The First Magnificent Summer

by R.L. Toalson

Judy Blume meets Barbara Dee in this tender and empowering middle grade novel told in journal entries and poetry about a young writer on the verge of becoming a woman whose summer with her estranged father doesn’t turn out the way she’d hoped.Twelve-year-old Victoria Reeves is all set for her “First Magnificent Summer with Dad,” even though it’s been more than two years since she last saw him. She’s ready to impress him with her wit, her maturity, and her smarts—at least until he shows up for the long road trip to Ohio with his new family, The Replacements, in tow. But that’s not the only unpleasant surprise in store for Victoria. There are some smaller disappointments, like being forced to eat bologna even though it’s her least favorite food in the world. And then there’s having to sleep outside in a tent while The Replacements rest comfortably inside the family RV. But the worst thing Victoria grapples with is when she begins to suspect that part of the reason Dad always treats her as “less than” is for one simple she’s female. As Victoria captures every moment of her less than magnificent summer in her journal, she discovers that the odds are stacked against her in the Not only does her wit begin to crumble around Dad’s multiple shaming jabs, but she gets her first period. And when Dad does the worst thing yet, she realizes she has a decision to will she let a man define her?

Genres: Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Young Adult, Fiction, Family, Summer, Childrens

352 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 30, 2023

About the author

Arnold Adoff Poetry Honor award-winning MG author, poet | THE COLORS OF THE RAIN | THE WOODS | wife, mom of 6 (boys), long-distance runner, tea drinker

Reviews

[cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure if I'll ever be able to encapsulate what this story meant to me (and will mean to so many kids with similarly divorced/estranged parents) but I think this is my best approximation:

Equipped with her endless supply of journals, Victoria Reeves has two missions for these next 30 days. First, to remind her father what he left behind when he departed from their family two years ago to start another. And second, to document every moment of it. But the promise of a sunshine-filled summer getaway is not what it seems for Victoria and her siblings. Upon arriving at the campground, they are confronted by the harsh reality of excessive bologna sandwiches, spider-infested showers, and maybe—just maybe—the cold hard truth that they've been replaced by their father's new family. And to make matters worse, the happy, caring dad they thought they were missing so viciously has melted away into a harsh, grouchy, and unreasonably critical shell of a man. Not entirely sure what to make of these realizations, Victoria, Jack, and Maggie embark on the difficult journey of surviving in a world clearly built without them in mind—traveling through rough patches and dirty waters to discover what it means to grow up feeling half-loved and how to realize their worth in spite of that.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tori's father is a sick abuser. This book made me so mad.

[Brittney Lyon · Rating 5 out of 5]

The way I held my breath through this book…

I’m in full summer reading mode and I was excited to pick up The First Magnificent Summer. The cover is beautiful… almost nostalgic which is perfect because this one is set in the 90s… think pay phones, counting coins for candy, family time at the lake but what you may not pick up at first glance of this beautiful cover is a very sad, and what I’m now realizing can be someone else’s true story. Which as a mom, as a human. Breaks my heart.

Victoria and her siblings are off to visit their Dad they haven’t seen in two years. Victoria is hopeful but already knows what to expect. With her dads new family in tow and lesser than appropriate accommodations you quickly realize that this will not be The First Magnificent Summer.

I would love to read reviews from the middle grade audience on this one. My thoughts are from such a different place in life than what I would have thought in my early teens. This book is important. It’s left me speechless yet wanting to speak about. I’m looking forward to see what else R.L. Toalson creates.

In this book Victoria has a stack of journals/notebooks which she writes everything down. She really inspired me and I wish I was a teen again laying outside on a hot summer day jotting down all I see.

[R.L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know I’m the author of this book, and reviews by authors for their own books are a little silly and maybe self indulgent, but you know what? I’m really proud of this book. It took me a long time to find the courage to write it. And I know there are kids out there like Victoria (because I meet them all the time), who are suffering through divorce and their family’s financial worries and difficult parental relationships and shaky self esteem and the knowledge (but untruth) that they don’t measure up in some way.

So I wrote this book for 12-year-old Rachel, but I also wrote it for them. Because no child should be made to feel, by anyone in their lives, that they have to earn love. That their identity is up to anyone but them. That they are anything less than magnificent. I hope this book finds them and they read it and it lives on in their hearts.

And for the readers who were privileged enough to live a childhood that looks completely different from the one laid out in this book, I hope it makes them ask questions. I hope they start looking for the invisibly hurting ones who hardly ever talk about what they’re going through at home. Not all children have responsible, loving adults in their lives—it’s important to acknowledge and understand that. Empathy creates kindness, and kids like Victoria need both every step of the way in their journey toward growing up.

Thanks for indulging me. I treasure this book. I hope you do too.

Thank you for reading! 💜

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heartbreakingly tender middle grade novel told in a mixture of prose and verse that follows anxiety-riddled 12 year old Victoria/Tori as she goes on a road trip with her estranged, emotionally and physically abusive father.

My heart literally ached for this sweet, hopeful young girl who wanted this time with her father to be a positive experience, only to have him belittle and denigrate her constantly. The ways he was horrible to her defied my comprehension!

Great on audio, this might be hard for some young readers but is a great look at one girl's ability to persevere in the face of extreme distress and abuse. Recommended for fans of authors like Jamie Sumner.

[Krissi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, I was very surprised by this book. For a middle grade book, it is very deep and almost made me cry. Makes you realize how fortunate you are when you may not have had a perfect family growing up, but at least you still had that family that treated you with love and respect. The main character, Victoria, her brother, and sister are going to their father's for the summer when they have not seen him in a few years since their parent's separation. We find the father has had another family for quite some time, leading to some obvious conflict between the two families. We navigate through Victoria's personal journey throughout the book of her time with her father and how it affects her. Children are so innocent, and this book is a reminder that they feel and know more than what we may think and that every action we make around them affects them. Bravo to R.L. Toalson for this heartbreaking book.

[Christine Indorf · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book isn’t an easy read. A father who left his family for 2 years want to take his children for the month. He is verbally and emotionally abusive. It was an excellent read but one I believe that a parent should read with their children. I reread this book and am glad I did, but still it was a hard read.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

In 1993, Victoria (who is tired of being called Tori) has to spend a month in Ohio with her father. She hasn't seen him for two years, since he walked out on her mother and younger siblings, Maggie and Jack. He's with Lisa and her daughter Annie now, and has a new baby, Devon. The trip starts okay. Tori gets to talk to Meemaw, who gives her some new journals and allows her to eat junk food, and Tori steels herself for dealing with her father. She won't complain or sulk, and she will impress him with her writing as well as the books she is reading (Virginia Wolff, William Carlos Williams, and Charles Dickens), and he will want to move back to Texas. The road trip across the US is hot and miserable; there's no entertainment, and her father packs bologna sandwiches, which are Victoria's least favorite food. They stop at her father's mother's house, which is okay, and at least provides her the space to deal with a personal emergency; she's gotten her period for the first time. Luckily, her mother has provided her with Womanhood Supplies, if not a lot of information about how long her period will last. Her father than drops a bombshell. He and Lisa are living in a trailer at a campground, and while Lisa and her children get to sleep in the camper, Victoria and her siblings have to sleep in a tent. There's a camp bathroom, so everything is just difficult. Her father provides experiences he thinks should be fun, like swimming, and is not nice when Victoria doesn't want to do them. He gets mad at her for constantly "scribbling" in her journal, and never has kind words to say. He's the kind of man who is even mean to the dog, Heidi. There's really no one for Victoria to turn to to get help, since he even listens in to her weekly calls to her mother. It's a tense and horrible summer which ends in her father finding and reading her journals, and being extremely angry. Finally, her mother and Meemaw retrieve the children. The author has a note at the end to children who might have a similar upbringing.
Strengths: There are many kinds of child abuse, and Victoria's father probably wouldn't even acknowledge that his actions were problematic, especially 30 years ago, when parents were not overly concerned with children's feelings. His demeaning treatment of the children and dismissal of their feelings and needs is probably the most common kind of abuse that children experience. There have been several students this year who come to talk to me about parents who fight; I've never had to ask so many children if they feel safe and if I need to talk to someone for them. This is a particularly sticky situation, so it's good to see how Victoria deals with it. The summer setting is interesting and a bit jarring, since campgrounds have a presupposed atmosphere of fun and lightheartedness. This was definitely a sad and compelling read.
Weaknesses: While younger readers will probably be more interested in the details of Victoria's period than I was, it did seem a bit odd that her mother had not given her a pamphlet of information along with the supplies. At least Lisa finally stepped in and provided some additional supplies, if not support.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed Stoddard's Bea is for Blended or Lowell's The Road to After.

[Emma Bayles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for the TCCL Reconsideration Committee. This was a very heartfelt story with some big feelings and mature concepts for a children's novel. I would not recommend for kids younger than 10-11 years old, as some of the large themes throughout the book have to do with abuse (emotional, verbal, and physical) and a traumatic first period experience. Would definitely recommend though for teenagers and adults!

[Katie Reilley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listened to this one as an audiobook. A coming of ago story narrated by Victoria, the middle (of 3) children who are spending a month with their dad during the summer. Their dad - who walked out of their lives years ago to remarry and start his “replacement” family.
This was a really tough listen due to the toxic behavior of the dad. I can’t remember when I’ve ever hated a parent figure more in a middle grade story. Be sure to read the author’s note at the end.

Favorite lines:

I’m bruised on the inside. By words, not hands.

What can you do about the life you get? Live it to the best of your ability, Meemaw would say.

That’s what home is, I think. A place where you know you’re loved, and you don’t have to do anything to earn that love.

Sometimes growing up also feels like losing.

Can’t change who you are without losing yourself….he should love you just because you’re his kids.

Anxiety is good at reminding me of that…People don’t know what it’s like living with the spiral in my head.

[♡︎Jada♡︎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

-Audiobook- 4.75

[Shari · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

This was such a tough read, but an important one. Unfortunately, too many kids will relate to Victoria and her struggle to please a narcissistic, abusive parent. The good part is that walking with Victoria through what will probably be her most difficult summer will show young readers that they aren't alone, that they can survive, and that they don't have to be defined by toxic family members.

Often we see young protagonists have a moment of triumph where they speak up for themselves to their abusers. Victoria doesn't get to have this moment, but it is completely understandable. Her father has flown into a rage at her written words, so there is no way that she would be safe to speak up for herself. She does find he resolve and her words when she is once again safe, so there is relief in knowing that her mom and grandma are there for her. I want to believe that the full story of what happened will be shared and that she will not be forced to see her dad again

I loved that so much of this book was centered on Victoria's period, and the very real struggle of dealing with her first period while camping. I wanted so badly for someone to stand up for her, but that doesn't always happen in real life either. It's okay to feel uncomfortable - we shouldn't be okay with children ever being abused, ridiculed, or shamed.

Overall, the writing pulled me in and let me see Victoria's heart, the story is heartbreaking, and the message is clear: we are not defined by anyone else, and we don't have to listen to the hurtful words of those who don't love us unconditionally.

[Mackenzie Virginia · Rating 5 out of 5]

read an ARC, obtained through my job at a library

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating this book was very difficult. I had a hard time finishing it because Victoria/Tori’s summer was so very far from magnificent and my heart was hurting for her so much that for every page I turned, I wondered if I could handle one more awful thing happening to her. However, the conclusion was full of so many vital truths that all our kids, and especially those who have experienced abandonment, abuse, neglect and disregard at the hands of someone who should love them unconditionally, must learn and believe right down to their very core.

Victoria’s dad officially left her mother two full years ago and has not contacted them since. But in reality, he was gone far sooner than that and although it was supposedly work that kept him away, it becomes more and more apparent that his new wife Lisa and his baby and three yr old daughter were the real reason he was seldom home. But this summer, with Jack 13, her being 12, and Maggie at 9, will be different because he is coming to Ohio to get them so they can spend a big chunk of the summer reacquainting themselves with one another and meeting “The Replacements,” as she calls his new family. And she really does try to be all that she remembers her dad wanting, a non-pouting, not over-eating, always smiling, at his beck and call type of daughter. But Tori is a thinker, a writer of all her thoughts and feelings, and is often a little bit anxious over his leaving, her changing body, and how people perceive her. Dad is verbally abusive, overtly favors his two newest children and Jack, treats her passion for writing with vicious disdain and while only the slaps to the face at the end of the summer are specifically described, she writes of bruising that has happened earlier and should be yellow by the time school starts. Victoria is not the only one who is bossed around and belittled. New wife Lisa is treated like a servant just like he did to his first wife, “teasing” is just plain mean towards everyone but delivers the barbs with a hearty slap on the table and a laugh trying to make it all seem in good fun. It’s not. Victoria is so cowed down and fearful of showing him who she is that she hides the fact that her first period began and she might not have enough supplies to last to the end. (The one time 2nd wife Lisa shows some heart is when she shows Victoria where her supplies are kept and tells her to take what she needs.)

With even Maggie and Jack pulling away from her, probably in acts of self-preservation, Victoria is at a desperate place by the end of her “magnificent” summer with the dad she hoped would love her. Reunion with her mother and Memaw, however, sees some important lessons becoming more a part of her thinking. From the end of the book and the author’s poignant notes:

“You deserve to be loved simply because you’re you. And who you are is magnificent.”

“It has nothing to do with you. When a parent we love leaves us, it’s so easy to go over and over and over all the things we did or said…to try to find a reason for their leaving…The wound our parent left whispers all kinds of lies…[but] you deserve to be loved simply because you are you.”

“Happy endings sometimes look like Maggie’s hair after she’s spent the day running around outside like a wild child racing the wind…Not everything gets fixed. And you can’t wait around expecting everything to get fixed when you don’t really have control over that. You can’t control other people You only control you.”

Although I believe this is an important book for middle grade readers, it is not for the tenderhearted or the very young, not matter their reading ability. Target age is likely 11-13. I also have a problem with the fact that Dad’s absolute physical abuse was never reported and no one seems to bat an eye over Tori’s bruises. Yes, mom and Memaw assure her that she is enough and magnificent just the way she is, but no one encourages her to speak out against the abuse nor is CPS called. There are two other children under the abusive father’s care and she herself would likely benefit from telling someone in an official capacity, even if the report doesn’t change anything.

Note: Toalson writes a follow up book that is far more uplifting, “Something Maybe Magnificent,” that centers on the wonderful new man in her mom’s life and her recognition that it is OK to let someone new into her heart. And her Leta Lightning Laurel is absolutely wonderful.

[Laina SpareTime]

Cross-posted from my blog where there's more information on where I got my copy and links and everything.

Oh, I had mixed feelings about this. First of all, I read the summary of this a coupple times and nothing in the summary says this is historical fiction, but it’s set in 1993. There is no real reason for it to be set in the 90s besides that Victoria and her siblings don’t have cellphones to contact their mother. There are a few pop culture references, but most of the book is set at a campground so you don’t even really notice the different technology or anything. Victoria also mentions having bangs in the book but her cover counterpart doesn’t have any, which makes her hair look much more modern than the very styled 90s bangs she talks about having. It feels a little misleading marketing-wise.

Victoria and her siblings are spending their summer with their estranged father, and it’s never explained why. Her parents are divorced and there doesn’t seem to be any kind of custody order or anything. Considering how emotionally and physically abusive their father is and how reluctant their mother is, it comes across as strange that she doesn’t do anything to protect the kids.

Over the course of the month they spend with him, Victoria’s father gets increasingly more and more emotionally abusive, specifically to her, while favouring her brother and largely ignoring her little sister. There is a lot of sexism and constant degrading of her and it is honestly kind of exhausting to read. There’s no balance of good things that happen. She doesn’t make a friend or connect more with her brother or anything you would expect – it’s just three hundred pages of misery.

At one point, Victoria’s father hits her in the face repeatedly until she bruises and she never tells her mother. No one ever actually helps them – the summer just ends and they go home. I don’t like that message in a middle grade book. The author’s note says something like, “If you’re a kid whose parent has left, there’s nothing wrong with you,” which is a great message but there aren’t any resources or hotlines or anything a child experiencing this could use to get actual help.

This is also another book that spends a great deal of time talking about periods because apparently I read a lot of those now. Victoria’s mother didn’t do a very good job preparing her for her first one, which she gets in the book. She’s constantly calling her period supplies “Womanhood Supplies” which get grating and certainly isn’t very inclusive. I like normalization of periods in middle grade, but it’s a little overdone here.

Overall, I liked the voice of this but it wasn’t an enjoyable reading experience and I’d hesitate to recommend it to kids because of the messaging issues I mentioned earlier. I had the sequel/companion on my to-read list but I don’t know if I want to pick it up now. Really a bummer.

Representation: Victoria has anxiety. She is offered no real support for her anxiety by her family, even the well-meaning ones.

Content notes: Child abuse, both emotional and physical. Victoria’s father is sexist, degrading, drinks too much, slaps her repeatedly, and it’s mentioned he used to hit them with his belt. There is also so much body shaming/fat shaming.

Periods are also talked about a TON and in a heavily gendered way that’s a little uncomfortable at times.

Off-topic but how detailed her toes are on the cover freaks me out.

[Mark Buxton · Rating 5 out of 5]

What worked:
Victoria, not Tori anymore, has a mind that won’t stop. She frets when her mother fails to call when she promised so you can see that meeting her father for the first time in two years will be even worse. Her father’s time away has made him ignorant of his own children’s interests and lives as he seems to be more concerned with his new wife, toddler, and infant. Victoria struggles to get any type of positive attention from her father and it seems to be a losing battle. He treats her as the younger girl from two years ago while older brother Jack is rewarded with praise and kindness. She’s pessimistic when it comes to the possibility of receiving her father’s affection which may be a more common problem for female readers than I’d like to think.
The author uses descriptive words and writing techniques to create a colorful, imaginative narrative. The story is told as journal entries although it doesn’t often sound like them. In one part of the book, Victoria compares her brother and herself to a pair of Sketchers shoes. She’s not sure if Jack’s changed because his laces have been tied too tightly or maybe he’s been wrapped around scratchy, stinky socks for too long. (Or no socks at all!) Victoria has her first menstrual period (she calls it The Visitor in her mind) on the first day with her dad and this physical change can be a traumatic time for young girls. It certainly is for Victoria as there’s a page and a half of lines sharing the terror she feels, such as “I CAN’T BREATHE!” and no one can enter the bathroom “Not until the floor swallows me whole!” Inspired, I’m sure by her father, there’s a whole chapter about the world of women defined by men. There is the word MENstrual itself, her MENacing MENace father, the MENu of creatively condemning words her father has for Victoria and her younger sister, and many other negative words from the dictionary that start with MEN (there are many!)
Much of the story casts Victoria in a lonely light as she grapples with the challenges of puberty on her own. She’s a thousand miles from her mother in Texas and doesn’t feel comfortable seeking help from a stepmother she just met or from her little sister who’d be no help at all. She obviously can’t talk about girl things with her father since he already gets angry when she won’t eat baloney sandwiches his stepmother made. It’s hard to believe she’ll find any understanding from a father who calls her “ungrateful”, pouty, and “Miss Priss”. Consequently, Victoria is forced to face the distress of menstruation, pimples on the forehead, and suffering through summer with The Replacements without any support other than her journal. Readers will speculate whether her father will finally realize the wonderful daughter in front of him or if he’ll become the monster she imagines.
What didn’t work as well:
Young boys probably won’t relate as well to the story as much of the conflict is sexist against girls. It’s difficult to read the constant verbal abuse Victoria endures from her father. The story can be a powerful lesson for more mature readers as it’s truly a story of empowerment against the expectations of others.
The Final Verdict:
This story can be emotionally taxing at times but Victoria’s strength and resolution present an inspirational message for young girls. The author’s vivid, expressive narrative evokes stroke feelings that will touch the hearts of young readers. I highly recommend you give this book a shot!

[Rebecca Shelton · Rating 1 out of 5]

"The First Magnificent Summer" blends journal entries and poetry to tell the story of twelve-year-old Victoria Reeves. Victoria is eager for what she hopes will be a "First Magnificent Summer with Dad," despite not having seen him in over two years. She plans to impress him with her wit, maturity, and intelligence. Her expectations, though, are shattered when her father arrives for the road trip to Ohio with his new family, whom Victoria dubs "The Replacements."

The summer quickly turns sour as Victoria faces a series of disappointments. She is forced to eat bologna, her least favorite food, and sleep outside in a tent while her father's new family stays in the RV. The biggest blow comes when Victoria realizes her father's dismissive and demeaning behavior is rooted in sexism. As she documents her experiences in her journal, Victoria grapples with her father's constant shaming, the challenges of her first period, and the realization that she must decide whether to let her father's treatment define her.

I found "The First Magnificent Summer" to be a disappointing and frustrating read. The repetitive mention of "womanhood supplies" was incredibly annoying and unnecessary. Using such a vague term repeatedly without proper explanation or inclusivity feels outdated and insensitive, especially considering the need for inclusive language for men who menstruate. The protagonist's reluctance to ask for more pads, despite needing them, adds to the frustration.

Victoria's father is depicted as an extremely abusive and triggering character. His authoritarian and abusive behavior, such as hitting Victoria and forcing her to submit without explanations, is deeply unsettling. It is disheartening that Victoria's mother allowed her to go on this trip and that her siblings did not stand by her, leaving her to feel like a scapegoat. Middle-grade authors have a significant responsibility to write books that support and help young readers navigate adolescence, but this book fails in that regard.

Victoria never tells anyone about her father's physical abuse, which is not okay. The lack of support from her siblings and the inadequate response from her mother and grandmother after such a traumatic summer are problematic. The author's note at the end, with its dismissive "I survived and I know you will too" message, felt inadequate and unsympathetic.

Overall, the book fails to provide a constructive or supportive narrative for its intended audience, making it a difficult and unsatisfactory read.

[Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautifully crafted and generously written coming of age story. Victoria is a brilliant, conscientious girl who copes with her anxiety by journaling in the midst of puberty and challenging family issues. The book is constructed through those journal entries. She hasn't seen her abusive father in years. He abandoned their family to start a new one, and now she and her siblings are going to spend the summer with him. Victoria is full of hurt and hope, imagining that this will be the first of many magnificent summers together when Dad will finally coming home. As readers we feel her desperation for his love and the heartbreak over and over again as he continues to fail to be a parent, let alone a caring one. On top of all this emotional upheaval, Victoria gets her first period while camping without enough period supplies. R.L. Toalson does such an amazing job of showing the physical and emotional manifestations of Victoria's anxiety, how kids pay the price for their grown-ups decisions and failings, and the main character's gradual realization over the book that she is enough just as she is and deserves to be loved and protected. In the end Victoria understand that her voice is important--the world needs her words--and I can't wait to see what she writes in the sequel book. Tara Sands was the perfect narrator for this story - she portrayed that feeling at this age of incredible hurt while still holding onto hope that the adults in your life will get it together. Heartbreaking. Please note that there is both physical and emotional abuse depicted on the page in deciding whether it is the right time for you to read this book. If it is, I highly recommend it. This is a really important book that will make kids feel understood.

[Diane Magras · Rating 5 out of 5]

R.L. Toalson has created a mountain of tension in The First Magnificent Summer, starting in the very beginning when the protagonist, Victoria, is preparing with her older brother and younger sister to join their divorced dad for a summer vacation. In the first few chapters, you'll start to understand that there are very good reasons for the divorce, and it's not just that he cheated on their mom and began a new family with someone else. He has very firm likes and dislikes, and Victoria is already preparing to meet his expectations by being his definition of a perfect daughter.

From the moment Victoria gets into his car, though, with her siblings and her father's new wife and children, the reader knows that this is going to be a huge struggle for Victoria. Her father's verbal abuse begins almost instantly, and the effect on his first family is heartbreaking.

Toalson had drawn a pitch-perfect description of an misogynistic, selfish narcissist in Victoria's dad. His abuse takes a variety of forms, reaching Victoria where she is most vulnerable. But Victoria finds camaraderie in unexpected places when her father's abuse reaches a stunning peak. Anyone who has experienced parental abuse—particular from a father—will find familiar ground here, and will know they're not alone, and that healing is possible.

[Tasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Вікторія (не Торі!) зі своїм старшим братом Джеком та молодшою сестрою Меґ влітку їде до кемпінгу разом із татом (який покинув дружину та дітей два роки тому і оце вперше з'явився налагоджувати стосунки) та його новою родиною. Дівчинка очікує, що це буде незабутнє літо і тата вразять її мудрість та письменницький хист (тому що кожну вільну хвилину вона пише у своїх нотатниках або читає). На жаль, тато є яскравим прикладом сраного патріархату і незабутнє літо стає пекельно нестерпним з першої ж хвилини.


За анотацією очікувала дещо більшого і що Вікторія зрештою постоїть за себе, але очікування не виправдались. Можливо, книга буде корисною для підняття самооцінки та сподобається (буде ближчою) підліткам, а мені не вистачило проговорення образ та кривдностей словами через рот — хай не від малої, але мама мала б щось сказати і сказати так, щоб дитина це почула й побачила. Втішити потім «ти можеш бути ким захочеш» і «не дозволяй нікому тебе визначати» — це після бійки кулаками і так воно не працює. Суть відстоювання кордонів у тому, щоб відстоювати їх тут і зараз, а не як-небудь згодом, тихо сама із собою (trust me I`m Ukrainian).
І ще дивно було чути від профеміністичної дівчини про «відвідувачів» замість «менструації», ми ж наче не соромимось називати речі як годиться, без евфемизмів.

[Wina · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars for this realistic fiction for ages 10-18. The author loves the cover art, but I think it's too juvenile for the age group. I expected a much more fun and lighthearted book, but this is a hard one. I don't usually read the flaps, otherwise I would've been more prepared for it. I thought it was about a girl with anxiety, which it is. However, it's more about a girl and her 2 siblings spending a month with their estranged father. I hate her dad. I hope all 3 of them end up hating their dad. I almost gave it 4 stars because it was so hard to put down and I loved Victoria and felt so much for her. I really wanted to know what happened! In the end, after they are back home again with their mom, Victoria has some wise and hopeful reflections. She understands they will be o.k. without their dad in their lives. She believes/understands that she is fine the way she is, and she has important things to say. I decided on 3.5 stars because I don't think I could say, "I really liked it." However, it was REALLY good.

Trigger warning: needling, passive aggressive, domineering, insulting, negligent behavior from their dad, especially toward Victoria. He is a sexist and a bully, too. Near the end he slaps her more than once. I don't want to give anymore of the details away.

Really important and encouraging author's note, writing from her own experience.

[Jamie Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Victoria Reeves has big plans to spend 30 days over the summer with her father she hasn't seen in 2 years, ever since her parents divorced because he had a second family, The Replacements. She writes her plan in her journal, or more correctly, journals, and things go way off plan from as soon as he picks her, her brother, Jack, and her sister, Maggie. He shows up with his new wife and their two children. The verbal abuse from her father starts immediately, like sticker burrs in her socks, and continue throughout the summer where it is clear he prefers his new family and Jack to her. It is unclear about Maggie. It also doesn't help she gets her first period with her mom over a thousand miles away at home in Texas and they are stuck for that week in a campground where her dad wants to force her to swim in the pool and the lake. The book shows what effects emotional abuse can do, and how it can be buried, and that one must stay true to themselves. The whole book is Victoria writing to herself in her journal, poetry, explanations, and how when things were at their worst, she needed to learn to be herself. A wonderful, if painful, coming of age story for tween girls.

[Mark Harwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the journal of a twelve-year-old who is astute, sensitive, and scarred. Her journal is her best friend and her only true confidant. She can tell no other of the torture of her father's judgment—he ridicules her weight, insists her writing is a waste of time, and (worst of all, in his eyes) compares Victoria with her mother. What's more, she vies for his approval anyway. Against her better judgment, Victoria longs for her father's attention and love, and she loves him. She can't help herself.

In painful detail, Toalson captures the competing mind and heart of an abused child. As the novel progresses, his behavior only worsens. This is somehow a very funny and often poetic book, but the author does not sugarcoat childhood trauma. Few other books so believably capture a child's perspective (only two spring to mind, Kira-Kira by Kadohata and The List of Things That Will Not Change by Stead), and this novel's voice is sophisticated enough to intensify descriptions (of events, of feelings) to a breaking point in the reader's heart. The book had me in tears.

• middlegradereview.com

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you, Goodreads, for this Giveaway book. I love receiving the opportunity to read new books like this one.

In this book, we meet 3 siblings as they embark on a summer visit with their Dad and his new family. We learn the siblings have seen their Dad in 2 years.

This book provides us with a glimpse into the summer experience from the middle child's perspective. From the beginning, the negative feelings, fear and panic are apparent. The feelings are not unfounded from what we learn of the events.

The unease, fear of repeated past abusive behavior by the father comes to pass. The summer is an awful experience.

I found the book to be gloomy. I understand the book dealt with a bad situation, but I think there was room to show posited aspects of the summer. For instance, Victoria writes in journals. She has poetry, thoughts feels all in her journals. I would have enjoyed having glimpses of some of her writings, some positive (maybe something about their dog and being reunited after 2 years - maybe being able to commiserate with the sad dog). She was staying in a tent with her 2 siblings, the author may have had them share a few positive interactions. I think this would have helped me, as the reader, gain feeling for Victoria and her plight.

Interestingly, the name of the book set me up for a high, positive vibe. It just never came, even when Victoria realizes she gets to decide who she is and what she does in her future.

[Courtney · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can't get over how there was not one single responsible adult in this whole book. As far as I can tell, the mother sent her children to spend the summer with their abusive father and his new family and the only benefit of this situation was that he was to buy them new clothes for the upcoming school year. She knew he was abusive, the grandmother knew he was abusive, and they still let the children go. There was no court order forcing them to spend the summer with their father.

I am also not a fan of the fact that this is weirdly set in the 90s? I mean, if you want to write a story that gives children some awareness of what being in a divorced/abusive/poverty situation or hope for children who are in that situation that they are not alone and they can get help or have hope for a better future today's world looks very different from the 90s world. It seems to me more that this was a therapeutic exercise for the author (which I hope they benefitted from) rather than a book of interest for today's young reader.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was way more intense than I thought it was going to be. The cover feels nostalgic and summery, and when I read the blurb on the back I thought I was in for a typical coming of age story. It was so very much more than that. While some of the language and themes were a little heavy, and some caregivers might want to read this in tandem with their child so they can have conversations along the way, this book was a strong showing and hit on important topics. The books brings to light forms of abuse that can be overlooked because they are outwardly subtle. Her dad is emotionally and verbally abusive, making Victoria feel small, insignificant, and robbing her of the emotional growth she needs to undergo at such a pivotal time in her life. This book reminds us that family is earned, not granted, and sometimes the best thing you can do for yourself is to let go of people who have made no effort to earn your love and trust.

*Thank you to Aladdin/ Simon & Schuster for providing this ARC to SWON Libraries Consortium for professional review.*

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I truly do not know how to rate this. The writing was good, but the content was brutal.

I see how she wrote this for all the abused kids out there…and perhaps they will benefit from reading this. I hope so, I really do.

I cannot relate at all to this story so clearly I am not the target audience. I had an amazing father. I cannot even fathom any parent talking to a child the way this dad talks to his.

I did not enjoy this book. At all. Nearly bailed on it part way in. But I hate giving up on a book. And it’s a short listen really. (Audiobook). So I stuck with it. But I don’t know how I feel now.

Definitely the final message, which I am sure everyone can guess is coming just from the book description, is important. But gawd I don’t see any reason to subject yourself to reading about this child’s verbal abuse by her dad unless you can relate.

Just be warned that this book is a serious rough ride.

[Danielle Hammelef · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book brought out such strong emotions in me and often they were so strong I had to take a breather and decompress so I could continue. Perhaps my reaction is a combination of being a parent myself and not tolerating any abuse--physical or emotional--as well as reliving parts of my own childhood through Victoria. The mental health of parents, abuse, divorce, puberty, and double standards placed on girls versus boys were some of the tough topics dealt with in this emotional historical fiction novel.

Overall, as a reader, I enjoyed being able to feel so many emotions and so strongly--this means the writing is that good. I loved Victoria and her siblings and wanted to hug them. This novel is raw and powerful and will stick with for a long time.

[Maddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man this was a lot heavier than I thought it was going to be! I came across this book and thought it would be a cute enough middle grade to spark joy and remind me of the summer reading I did as a kid. While it did spark joy, I got slapped in the face with a hard hitting tale of a girl growing up and learning the complex reality of never fully being able to be the kid your parents wants you to be, but at an incredibly young age. There's a great balance here of adults being terrible and a young girl not having the emotional maturity to understand why the adults are being terrible, but doing her best to survive it anyways. Not sure how it would read for kids (especially since it includes mature language too) but I enjoyed it and was surprised by the emotional depth.

[Lola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!
Words for this novel?
Joyful
Sorrowful
Heartfelt
Heartbreaking
True
Honest
Heart-wrenching
Bubbly
Hopeful...
The First Magnificent Summer is a truly amazing novel, so full of love and laughter and tears and heart. Tori-I mean, Victoria-is such a relatable girl, and she feels like she could honestly be my friend. I love reading her journal entries, and her voice is so vivid and so realistic. I was STOKED when I realized this was told through the character's journal, because I am going to start writing a novel like that soon and have been looking for stories written as journals for inspiration and ideas on how to portray this. And WOW it really felt like I was reading her personal thoughts, emotions, and words poured out onto the page!
Great story, definitely recommend!