian Ivan along with Brazilian diplomat's daughter Beatriz live in an ethnically mixed and decidedly middle-class neighborhood. The city is being plagued by an infestation of spiders, and all the various ethnicities and ages in the neighborhood are not getting along. The four friends decide to start a collection of venomous spiders and host a Family Neighborhood Fiesta to bring the crowd together. What could possibly go wrong? The 8 and 9-year-old characters are well-drawn; there's a hilarious caper at the Museum of Natural History, and lots of concern generated by Ivan's glamorous aunt Elena. This is a quick, light,mostly fun read with some good 1959 nostalgia if one is old enough to remember the time frame.
May 12, 2020
The cover gets a 5!
A group of kids one summer in 1959--the summer all the spiders came, including the vinegaroon. (Yes, I looked it up.) They live in a mixed race neighborhood. They rode around on their bikes bored and skirted grown-up conversations and got into some hijinks. They all loved Ivan's sister Elena who dated a lot of questionable guys and got hit by their father. She ends up dying at the end. She was a communist. I must admit I missed most of the "political" undertones. The kids had broken into the museum and stolen the vinegaroon. Ivan put it out hoping it would bite their father, but it bit her instead. But, she had asthma and not her inhaler, so not sure if it killed her. The kids managed to pull off a Memorial Day neighborhood fiesta that day that brought everyone together before the rainstorm and Elena's death. They all went their separate ways after that. I hope this becomes a movie (a bit like Stand By Me but with a girl in the group--loved her.)
A group of kids one summer in 1959--the summer all the spiders came, including the vinegaroon. (Yes, I looked it up.) They live in a mixed race neighborhood. They rode around on their bikes bored and skirted grown-up conversations and got into some hijinks. They all loved Ivan's sister Elena who dated a lot of questionable guys and got hit by their father. She ends up dying at the end. She was a communist. I must admit I missed most of the "political" undertones. The kids had broken into the museum and stolen the vinegaroon. Ivan put it out hoping it would bite their father, but it bit her instead. But, she had asthma and not her inhaler, so not sure if it killed her. The kids managed to pull off a Memorial Day neighborhood fiesta that day that brought everyone together before the rainstorm and Elena's death. They all went their separate ways after that. I hope this becomes a movie (a bit like Stand By Me but with a girl in the group--loved her.)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 27, 2023
The biggest turn-off is that the narrator has a nagging way of conveying his twelve year old half formed thoughts (clever by cloying). Runner-up would be the hateful things he foists on both enemies and friends: Howorth shrugs these off like a bagatelle. So I'm left to put the book down, process what annoys me for a few weeks, and try to pick up where I left off.
As a child of the '60s with a father deployed for the Cuban Missile Crisis and appreciative of cold war and corporal punishment references, I did not feel much nostalgia for the characters or the story line. Glimmers of Donald Fagen's Nightfly album came to mind with some cultural quirks of the book, but it was a stand-alone worst-summertime-acting-out-by-60s-tweens drama.
To quote, "the world's issues and events are played out in neighborhoods like Conners Lane." I did enjoy the diversity of characters and families, the interplay of cultures and acculturation.
As a child of the '60s with a father deployed for the Cuban Missile Crisis and appreciative of cold war and corporal punishment references, I did not feel much nostalgia for the characters or the story line. Glimmers of Donald Fagen's Nightfly album came to mind with some cultural quirks of the book, but it was a stand-alone worst-summertime-acting-out-by-60s-tweens drama.
To quote, "the world's issues and events are played out in neighborhoods like Conners Lane." I did enjoy the diversity of characters and families, the interplay of cultures and acculturation.
Want to read
June 23, 2019The Summerlings is a fantastic coming of age story. Without given no too much of the plot away it is the story of a young boy, John in Cold War Washington DC and his misadventures with his friends Max and Ivan. All three boys come from families that are rife with secrets, stories and adventures of their lives Past and present. Which only enhance and add to an already raucous and rich coming of age plot well written by Lisa Howarth. It is when the boys under the tutelage of Ivan’s mysterious Aunt Elena; throw a backyard party at John’s grandparents home that the story takes an interesting turn. The adults fueled by the run spiked punch and Elena roaring off on a motorcycle with a mysterious stranger all come together to a moment that will change young John’s life forever. The Summerlings is a novel that is a must read on your 2019 shelf.
April 19, 2020
A story of young friends growing up in a diverse neighborhood. Many were refugees from other countries.
It was the era of the cold war, Russian spies, the space race. John, an eight year old boy, along with his friends are always up to something. It is a summer when spiders were all over the place in their city, and of course, being little boys, they were trying to collect different kinds. Also on the agenda, they wanted to have a block party for all their neighbors, whom they believed could be nicer to each other. The characters are all very interesting. A late night secret adventure to a museum to steal a poisonous spider to teach a bully a lesson, was very humorous. A tragedy changes their lives forever.
It was the era of the cold war, Russian spies, the space race. John, an eight year old boy, along with his friends are always up to something. It is a summer when spiders were all over the place in their city, and of course, being little boys, they were trying to collect different kinds. Also on the agenda, they wanted to have a block party for all their neighbors, whom they believed could be nicer to each other. The characters are all very interesting. A late night secret adventure to a museum to steal a poisonous spider to teach a bully a lesson, was very humorous. A tragedy changes their lives forever.
February 18, 2020
"Summerlings" is a cute coming-of-age story of a group of neighborhood boys in Washington, D.C. growing up in the 1950's during the cold war. The neighborhood is a diverse neighborhood made up of government worker and diplomat families. Being the cold war era, the neighbors do not mingle with each other much and there is some suspicion and discrimination. The boys decide to throw a block party to bring people together.
There are all sorts of side stories that are humorous, but some of the books is sad. I am going to give this book to my 15 year-old great nephew. I think it might work better as a young adult book than an adult book. But it was fun to read 'young' again.
There are all sorts of side stories that are humorous, but some of the books is sad. I am going to give this book to my 15 year-old great nephew. I think it might work better as a young adult book than an adult book. But it was fun to read 'young' again.
October 19, 2020
A sweet story of summer boyhood, and unexpected adventures, like stealing poisonous spiders, falling in love with older women, the Cold War, Communism and so much more. The youngsters in this book got up to a lot of mischief and could have gotten into more trouble if they weren’t so stealthy. I enjoyed their different ethnicities and the way they didn’t let their differences interfere with their close friendships. Their plan to have a big neighborhood party and have everyone make friends was an excellent one, and a success until an accident caused havoc for them and all their diverse neighbors.
April 12, 2021
Enjoyable read about kids growing up in the Maryland suburbs of DC in the summer of 1959. I could relate pretty well, having been about the same age only a few miles farther out in Bethesda. Summers were hot, sticky, and long. Kids were fairly independent & creative in terms of filling those days. The neighbors included a wide range of government professionals.
It was a little hard to swallow their 7+ mile bike ride (in each direction) to the Mall, not to mention the ease with which they were able to carry off "the Heist" at their ages.
For locals, it's a lightweight read with a lot of recognizable landmarks & social situations.
It was a little hard to swallow their 7+ mile bike ride (in each direction) to the Mall, not to mention the ease with which they were able to carry off "the Heist" at their ages.
For locals, it's a lightweight read with a lot of recognizable landmarks & social situations.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 19, 2019
I enjoyed this book. It is told entirely from the point of view of the kids. In today's world it is hard to remember that kids used to be outside playing all the time or that they were so naive even at that young age. Now at least one of their hi-jinks was unbelievable but it was still fun. The story didn't go exactly where I thought it would and that was nice too. I like being surprised and it happens so rarely in today's formulaic novels. Although some dark themes exist, viewed through the eyes of the children they don't bring the story completely down. Overall a good read.
September 5, 2019
Just finished this one. Rounding up to 3.5. This was ok for me. I thought that it was cute, not ground breaking and it read like a YA novel. I personally would not recommend this for a serious literary reader. With the exception of a few swear words here and there, ex. shit, this would be a perfect book for kids 13+. If you want something that is palate cleansing, mindless, not too serious, then by all means pick this up. If you are looking for something more thought provoking, I would recommend you skip this one. Not horrible by any stretch, but again, not Nobel prize material either.
October 4, 2019
Full disclosure: Lisa Howorth was one of my favorite professors in graduate school. She and her husband have also been quite generous in allowing me time to pay my perpetual bill at their marvelous book store in Oxford.
Having said that, this was a quaint story in a Stand By Me mode with political intrigue substituting for the quest to reclaim a dead body. Her characters were well done and intriguing. I liked that. She put in great musical references which I really like. Good summer/fall read for me.
Having said that, this was a quaint story in a Stand By Me mode with political intrigue substituting for the quest to reclaim a dead body. Her characters were well done and intriguing. I liked that. She put in great musical references which I really like. Good summer/fall read for me.
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