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The Year Without a Summer
Explosive volcanic eruptions are cool, really, cool. They inject ash into the stratosphere and deflect the sun’s rays. When eighth grader Jamie Fulton learns that snow fell in June in his hometown because of an eruption on the other side of the world, he’s psyched! He could have snowboarded if he’d lived back in 1815 during the year without a summer.
Clara Montalvo, who recently arrived at Jamie’s school after surviving Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, has a different take all this. She is astounded—and disturbed—by Jamie’s frenzied enthusiasm for what she considers an obvious disaster. The teens’ battling arguments cause science class disruption and create academic Jamie’s headed for a failing grade in science, and may not even graduate from eighth grade; Clara’s scholarship hopes are dashed. And school isn’t the only place where Jamie and Clara are facing as they quarrel whether natural disasters can be beneficial, their home lives are also unraveling. Uncertainty about Jamie’s wounded brother returning from Afghanistan and Clara’s unreachable father back in Puerto Rico forces the two vulnerable teens to share their worries and sadness. As their focus shifts from natural disasters to personal calamities to man-made climate changes, the teens take surprising steps that astonish them. Ultimately, through hard work and growing empathy for each other, as well as for their classmates’ distress over the climate change affecting their lives, Jamie and Clara empower themselves and the people they touch.
Clara Montalvo, who recently arrived at Jamie’s school after surviving Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, has a different take all this. She is astounded—and disturbed—by Jamie’s frenzied enthusiasm for what she considers an obvious disaster. The teens’ battling arguments cause science class disruption and create academic Jamie’s headed for a failing grade in science, and may not even graduate from eighth grade; Clara’s scholarship hopes are dashed. And school isn’t the only place where Jamie and Clara are facing as they quarrel whether natural disasters can be beneficial, their home lives are also unraveling. Uncertainty about Jamie’s wounded brother returning from Afghanistan and Clara’s unreachable father back in Puerto Rico forces the two vulnerable teens to share their worries and sadness. As their focus shifts from natural disasters to personal calamities to man-made climate changes, the teens take surprising steps that astonish them. Ultimately, through hard work and growing empathy for each other, as well as for their classmates’ distress over the climate change affecting their lives, Jamie and Clara empower themselves and the people they touch.
296 pages, Paperback
Published August 16, 2022
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September 24, 2022RTC
July 15, 2022
As a 6th grade Science teacher, I was so excited for this book. There was a lot going on with this book. We have the war in the Middle East and Climate Change on top of middle school drama. Oh yeah there was also immigration. A bit too much for a MS book. I wish the author edited just a bit more. Overall a good book.
Thanks to SparkPress for an e-ARC via NetGalley. Publication date is anticipated for 8/16/2022.
Thanks to SparkPress for an e-ARC via NetGalley. Publication date is anticipated for 8/16/2022.
June 23, 2022
*****2.5*****
It's hard for me to analyze how I feel about this book. On the one hand, it's a great premise--two eighth graders in science class have entirely different attitudes towards school, and when they're given an assignment to research a natural disaster, Jamie claims that the eruption of Tambora in 1815 was actually a good thing, while Clara argues that natural disasters are anything but good, leading their teacher, Mr. J, to suggest a debate. I love this concept. First, I learned about Tambora as a grad student studying 18th-19th-century literature, so I knew about the far-reaching effects of the eruption, but I didn't learn about it in science class. It's something I feel very few people know about, so it's great that Mark teachers her readers through her novel. The debates were interesting with tons of facts presented to the class and to the reader via Jamie and Clara. I liked some of the family dynamics included in the story and also the friendship drama between Clara and Molly.
However, the book really lagged for me in places. It felt like an adult writing a book about children rather than for children. I didn't have any of the immediacy and newness and excitement, and I felt the dialogue was often stilted and didn't follow a natural pattern. Sometimes, characters said things that didn't make sense with what was said beforehand. The book itself never felt disorganized, but the dialogue often did. I also didn't care for how judgmental Clara was towards Jamie. He was just being himself, and her reactions towards him came off very harsh for what he was saying or doing. There was no real objective correlative for how annoyed she became towards him. I also found that their "arguments" had no passion or actual meat to them, especially the debates. Clara got so upset with Jamie for joking around, but he still presented facts, just in his own way. Clara honestly annoyed me most of the time even though I wanted to like her.
Including Afghanistan and Puerto Rico was another great idea. I love that Mark's novel makes a statement. Her stance on war and on climate change is very clear. Honestly, it could come off preachy to people, and I'm sure there would be parents who wouldn't want their children to read a book that discourages kids from enlisting in the army. But I think it's important to present a different perspective, and I also think Mark's book does show, even if it's extraordinarily exaggerated at times, that children can make an impact on the world and act for themselves to effect change.
Overall, as I said, it's tough to talk about this book. I like the story of the book much more than I like the plot. I can't say I don't recommend it, but I also can't really recommend it. I think some kids might like it, but I also think it's not very engaging, and I don't know how relatable the plot lines are or how young readers would connect to Jamie and Clara. Again, the subplots with Jamie's brother and Clara's dad and also Molly could draw readers in, but there isn't really suspense or immediacy, so I'm not sure. I thought about it from a teaching perspective since I teach Children's Literature at the college level. Would I teach this book? No, I wouldn't, because I don't think my students (mostly college sophomores) would like it, but I would maybe teach it in middle school only to bring up the important topics of climate change, war, natural disasters, and giving back.
Again, a mixed bag for me.
That being said, thanks to NetGalley and to the publisher for providing me with an advanced digital copy for review.
It's hard for me to analyze how I feel about this book. On the one hand, it's a great premise--two eighth graders in science class have entirely different attitudes towards school, and when they're given an assignment to research a natural disaster, Jamie claims that the eruption of Tambora in 1815 was actually a good thing, while Clara argues that natural disasters are anything but good, leading their teacher, Mr. J, to suggest a debate. I love this concept. First, I learned about Tambora as a grad student studying 18th-19th-century literature, so I knew about the far-reaching effects of the eruption, but I didn't learn about it in science class. It's something I feel very few people know about, so it's great that Mark teachers her readers through her novel. The debates were interesting with tons of facts presented to the class and to the reader via Jamie and Clara. I liked some of the family dynamics included in the story and also the friendship drama between Clara and Molly.
However, the book really lagged for me in places. It felt like an adult writing a book about children rather than for children. I didn't have any of the immediacy and newness and excitement, and I felt the dialogue was often stilted and didn't follow a natural pattern. Sometimes, characters said things that didn't make sense with what was said beforehand. The book itself never felt disorganized, but the dialogue often did. I also didn't care for how judgmental Clara was towards Jamie. He was just being himself, and her reactions towards him came off very harsh for what he was saying or doing. There was no real objective correlative for how annoyed she became towards him. I also found that their "arguments" had no passion or actual meat to them, especially the debates. Clara got so upset with Jamie for joking around, but he still presented facts, just in his own way. Clara honestly annoyed me most of the time even though I wanted to like her.
Including Afghanistan and Puerto Rico was another great idea. I love that Mark's novel makes a statement. Her stance on war and on climate change is very clear. Honestly, it could come off preachy to people, and I'm sure there would be parents who wouldn't want their children to read a book that discourages kids from enlisting in the army. But I think it's important to present a different perspective, and I also think Mark's book does show, even if it's extraordinarily exaggerated at times, that children can make an impact on the world and act for themselves to effect change.
Overall, as I said, it's tough to talk about this book. I like the story of the book much more than I like the plot. I can't say I don't recommend it, but I also can't really recommend it. I think some kids might like it, but I also think it's not very engaging, and I don't know how relatable the plot lines are or how young readers would connect to Jamie and Clara. Again, the subplots with Jamie's brother and Clara's dad and also Molly could draw readers in, but there isn't really suspense or immediacy, so I'm not sure. I thought about it from a teaching perspective since I teach Children's Literature at the college level. Would I teach this book? No, I wouldn't, because I don't think my students (mostly college sophomores) would like it, but I would maybe teach it in middle school only to bring up the important topics of climate change, war, natural disasters, and giving back.
Again, a mixed bag for me.
That being said, thanks to NetGalley and to the publisher for providing me with an advanced digital copy for review.
June 28, 2022
This historical fiction book focuses on natural disasters, but environmental concerns are woven smoothly into the plot. MG readers will enjoy the two 8th-grade protagonists: Jamie whose dad is angry that his son cares more about a place on the snowboarding team than decent grades and Clara whose family moved to Vermont from Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria.
The middle school problems for Jamie and Clara include the struggle to have your parents acknowledge your increasing maturity, to find one's place among school peers while learning some occasional harsh lessons about who is a true friend and who is not, all the way down to frustration with a school-project team members who do not seem to be carrying their weight with the assignment. In fact, there was one moment on page 138 of my e-copy from NetGalley where it seemed unlikely to me that mediocre student Jamie would be able to come up with so many talking points off the top of his head about Lord Byron traveling to Switzerland and being a part of Mary Shelley's writing group as she wrote Frankenstein. But in addition to volcanoes and hurricanes and climate change, Jamie and his parents have been very worried about the safety of their older son who enlisted for military duty. Yes, this author was ambitious about the topics she incorporated.
The title of the book comes from a catastrophic, real event, the 1815 Indonesian volcano -Tambora-that spewed enough ash to change the climate for many countries, including the USA. At this time, Tambora is still labeled the largest explosion in the past ten thousand years. There are also science-focused books with similar titles, so it is easy to research this volcano's effect. As someone who has traveled to Indonesia a great deal, I often think about the power of these ring-of-fire volcanoes when I see smoke curling out of the iconic cone-shaped mountains.
Although the book was labeled as YA and could be integrated into a general level, ninth-grade curriculum, the age level of the protagonists and their conversations seemed like MG to me. Thank you NetGalley for the e-galley in exchange for my honest review.
The middle school problems for Jamie and Clara include the struggle to have your parents acknowledge your increasing maturity, to find one's place among school peers while learning some occasional harsh lessons about who is a true friend and who is not, all the way down to frustration with a school-project team members who do not seem to be carrying their weight with the assignment. In fact, there was one moment on page 138 of my e-copy from NetGalley where it seemed unlikely to me that mediocre student Jamie would be able to come up with so many talking points off the top of his head about Lord Byron traveling to Switzerland and being a part of Mary Shelley's writing group as she wrote Frankenstein. But in addition to volcanoes and hurricanes and climate change, Jamie and his parents have been very worried about the safety of their older son who enlisted for military duty. Yes, this author was ambitious about the topics she incorporated.
The title of the book comes from a catastrophic, real event, the 1815 Indonesian volcano -Tambora-that spewed enough ash to change the climate for many countries, including the USA. At this time, Tambora is still labeled the largest explosion in the past ten thousand years. There are also science-focused books with similar titles, so it is easy to research this volcano's effect. As someone who has traveled to Indonesia a great deal, I often think about the power of these ring-of-fire volcanoes when I see smoke curling out of the iconic cone-shaped mountains.
Although the book was labeled as YA and could be integrated into a general level, ninth-grade curriculum, the age level of the protagonists and their conversations seemed like MG to me. Thank you NetGalley for the e-galley in exchange for my honest review.
August 16, 2022
Thank you Spark Press and BookSparks for this gifted copy of The Year Without a Summer for your Summer Pop Up in exchange for an honest review.
Jamie and Clara are both middle schooler classmates with complete opposite opinions regarding natural disasters. Their teacher encourages them to debate the pros and cons of natural disasters. I really did appreciate the scientific and historical background this book had to offer. I liked that each main character had depth and meaning. I will admit I strayed a few times and it was hard to keep my attention. Overall, I rate this book a 2.8/5.
Jamie and Clara are both middle schooler classmates with complete opposite opinions regarding natural disasters. Their teacher encourages them to debate the pros and cons of natural disasters. I really did appreciate the scientific and historical background this book had to offer. I liked that each main character had depth and meaning. I will admit I strayed a few times and it was hard to keep my attention. Overall, I rate this book a 2.8/5.
July 25, 2022
Opening Line: "Jaime shifted his weight on his snowboard at the top of the mountain and set his sights down the slope."
There are a few things that Jamie loves, snowboarding and his older brother Lucas, who is stationed in Afghanistan. Jamie is driven in his desire to become a professional snowboarder, unfortunately, he failed his latest science exam and risks being put on probation from the team. Clara Montalvo, recently relocated from Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria devastated her town and destroyed their home, her father has chosen to stay behind to help with repairs but has been hard to reach because the powerlines have been down. Clara is a responsible, hardworking student, who dreams of getting a scholarship to go to an Academy focused on architecture. She tries very hard to fit in with the other kids at school but has faced her share of hardships.
Currently they're learning about natural disasters in school, what contributes to them, and what consequences they pose to the environment and humans, they're to choose one disaster to discuss with the class. Jamie begins to explore volcanic eruptions and learns of the Volcano of Tambora which occurred in 1815 in Indonesia. It was known as the year without a summer because of the ash that was released into the atmosphere causing global climate anomalies, like below freezing temperatures in North America and snow during the summer. Jaime is excited to share his research with his classmates and highlights all the positives that came from the volcanic eruption, which sets of a heated debate with Clara as she feels he's not seeing the seriousness of the disaster and its impact on the people of Indonesia. Seeing the value of the two opposing views, their teacher assigns them both to debate the topic in class. As Jaime and Clara collaborate for their debate, news arrives of a new Hurricane in Puerto Rico and that Jamie's older brother was wounded and is returning home for rehabilitation. As they fear for their family, the two begin to find some commonalties among their differences.
The first thing that intrigued me about The Year Without a Summer was the cover and title, curious about how the snow fit with the summer vibes. The premise of the story was also very interesting combining three seemingly unrelated things, a historic volcano, a hurricane in Puerto Rico and a returning solider from Afghanistan. I must say the story as a whole blew me away. I loved all the historical aspects of the book and how relatable these teens were. I learned so much about the Volcano of Tambora and well natural disasters in general. The story addressed climate change and natural disasters but also gave options for how teens could advocate for change. The emphasis on the commonalities that the two teenagers shared, their kindness, focus on the future, and family hardships made them both easily relatable. I think I felt for Jamie the most and appreciated that the story didn't underscore the behavioral and emotional changes that occurred with his brother. While I find Jaime's wanting to get Lucas back to normal a realistic desire, it's something as a therapist that I've found difficult for loved ones to understand, that there is a new normal after an injury such as this. As a therapist, I like to think of it as the brain is making new pathways or connections. Overall, this was a highly engaging story and can see this appealing to kids interested in climate change. **A huge thank you to Sparkpress for the E-ARC**
There are a few things that Jamie loves, snowboarding and his older brother Lucas, who is stationed in Afghanistan. Jamie is driven in his desire to become a professional snowboarder, unfortunately, he failed his latest science exam and risks being put on probation from the team. Clara Montalvo, recently relocated from Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria devastated her town and destroyed their home, her father has chosen to stay behind to help with repairs but has been hard to reach because the powerlines have been down. Clara is a responsible, hardworking student, who dreams of getting a scholarship to go to an Academy focused on architecture. She tries very hard to fit in with the other kids at school but has faced her share of hardships.
Currently they're learning about natural disasters in school, what contributes to them, and what consequences they pose to the environment and humans, they're to choose one disaster to discuss with the class. Jamie begins to explore volcanic eruptions and learns of the Volcano of Tambora which occurred in 1815 in Indonesia. It was known as the year without a summer because of the ash that was released into the atmosphere causing global climate anomalies, like below freezing temperatures in North America and snow during the summer. Jaime is excited to share his research with his classmates and highlights all the positives that came from the volcanic eruption, which sets of a heated debate with Clara as she feels he's not seeing the seriousness of the disaster and its impact on the people of Indonesia. Seeing the value of the two opposing views, their teacher assigns them both to debate the topic in class. As Jaime and Clara collaborate for their debate, news arrives of a new Hurricane in Puerto Rico and that Jamie's older brother was wounded and is returning home for rehabilitation. As they fear for their family, the two begin to find some commonalties among their differences.
The first thing that intrigued me about The Year Without a Summer was the cover and title, curious about how the snow fit with the summer vibes. The premise of the story was also very interesting combining three seemingly unrelated things, a historic volcano, a hurricane in Puerto Rico and a returning solider from Afghanistan. I must say the story as a whole blew me away. I loved all the historical aspects of the book and how relatable these teens were. I learned so much about the Volcano of Tambora and well natural disasters in general. The story addressed climate change and natural disasters but also gave options for how teens could advocate for change. The emphasis on the commonalities that the two teenagers shared, their kindness, focus on the future, and family hardships made them both easily relatable. I think I felt for Jamie the most and appreciated that the story didn't underscore the behavioral and emotional changes that occurred with his brother. While I find Jaime's wanting to get Lucas back to normal a realistic desire, it's something as a therapist that I've found difficult for loved ones to understand, that there is a new normal after an injury such as this. As a therapist, I like to think of it as the brain is making new pathways or connections. Overall, this was a highly engaging story and can see this appealing to kids interested in climate change. **A huge thank you to Sparkpress for the E-ARC**
August 16, 2022
First, thank you to Booksparks & SparkPress for this gifted copy for your Summer Pop Up in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
WARNING: They are not good thoughts.
TL;DR: This is a Greta Thunberg fanfic for ages 10-12 that romanticizes the government actually helping other countries fight climate change but also has a weird fetish with the war in Afghanistan and the PTSD soldiers bring home.
So here’s the premise: you get the POV of Clara & Jamie, two 8th graders in New York. They have been assigned a project in their science class to research natural disasters and present it to the class. Clara, a recent survivor of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, knows immediately she’s going to talk about hurricanes and their devastating effects. Jamie, a snowboarding boy failing science because he can’t concentrate in school finds a volcanic eruption in 1815 that covered the world in ash and led to freezing temperatures in summer in New York which means snow in June which means snowboarding year-round – AWESOME. He brings his “cool” findings to science and is busting at the seams to tell the class how cool natural disasters are. Obviously, this is super offensive to Clara, who has lost her home, friends, and family to a natural disaster. When she speaks up, Jamie argues against her and the class sides with Jamie because they suck. The teacher Mr. J. says if they feel so comfortable interrupting class with their arguments, they can debate if natural disasters are good or bad (um, is that a debate??? We’ll get there). Clara explains she already has personal knowledge of her topic and wishes to present it to the class because she feels passionately about it (for obvious reasons) and Mr. J. looks this young Puerto Rican who has been displaced and then not accepted at her new school dead in the eye and asks her to put her personal feelings aside to debate against Jamie so she can help him raise his grade and potentially pass science. Clara says no (good girl) because she is applying to scholarships for a specific Academy for high school that would help her on her path to an engineering and architecture career. Jamie says okay thanks and Mr. J. says you’ll debate on this topic for the next 3 weeks so 2 against 1, the debate must go on. Oh also there’s a whole subplot that takes up the second half of the book for Jamie because his brother is in Afghanistan and then gets hurt and has to come back home with PTSD and Jamie is hyperactive around him like COME TALK TO THE KIDS AT SCHOOL SO THEY DON’T GO TO WAR TOO and it’s really stupid.
I feel like I have to put a precursor on my review: I am not the audience for this book. Even though I’m (20-something, no need for specifics), I still very much enjoy YA. I like the heightened dramatic emotions, the naivete, and yeah, I’ll read Harry Potter every day (categorized as children’s, but you get it). So it’s not the fact that this is YA that had me cringing at every page. The target audience is probably around 6th grade and ideally I would love to tell my teacher friends to recommend it to their students. However, this is an insult to the intelligence of middle schoolers. It’s written simply and overuses the word “stuff” (“Hey I found all this cool stuff on volcanoes” “Well we could donate and stuff”). The author probably thought she was simplifying her writing to fit a younger audience but I would like to point out that I read the Diary of Anne Frank in 6th grade. Obviously not your average 6th grader and not everyone is on that reading level, but that’s the kind of activism a 6th grader could comprehend. And this author’s idea of fighting global warming is printing a t-shirt that says “Change Starts With Us” and stuff.
Clearly I don’t recommend this, but here are some other quick points on why this book is so bad:
--the teacher really sucks. Like REALLY. As mentioned before, he pushes Clara’s personal experiences with Hurricane Maria to the side to try to help this mediocre kid pass science which is literally HIS job, not this poor girl who is clearly suffering from her own trauma
--the romanticizing of the government is SO weird. At one point, Clara goes to the New York State Capitol to try to get the attention of the governor to help her find her father in Puerto Rico after an earthquake has cut all communication. And the government building is HELPFUL (lol ok) and she puts them on a pedestal the rest of the book, telling anyone and everyone how much they help Puerto Rico in times of disaster (lolololololol okkkkkkkkk) She writes a letter to the governor – literally starts it “Dear Governor,” and asks him to talk to her dad the next time he’s in Puerto Rico. I. Can. Not. Make. This. Up.
--it shows how easily you can bullshit your way through a debate without any sort of research – just crack a joke and double down on your argument and you will win (can testify from personal experience this is true BUT I think kids should learn that on their own)
--what the fuckity fuck is up with Lucas coming home with PTSD and Jamie being a hyperactive Pomeranian around him like you know what would help my brother who is physically injured and keeps passing out on his addictive painkillers? Let’s have him go talk to a bunch of 8th graders who will ask him completely insensitive questions while he’s high as a kite and panics at loud noises (ever been in a school? They’re loud)
Okay, sorry, guess those weren’t quick bullet points. I guess I have a lot of thoughts as to why this is an insult to the intelligence of 12-year-olds, including when the dim 8th grade boy doesn’t like the pretty popular girl who throws herself at him because he says she’s “snarky and mean” … PUH-LEASE. That would never happen.
BONUS ROUND:
This author also clearly hasn’t been around a 14-year-old in the last 2 decades. Not once did they text each other. No, they all called each other. Actually scratch that, they PHONED each other. “Oh I’ll just go phone my betrothed” gag me with a spoon
“I found all this stuff out on my phone!” like it’s a new-fangled contraption this telephone with its research buttons give me a break
“Maybe he’ll ask her to go for a soda after school” oh really, grandpa, a nice cold sarsaparilla maybe? GOOD GOD MAN
“We have to send them online links” YES. THAT’S WHERE LINKS ARE. ON THE LINE.
Everything was “Just google it” “I googled this” “oh on google” … the book’s last line I swear to god is “Maybe he’ll google it”
“Seeing his brother in full camo” it’s called fatigues. GoOgLe iT
Okay, I need to stop now. I just banged out 1200 words without trying so if you’re still here, bless you and don’t read this book.
WARNING: They are not good thoughts.
TL;DR: This is a Greta Thunberg fanfic for ages 10-12 that romanticizes the government actually helping other countries fight climate change but also has a weird fetish with the war in Afghanistan and the PTSD soldiers bring home.
So here’s the premise: you get the POV of Clara & Jamie, two 8th graders in New York. They have been assigned a project in their science class to research natural disasters and present it to the class. Clara, a recent survivor of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, knows immediately she’s going to talk about hurricanes and their devastating effects. Jamie, a snowboarding boy failing science because he can’t concentrate in school finds a volcanic eruption in 1815 that covered the world in ash and led to freezing temperatures in summer in New York which means snow in June which means snowboarding year-round – AWESOME. He brings his “cool” findings to science and is busting at the seams to tell the class how cool natural disasters are. Obviously, this is super offensive to Clara, who has lost her home, friends, and family to a natural disaster. When she speaks up, Jamie argues against her and the class sides with Jamie because they suck. The teacher Mr. J. says if they feel so comfortable interrupting class with their arguments, they can debate if natural disasters are good or bad (um, is that a debate??? We’ll get there). Clara explains she already has personal knowledge of her topic and wishes to present it to the class because she feels passionately about it (for obvious reasons) and Mr. J. looks this young Puerto Rican who has been displaced and then not accepted at her new school dead in the eye and asks her to put her personal feelings aside to debate against Jamie so she can help him raise his grade and potentially pass science. Clara says no (good girl) because she is applying to scholarships for a specific Academy for high school that would help her on her path to an engineering and architecture career. Jamie says okay thanks and Mr. J. says you’ll debate on this topic for the next 3 weeks so 2 against 1, the debate must go on. Oh also there’s a whole subplot that takes up the second half of the book for Jamie because his brother is in Afghanistan and then gets hurt and has to come back home with PTSD and Jamie is hyperactive around him like COME TALK TO THE KIDS AT SCHOOL SO THEY DON’T GO TO WAR TOO and it’s really stupid.
I feel like I have to put a precursor on my review: I am not the audience for this book. Even though I’m (20-something, no need for specifics), I still very much enjoy YA. I like the heightened dramatic emotions, the naivete, and yeah, I’ll read Harry Potter every day (categorized as children’s, but you get it). So it’s not the fact that this is YA that had me cringing at every page. The target audience is probably around 6th grade and ideally I would love to tell my teacher friends to recommend it to their students. However, this is an insult to the intelligence of middle schoolers. It’s written simply and overuses the word “stuff” (“Hey I found all this cool stuff on volcanoes” “Well we could donate and stuff”). The author probably thought she was simplifying her writing to fit a younger audience but I would like to point out that I read the Diary of Anne Frank in 6th grade. Obviously not your average 6th grader and not everyone is on that reading level, but that’s the kind of activism a 6th grader could comprehend. And this author’s idea of fighting global warming is printing a t-shirt that says “Change Starts With Us” and stuff.
Clearly I don’t recommend this, but here are some other quick points on why this book is so bad:
--the teacher really sucks. Like REALLY. As mentioned before, he pushes Clara’s personal experiences with Hurricane Maria to the side to try to help this mediocre kid pass science which is literally HIS job, not this poor girl who is clearly suffering from her own trauma
--the romanticizing of the government is SO weird. At one point, Clara goes to the New York State Capitol to try to get the attention of the governor to help her find her father in Puerto Rico after an earthquake has cut all communication. And the government building is HELPFUL (lol ok) and she puts them on a pedestal the rest of the book, telling anyone and everyone how much they help Puerto Rico in times of disaster (lolololololol okkkkkkkkk) She writes a letter to the governor – literally starts it “Dear Governor,” and asks him to talk to her dad the next time he’s in Puerto Rico. I. Can. Not. Make. This. Up.
--it shows how easily you can bullshit your way through a debate without any sort of research – just crack a joke and double down on your argument and you will win (can testify from personal experience this is true BUT I think kids should learn that on their own)
--what the fuckity fuck is up with Lucas coming home with PTSD and Jamie being a hyperactive Pomeranian around him like you know what would help my brother who is physically injured and keeps passing out on his addictive painkillers? Let’s have him go talk to a bunch of 8th graders who will ask him completely insensitive questions while he’s high as a kite and panics at loud noises (ever been in a school? They’re loud)
Okay, sorry, guess those weren’t quick bullet points. I guess I have a lot of thoughts as to why this is an insult to the intelligence of 12-year-olds, including when the dim 8th grade boy doesn’t like the pretty popular girl who throws herself at him because he says she’s “snarky and mean” … PUH-LEASE. That would never happen.
BONUS ROUND:
This author also clearly hasn’t been around a 14-year-old in the last 2 decades. Not once did they text each other. No, they all called each other. Actually scratch that, they PHONED each other. “Oh I’ll just go phone my betrothed” gag me with a spoon
“I found all this stuff out on my phone!” like it’s a new-fangled contraption this telephone with its research buttons give me a break
“Maybe he’ll ask her to go for a soda after school” oh really, grandpa, a nice cold sarsaparilla maybe? GOOD GOD MAN
“We have to send them online links” YES. THAT’S WHERE LINKS ARE. ON THE LINE.
Everything was “Just google it” “I googled this” “oh on google” … the book’s last line I swear to god is “Maybe he’ll google it”
“Seeing his brother in full camo” it’s called fatigues. GoOgLe iT
Okay, I need to stop now. I just banged out 1200 words without trying so if you’re still here, bless you and don’t read this book.
August 15, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read an ARC of "The Year Without a Summer", written by Arlene Mark. This book is scheduled to release on August 16th, 2022.
Overall, I rated this novel a 2.5/5 stars.
This book is about Jamie, an 8th grader who doesn't enjoy homework and studying, and is obsessed with snowboarding. His classmate Clara thinks that a natural disaster in 1815 (or anytime) is not a good thing at all. His brother Lucas is serving in Afghanistan. Their teacher makes them debate the idea. There are a lot of scientific and historical elements within the storyline of this book. I did, however enjoy that the emotional aspect of this novel.
Overall, I rated this novel a 2.5/5 stars.
This book is about Jamie, an 8th grader who doesn't enjoy homework and studying, and is obsessed with snowboarding. His classmate Clara thinks that a natural disaster in 1815 (or anytime) is not a good thing at all. His brother Lucas is serving in Afghanistan. Their teacher makes them debate the idea. There are a lot of scientific and historical elements within the storyline of this book. I did, however enjoy that the emotional aspect of this novel.
January 2, 2023
The Year Without a Summer is a well-plotted, original and thought-provoking read that looks at climate issues and the power of standing up for what you believe in.
June 5, 2022
This mid grade title centers around Jamie and Clara, who are attracted to each other, but in that 8th grade way, aren't sure if they are friends or competitors. They get into a debate about Tambora, a volcanic eruption that caused the Year Without a Summer, and it becomes a school project. In the meantime, Clara's father is helping rebuild Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria, and Jamie is dealing with his injured brother's return from Afghanistan. I thought there were a bit too many outside events going on, some unnecessary drama which at times had me rolling my eyes. Overall, I think those in that mid grade age bracket would enjoy this book.
Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this novel.
Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this novel.
May 27, 2022
I had no idea this book was set incredibly close to my hometown when I downloaded this advanced reader’s copy, but knowing the area closely made it feel that much more intimate. This story follows two eighth grade students who seemingly are complete opposites, but have much more in common than they think. Clara and Jamie end up being paired together to debate a particular natural disaster: the Tambora volcano eruption. Through their journey, we learn about Clara’s father stranded in Puerto Rico after a recent hurricane and Jamie’s brother recently home from active duty in Afghanistan, the secret struggles that bind them together. And while the debate was the main event in this story, I found myself more fascinated by the family dynamics at play and the connections to the other side characters. Overall, I learned a lot about this particular natural disaster, the ways we can all get involved and just how complicated families can be.
May 20, 2022
A quick and easy read that I couldn't put down. I found the characters really relatable and I loved the messgaes within the book.
August 5, 2022
Expected publication: August 9, 2022!
Recommended: yes!
Middle school classrooms (and even young high school) would be EXCELLENT, for a look at accessible youth activism, for a lot of fascinating learning about the bad AND the good of natural disasters, for two other "serious" storylines for the MCs that handle really difficult situations, for a book that has really mature students which was a breath of fresh air (having been one of those and not the partiers, it was nice to see a book acknowledge I existed as more than a lame side character foil of boringness)
Thoughts:
If you don't already know about the year without a summer where the entire world's climate was drastically changed after a volcanic eruption, you're in for a treat because this dives into a lot of it in a really accessible way. I had coincidentally just learned and read about it a bit before starting this book, so it was fun to see what new and familiar details there were about it. There were scientific descriptions of what happened, but at a fairly high level rather than the detail I'd read in the adult nonfiction book on the topic (makes sense).
My teacher side was going NUTS at how excellent this book would be for students. I intended to put this at the end of the review, but I'm just too excited to mention it. It's a wonderful book for many reasons that I'll get into, but seriously: get this book in schools. Science class, history class, social studies, activism clubs, English class.... EVERYWHERE! And what makes it truly special is having characters and story and emotion amidst all the "info" and teaching / learning moments.
Both Jamie and Clara have chapters of narration throughout the book and it's pretty evenly split, which I appreciated. I was able to get to know both characters pretty well, and the compassion and maturity they had was a lovely change to most YA books with middle grade students. I know they exist, and it's nice to see some in stories. Clara had so much compassion that it made me want to be more like her. And Jamie is a bit more impulsive, but he's very self-aware and constantly reflecting to learn more about himself and those around him. There's a little bit of a romance interest in the story, but there are more pressing matters in the story so it's not a huge focus.
Climate change is pretty awful, and I don't THINK that's news to anyone. There was a point in this book after discussion of all the harmful global changes where I genuinely just had to put the book down for a day or two because it depressed the heck out of me. It does go beyond that though, and offers solutions for change in very practical ways. There's hope in this book too, which is something that too many on the topic forget to offer. The whole premise of the "debate" on climate change that Clara and Jamie have shows Jamie focusing on the unexpected positives that can come from some disasters. Think of how after a forest burns down, the ash can help provide rich soil and minerals for the next growth. There were a lot of highlights like that.
Climate change is the obvious topic in this book, but PTSD and other trauma are addressed as well in Clara and Jamie's individual stories. They were hard to read at times, genuinely, even as someone who (thankfully) has not experienced either of them myself. Jamie's brother is a soldier, and Clara's family lost their home in a hurricane; both deal with the stresses from those changes in their lives throughout the story, and it's not all sugarcoated and happy. It feels very authentic.
Overall I just really enjoyed reading this (even the part where I had to take a break). It is really worth a read for anyone who might be interested in middle grade characters, climate change, and activism. It's emotional though: fair warning!
Thank you to Grace Fell and SparkPoint Studio for a free advanced copy. This is my honest review!
Recommended: yes!
Middle school classrooms (and even young high school) would be EXCELLENT, for a look at accessible youth activism, for a lot of fascinating learning about the bad AND the good of natural disasters, for two other "serious" storylines for the MCs that handle really difficult situations, for a book that has really mature students which was a breath of fresh air (having been one of those and not the partiers, it was nice to see a book acknowledge I existed as more than a lame side character foil of boringness)
Thoughts:
If you don't already know about the year without a summer where the entire world's climate was drastically changed after a volcanic eruption, you're in for a treat because this dives into a lot of it in a really accessible way. I had coincidentally just learned and read about it a bit before starting this book, so it was fun to see what new and familiar details there were about it. There were scientific descriptions of what happened, but at a fairly high level rather than the detail I'd read in the adult nonfiction book on the topic (makes sense).
My teacher side was going NUTS at how excellent this book would be for students. I intended to put this at the end of the review, but I'm just too excited to mention it. It's a wonderful book for many reasons that I'll get into, but seriously: get this book in schools. Science class, history class, social studies, activism clubs, English class.... EVERYWHERE! And what makes it truly special is having characters and story and emotion amidst all the "info" and teaching / learning moments.
Both Jamie and Clara have chapters of narration throughout the book and it's pretty evenly split, which I appreciated. I was able to get to know both characters pretty well, and the compassion and maturity they had was a lovely change to most YA books with middle grade students. I know they exist, and it's nice to see some in stories. Clara had so much compassion that it made me want to be more like her. And Jamie is a bit more impulsive, but he's very self-aware and constantly reflecting to learn more about himself and those around him. There's a little bit of a romance interest in the story, but there are more pressing matters in the story so it's not a huge focus.
Climate change is pretty awful, and I don't THINK that's news to anyone. There was a point in this book after discussion of all the harmful global changes where I genuinely just had to put the book down for a day or two because it depressed the heck out of me. It does go beyond that though, and offers solutions for change in very practical ways. There's hope in this book too, which is something that too many on the topic forget to offer. The whole premise of the "debate" on climate change that Clara and Jamie have shows Jamie focusing on the unexpected positives that can come from some disasters. Think of how after a forest burns down, the ash can help provide rich soil and minerals for the next growth. There were a lot of highlights like that.
Climate change is the obvious topic in this book, but PTSD and other trauma are addressed as well in Clara and Jamie's individual stories. They were hard to read at times, genuinely, even as someone who (thankfully) has not experienced either of them myself. Jamie's brother is a soldier, and Clara's family lost their home in a hurricane; both deal with the stresses from those changes in their lives throughout the story, and it's not all sugarcoated and happy. It feels very authentic.
Overall I just really enjoyed reading this (even the part where I had to take a break). It is really worth a read for anyone who might be interested in middle grade characters, climate change, and activism. It's emotional though: fair warning!
Thank you to Grace Fell and SparkPoint Studio for a free advanced copy. This is my honest review!
September 18, 2022
Interesting book about a teenage boy and girl. While they interact the book is about their separate lives and how they came to clash in class one day but then it spirals deeper in a way. At least this is what I thought given the synopsis. Really this is a book about fathers though. Two teens that have entirely different relationships and images of their fathers.
The plot felt disjointed, Clara was on a clear path but Jamie’s was all over. Clara was worried about Puerto Rico and her father and disasters there. She takes it further by assisting and volunteering to help in disasters but really she it looking to get her father home. They weird thing about her story is the interaction with the governor. It would have been a deep and relatable story for some without the element but it made it more fantastical in a book that seemed to be dealing with very really world issues. Clara is passionate and determined and she is going to get her father back home to her family. So it is lucky the governor is on her side.
Jamie’s story began with him being reprimanded for failing a test. All the thinks about it snowboarding and he needs to buckle down. He has to debate Clara about disasters but then all of this doesn’t seem to matter anymore and they move away from natural disasters to have a commentary about war. Because All that seems to change when his brother returns from the war in Afghanistan with head trauma and an injured leg. The focus moves to the brother and the war and sharing his story and recovery while Jamie panics. The relationship with the father is still mostly dad yelling most the time. I understand that parents can be like like that but his outbursts were weirdly placed in the story and the wife and kids never tell him he is wrong or that he needs to let them learn for themselves… that is how they got into this in the first place ( a son going off to war).
Overall, this book was about climate change, natural disasters, refugees, politics, war, and families but I feel like it didn’t choose one topic and do it well. It was a good read but it wasn’t as focused as I would have liked for it to be. I am not sure the beginning of the book ties at all to the ending it just seemed weirdly overdone in parts and underdone in others.
The plot felt disjointed, Clara was on a clear path but Jamie’s was all over. Clara was worried about Puerto Rico and her father and disasters there. She takes it further by assisting and volunteering to help in disasters but really she it looking to get her father home. They weird thing about her story is the interaction with the governor. It would have been a deep and relatable story for some without the element but it made it more fantastical in a book that seemed to be dealing with very really world issues. Clara is passionate and determined and she is going to get her father back home to her family. So it is lucky the governor is on her side.
Jamie’s story began with him being reprimanded for failing a test. All the thinks about it snowboarding and he needs to buckle down. He has to debate Clara about disasters but then all of this doesn’t seem to matter anymore and they move away from natural disasters to have a commentary about war. Because All that seems to change when his brother returns from the war in Afghanistan with head trauma and an injured leg. The focus moves to the brother and the war and sharing his story and recovery while Jamie panics. The relationship with the father is still mostly dad yelling most the time. I understand that parents can be like like that but his outbursts were weirdly placed in the story and the wife and kids never tell him he is wrong or that he needs to let them learn for themselves… that is how they got into this in the first place ( a son going off to war).
Overall, this book was about climate change, natural disasters, refugees, politics, war, and families but I feel like it didn’t choose one topic and do it well. It was a good read but it wasn’t as focused as I would have liked for it to be. I am not sure the beginning of the book ties at all to the ending it just seemed weirdly overdone in parts and underdone in others.
June 19, 2022
After suffering through a major hurricane, Clara finds herself in the United States while her dad is helping rebuild her home in Puerto Rico. During class one day, Clara suggests the idea to do a project on natural disasters to make others aware of how much of an impact they have on families. Her idea is to do it on hurricanes, but when she gets into an argument with fellow classmate Jamie who doesn't quite understand what's so bad about them, the two are paired together. They're doing their project on a volcanic eruption that caused it to snow in the summer. While Clara brings up the damage natural disaster cause, Jamie is focused on how exciting it would be to snowboard all summer.
Even though Jamie and Clara are paired for a project, it isn't the only subject of interest. Both of them have a lot going on with their families and it's something they have to bond over. Clara misses and worries about her father who's in Puerto Rico. Jamie has a brother who's just returned home Afghanistan. The two have a lot to learn from each other in both life and about themselves.
THE YEAR WITHOUT A SUMMER is a middle-grade story that focuses on natural disasters and social and family issues. I love how the two characters have completely different personalities, yet they still bond over their familial issues. We get to see their character growth and I enjoy the message this story has about natural disasters. While I wasn't expecting the personal issues with their family, it adds more substance and drama to the story.
Final Verdict: Overall this is an easy read that I would recommend to middle-graders who enjoy stories about natural disasters, friendship, and family and social issues. It has more lessons to teach than just the devastation natural disasters cause, so it holds the reader's interest the entire time.
Even though Jamie and Clara are paired for a project, it isn't the only subject of interest. Both of them have a lot going on with their families and it's something they have to bond over. Clara misses and worries about her father who's in Puerto Rico. Jamie has a brother who's just returned home Afghanistan. The two have a lot to learn from each other in both life and about themselves.
THE YEAR WITHOUT A SUMMER is a middle-grade story that focuses on natural disasters and social and family issues. I love how the two characters have completely different personalities, yet they still bond over their familial issues. We get to see their character growth and I enjoy the message this story has about natural disasters. While I wasn't expecting the personal issues with their family, it adds more substance and drama to the story.
Final Verdict: Overall this is an easy read that I would recommend to middle-graders who enjoy stories about natural disasters, friendship, and family and social issues. It has more lessons to teach than just the devastation natural disasters cause, so it holds the reader's interest the entire time.
August 12, 2022
Have you ever had the unfortunate experience of a natural disaster?
I have had to evacuate a vacation due to a hurricane and we have had hurricanes that go up the coast and cause small amounts of flooding in our area. Thankfully, nothing that coastal areas have experienced. We did have a small tornado go through our neighborhood a few years ago that caused damage throughout the neighborhood. Our roof was replaced, but thankfully it was not damaged significantly.
This book is about two eighth graders who are given the assignment of debating a natural disaster that occurred in 1815. The female main character, Clara, takes all natural disasters very seriously due to her family leaving Puerto Rico due to Hurricane Maria. Natural Disasters are not a laughing matter to her.
The male main character, Jamie, likes to live life in the fun lane. He cares more about snow boarding than he does school, but it starts to catch up to him in a negative way. He sees the 1815 volcanic eruption as cool, because it caused snow in the summer in Albany NY that year. To me he seems fascinated by it, but that seems to annoy Clara. Clara is dealing with her father still being left in Puerto Rico and she is constantly concerned about his safety. Jamie’s brother is deployed in the armed services and he is constantly concerned about his safety.
While I am not sure this book is intended for a teenage audience, it definitely has a YA feel about it in terms of the topics and the writing style. I think this would be a great book for a middle school student, especially one interested in climate change.
Thanks so much to @booksparks for the #gifted book! @arlenemarkauthor
I have had to evacuate a vacation due to a hurricane and we have had hurricanes that go up the coast and cause small amounts of flooding in our area. Thankfully, nothing that coastal areas have experienced. We did have a small tornado go through our neighborhood a few years ago that caused damage throughout the neighborhood. Our roof was replaced, but thankfully it was not damaged significantly.
This book is about two eighth graders who are given the assignment of debating a natural disaster that occurred in 1815. The female main character, Clara, takes all natural disasters very seriously due to her family leaving Puerto Rico due to Hurricane Maria. Natural Disasters are not a laughing matter to her.
The male main character, Jamie, likes to live life in the fun lane. He cares more about snow boarding than he does school, but it starts to catch up to him in a negative way. He sees the 1815 volcanic eruption as cool, because it caused snow in the summer in Albany NY that year. To me he seems fascinated by it, but that seems to annoy Clara. Clara is dealing with her father still being left in Puerto Rico and she is constantly concerned about his safety. Jamie’s brother is deployed in the armed services and he is constantly concerned about his safety.
While I am not sure this book is intended for a teenage audience, it definitely has a YA feel about it in terms of the topics and the writing style. I think this would be a great book for a middle school student, especially one interested in climate change.
Thanks so much to @booksparks for the #gifted book! @arlenemarkauthor
July 4, 2022
The Year Without a Summer by Arlene Mark ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book was very emotional and informative. The natural disasters all around us create havoc in millions of lives. This story revolves around two teens, Clara and Jaime, who start an argument over the 1815 eruption of Mount Tambora. Jaime thinks the year without summer which followed due to the fatal eruption was a very wonderful thing. But Clara had witnessed a disaster- Hurricane Maria in her hometown Puerto Rico, where her father stayed back to help the residents. She still has nightmares about when she and her family had been stuck inside their house until the hurricane subsided. She was irritated by Jamie's excitement of how lucky people were to witness a year without summer, that they would have had so much fun.
I loved all the characters, Clara, Jaimie, Clara's brother, Mami, Mr J, Mrs Thurbus, Gus, Lucas, etc! Clara and Jaime's character development was awesome. The whole class eight turned to become such wonderful and confident kids, it was impressive. It feels amazing to read about kids worried about the future of our planet in midst of family problems. I thoroughly enjoyed the book.
There were some parts where I couldn't quite understand the situation described which made this book a four-star. Otherwise, the plot, writing style, characters and the world portrayed touched my heart.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book was very emotional and informative. The natural disasters all around us create havoc in millions of lives. This story revolves around two teens, Clara and Jaime, who start an argument over the 1815 eruption of Mount Tambora. Jaime thinks the year without summer which followed due to the fatal eruption was a very wonderful thing. But Clara had witnessed a disaster- Hurricane Maria in her hometown Puerto Rico, where her father stayed back to help the residents. She still has nightmares about when she and her family had been stuck inside their house until the hurricane subsided. She was irritated by Jamie's excitement of how lucky people were to witness a year without summer, that they would have had so much fun.
I loved all the characters, Clara, Jaimie, Clara's brother, Mami, Mr J, Mrs Thurbus, Gus, Lucas, etc! Clara and Jaime's character development was awesome. The whole class eight turned to become such wonderful and confident kids, it was impressive. It feels amazing to read about kids worried about the future of our planet in midst of family problems. I thoroughly enjoyed the book.
There were some parts where I couldn't quite understand the situation described which made this book a four-star. Otherwise, the plot, writing style, characters and the world portrayed touched my heart.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 29, 2022
Clara and her family moved to Albany after hurricane Maria destroyed her home and school in Puerto Rico. Jamie has lived in Albany his whole life and loves to snowboard. When their teacher, Mr. J, assigns a project on natural disasters, Jamie discovers the year without a summer happened back in 1815 when it snowed in June in Albany. Jamie is convinced it was all fun and games because people could snowboard and play in the snow. Clara tries telling him that natural disasters are anything but fun and games. Having lived through a devastating hurricane, Clara has more firsthand experience. Mr. J decides to let Clara and Jamie have a debate in class so that each can show their side. In the mean time, there is another volcanic eruption across the world and earthquakes in Puerto Rico. Clara uses her time in the debate to convince her class that there are more and more natural disasters happening and that they need to help do something about it. Both Jamie and Clara have a lot going on in their lives and have a hard time seeing eye to eye sometimes even though they really like each other. This book does a great job explaining natural disasters and ways young people can help. Jamie and Clara grow a lot throughout he book and are great characters with stories you don’t read about every day. This would be a great book for 4-8 graders.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.
August 12, 2022
2.5 Stars
There’s a lot going on in A Year Without Summer. Too much going on. Climate change, earthquakes, volcanoes, war in the Middle East, immigration, school drama. The sheer number of topics is overwhelming. Trying to shoehorn all those ideas into one book makes A Year Without Summer less successful than if author Arlene Mark had chosen one or two to explore in depth.
The highlight of A Year Without Summer comes in the debate between Clara and Jamie. This is where science and life collide and Mark seems to hit her stride. (Although I can’t imagine a teacher would be thrilled with the “just Google it” line that gets thrown around way too much.)
When it comes to Clara and Jamie, Clara seems to be the author’s favorite. Clara is, for the most part, well-developed, while Jamie just seems kind of dense. Other than the two attending eighth grade, it’s really hard to get a sense of what age they should be. They often read younger than 13 or 14 and yet the setup sometimes reads more YA.
This book would have benefitted from tighter editing throughout.
The publisher’s suggested age range for A Year Without Summer is 12 to 16, but it’s hard to see older readers engaging with this one. Ages 10 to 14 is a better bet. I suggest checking this book out from the library prior to purchasing.
There’s a lot going on in A Year Without Summer. Too much going on. Climate change, earthquakes, volcanoes, war in the Middle East, immigration, school drama. The sheer number of topics is overwhelming. Trying to shoehorn all those ideas into one book makes A Year Without Summer less successful than if author Arlene Mark had chosen one or two to explore in depth.
The highlight of A Year Without Summer comes in the debate between Clara and Jamie. This is where science and life collide and Mark seems to hit her stride. (Although I can’t imagine a teacher would be thrilled with the “just Google it” line that gets thrown around way too much.)
When it comes to Clara and Jamie, Clara seems to be the author’s favorite. Clara is, for the most part, well-developed, while Jamie just seems kind of dense. Other than the two attending eighth grade, it’s really hard to get a sense of what age they should be. They often read younger than 13 or 14 and yet the setup sometimes reads more YA.
This book would have benefitted from tighter editing throughout.
The publisher’s suggested age range for A Year Without Summer is 12 to 16, but it’s hard to see older readers engaging with this one. Ages 10 to 14 is a better bet. I suggest checking this book out from the library prior to purchasing.
August 13, 2022
Puerto Rico native Clara moves to Albany with her family, though her Papi has gone back home to help rebuild after disastrous Hurricane Maria hit their island home. She's trying her best to fit in with her new classmates in New York, instead of letting herself get stuck in her memories of Puerto Rico. Jamie's snowboarding season gets cut short when he bombs a science test and is barred from the last two competitions of the year. His big brother, Lucas, is stationed in Afghanistan, and it's all Jamie can to do get himself from one day to the next while his brother is seeing horrors that Jamie can only begin to imagine. Jamie and Clara get forced to debate the consequences of a disastrous volcano eruption on 1815 because they got into a fight over whether good things could possible come out of a natural disaster.
Honestly, this book is super "preachy." I'm sure the vibe the author was going for was more fictional with an educational edge, but it feels really aggressive, and not in a fun and interesting way. Clara seems to just "get over" her PTSD from being in the middle of the hurricane. She's also SUPER judgey about everyone's motives, and how they act toward her, and everyone else. It's never resolved whether Jamie's grade actually improves, but suddenly his relationship with his dad is sunshine and rainbows, and he's going to a dancing snowboarding camp? Lucas seems to be miraculously healing from severe 3rd degree burns on his leg after repeated discussion of his possibly losing his leg. Molly, a side "mean girl" character doesn't seem to have any redeeming qualities until 10 pages from the end, and suddenly she's friendly to Clara.
The writing itself feels very juvenile, almost like the author was a 13 year old herself, rather than writing FOR a 13 year old. Everything gets wrapped up in a tidy little bow in the last chapter, and it feels 100% rushed. If one more character said they were going to "google" for information just one more time, I think I might have lost my mind.
I appreciate the amount of information I learned about the Tambora. I appreciate the desire to steer kids toward working to help the environment. But the way it was presented could really have used some more editing.
I received an Advanced Reader Copy via NetGalley in return for sharing my thoughts on this book. Thanks to the author and publisher for this opportunity!
Honestly, this book is super "preachy." I'm sure the vibe the author was going for was more fictional with an educational edge, but it feels really aggressive, and not in a fun and interesting way. Clara seems to just "get over" her PTSD from being in the middle of the hurricane. She's also SUPER judgey about everyone's motives, and how they act toward her, and everyone else. It's never resolved whether Jamie's grade actually improves, but suddenly his relationship with his dad is sunshine and rainbows, and he's going to a dancing snowboarding camp? Lucas seems to be miraculously healing from severe 3rd degree burns on his leg after repeated discussion of his possibly losing his leg. Molly, a side "mean girl" character doesn't seem to have any redeeming qualities until 10 pages from the end, and suddenly she's friendly to Clara.
The writing itself feels very juvenile, almost like the author was a 13 year old herself, rather than writing FOR a 13 year old. Everything gets wrapped up in a tidy little bow in the last chapter, and it feels 100% rushed. If one more character said they were going to "google" for information just one more time, I think I might have lost my mind.
I appreciate the amount of information I learned about the Tambora. I appreciate the desire to steer kids toward working to help the environment. But the way it was presented could really have used some more editing.
I received an Advanced Reader Copy via NetGalley in return for sharing my thoughts on this book. Thanks to the author and publisher for this opportunity!
July 14, 2022
This book deals with many heavy issues including natural disasters, climate change, being separated from a family member, and war. Clara and Jamie are likable eighth graders who engage in a scientific debate about the effects of the eruption of Mount Tambora in 1815. As a fan of snowboarding, Jamie thinks it's cool that the eruption blocked out the sun and caused it to snow in the summer. Meanwhile, Clara's recent displacement due to Hurricane Maria has only strengthened her resolve that all natural disasters are bad!
I enjoyed the debate aspect of this book and wished that it had gone on longer. The age of the characters felt a bit off and I think I would have found their dialogue and family situations to be more believable if the characters had been older. The end of the book also incorporates a plot with a character suffering from PTSD and being injured in war and that felt too depressing. A valiant effort was made to include multiple issues plaguing our world at the moment, but I think the story would have flowed better if the author had only focused on the issue of climate change. I would give this 3.5 stars.
I enjoyed the debate aspect of this book and wished that it had gone on longer. The age of the characters felt a bit off and I think I would have found their dialogue and family situations to be more believable if the characters had been older. The end of the book also incorporates a plot with a character suffering from PTSD and being injured in war and that felt too depressing. A valiant effort was made to include multiple issues plaguing our world at the moment, but I think the story would have flowed better if the author had only focused on the issue of climate change. I would give this 3.5 stars.
October 8, 2022
I loved the way this book models activism among kids. The story follows Clara and Jamie as they learn about climate change and natural disasters and try to figure out how they can make a difference in the world around them, even if the adults aren't part of that.
Clara survived Hurricane Maria, and her dad is still in Puerto Rico helping to rebuild. She's got a lot of fear and anxiety, but she channels those into working to make a difference.
Jamie's brother has PTSD and injuries from his service in the military. This prompts Jamie to think about the way that climate change impacts politics and wars. He discovers some uncomfortable truths and decides that he needs to help Clara in making a difference in the world and raising awareness of the harm that's being done to the planet and the effects it's causing.
On the whole, I enjoyed the book largely because of its messaging and the way that it allowed young characters to take center stage in environmental activism.
Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions my own.
Clara survived Hurricane Maria, and her dad is still in Puerto Rico helping to rebuild. She's got a lot of fear and anxiety, but she channels those into working to make a difference.
Jamie's brother has PTSD and injuries from his service in the military. This prompts Jamie to think about the way that climate change impacts politics and wars. He discovers some uncomfortable truths and decides that he needs to help Clara in making a difference in the world and raising awareness of the harm that's being done to the planet and the effects it's causing.
On the whole, I enjoyed the book largely because of its messaging and the way that it allowed young characters to take center stage in environmental activism.
Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions my own.
August 17, 2022
Now, I don’t usually enjoy MG, but the concept behind this was refreshing! Climate change is a (sadly) controversial subject and to being the subject into such an important age group is genius.
Despite the main characters being of a different opinion to begin with, their eventual path comes together for the benefit of all. There are heavy topics discussed, such as the Afghanistan war, Hurricane Maria, and immigration/second-class citizenship. While most would steer away for this age-group, these are subjects that effect them too and it’s important to share those stories. Though I don’t necessarily feel there was enough fleshing out of the characters due to the amount of background needing to be covered, I still connected with them and enjoyed the book!
Thanks @BookSparks and @ArleneMark for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!
Despite the main characters being of a different opinion to begin with, their eventual path comes together for the benefit of all. There are heavy topics discussed, such as the Afghanistan war, Hurricane Maria, and immigration/second-class citizenship. While most would steer away for this age-group, these are subjects that effect them too and it’s important to share those stories. Though I don’t necessarily feel there was enough fleshing out of the characters due to the amount of background needing to be covered, I still connected with them and enjoyed the book!
Thanks @BookSparks and @ArleneMark for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 25, 2022
Two eight graders, Jamie and Clara, are doing a research on a volcano eruption to debate whether natural disasters are a good thing or not. Survivor of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, Clara obviously doesn't thing they are. But skiing fan Jamie is enthusiastic by the fact that the particular volcanic eruption they are studying caused a snowfall in summer.
This is middle-grade fiction, I am clearly not to right audience for this, so it couldn't hold my attention. The dialogues are disorganized, but I liked the debate aspect of the story. It does talk a lot about other things going on in the world, and I would've preferred if it focused on climate change. I do see how a middle schooler may enjoy this, especially if they are interested in climate change.
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This is middle-grade fiction, I am clearly not to right audience for this, so it couldn't hold my attention. The dialogues are disorganized, but I liked the debate aspect of the story. It does talk a lot about other things going on in the world, and I would've preferred if it focused on climate change. I do see how a middle schooler may enjoy this, especially if they are interested in climate change.
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 8, 2023
The Year Without A Summer
by Arlene Mark
After Jamie and Clara’s science teacher breaks up their argument about whether there are any benefits to natural disasters, he forces them to debate the pros and cons of the cataclysmic volcanic eruption of Tambora in 1815.
Surprises abound as two likable and relatable teens from different cultures face their own, and each other’s, family disaster. Once Jamie and Clara unearth each other’s home stories, Clara cannot help caring about Jamie’s brother, off at war, and Jamie cannot help caring about her father, missing after a hurricane.
Deftly weaving the interplay of natural disasters, climate change and man-made catastrophe into a lively, thought-provoking story, this tale of courage, persistence and compassion is not just inspiring and empowering for kids wishing to set the world on a better course. It is FUNNY!
by Arlene Mark
After Jamie and Clara’s science teacher breaks up their argument about whether there are any benefits to natural disasters, he forces them to debate the pros and cons of the cataclysmic volcanic eruption of Tambora in 1815.
Surprises abound as two likable and relatable teens from different cultures face their own, and each other’s, family disaster. Once Jamie and Clara unearth each other’s home stories, Clara cannot help caring about Jamie’s brother, off at war, and Jamie cannot help caring about her father, missing after a hurricane.
Deftly weaving the interplay of natural disasters, climate change and man-made catastrophe into a lively, thought-provoking story, this tale of courage, persistence and compassion is not just inspiring and empowering for kids wishing to set the world on a better course. It is FUNNY!
August 24, 2022
I really enjoyed this book. It explored growing up and becoming aware of the world around us. I loved the characters and different family stories. I liked how there is a lot we don't know or see that the people around us are dealing with. It was really thought provoking.
This is a middle school read so things were solved in a simplistic way. It was a little frustrating because life isn't always tied up in a nice bow.
All in all though, i really enjoyed it.
This is a middle school read so things were solved in a simplistic way. It was a little frustrating because life isn't always tied up in a nice bow.
All in all though, i really enjoyed it.
dnf
January 4, 2023Thank you Net Galley and Publishers for allowing me the Digital ARC of this book, Unfortunately, I was late to download it and it expired before I could finish. I will update by review once I get a chance to finish it. It seemed like a book I would like for my Jr. High Library from what I could finish.
May 28, 2024
*I received this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
While I think the premise of this book was pretty good. I think it just tried to do too much.
Some of the things that happened seemed really unrealistic. And while that's not always a terrible thing in fiction, I just found that in this book it didn't work for me.
While I think the premise of this book was pretty good. I think it just tried to do too much.
Some of the things that happened seemed really unrealistic. And while that's not always a terrible thing in fiction, I just found that in this book it didn't work for me.
July 11, 2022
This was a cute story that is perfect for the summer. The romance was cute and I think this one would be great for juvenile and young adult readers. It's a story that makes you think about the world around you. Along with falling head first for these characters.
July 21, 2022
I think it's an interesting book with a good plot and thought provoking themes. The characters are fleshed even if they sound a bit older and the plot is gripping.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
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