Secrets of the Cicada Summer

by Andrea Beaty

Now in paperback! Lily has read every Nancy Drew book in the library. She’s great at spying clues and keeping secrets. She has to be. She has secrets of her own that no one can ever find out.
When summer brings lying, stealing Tinny Bridges to town, Lily must depend on her own wits to keep ahead of this sly newcomer. Tinny takes candy from the general store and blames Lily. She tries to steal Lily’s friends and even her father’s affection. Worst of all, she seems to know Lily’s secret. When Tinny goes missing, only Lily has an idea what happened to her. But for Lily, finding Tinny means confronting her hidden past.

With its taut-pacing and lyrical writing, Andrea Beaty’s critically acclaimed mystery has been hailed as “the kind of satisfying read that summer is all about” (School Library Journal). Praise for Cicada Summer
 
“One part memory, one part mystery, and a generous dose of atmosphere make this the kind of satisfying read that Summer Reading is all about.” —School Library Journal
 
“Beaty weaves elements from Lily’s favorite Nancy Drew stories together with a moving picture of a child . . .” —Kirkus
 
“Written with clarity and fine attention to craft, this accessible novel reveals the secret in Lily’s past just as she reaches out to solve the mystery.” —Booklist

Genres: Mystery, Middle Grade, Fiction, Childrens, Juvenile, Realistic Fiction, Contemporary

176 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2008

About the author

For more information, visit my website (www.AndreaBeaty.com).

Also, visit www.Questioneers.com for posters, activities, educator resources, and other information about the Questioneer books.

Further, check out Story Time From Space to see Ada Twist and Rosie Revere read at the International Space Station by astronauts! It’s out of this world.

https://storytimefromspace.com/ada-tw...

Reviews

[Noelle Branch]

I’ll say it… I decided I’m counting the books I have to read for my fourth grade book clubs srry not srry

[Melki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lily has experienced a lot of loss in her young life; as a result, she no longer speaks. Her only solace is in the public library's collection of Nancy Drew books. Little does Lily suspect that before the summer's over, she'll be solving her own mystery . . . and possibly making a new friend.

Tinny arrives with the summer and the cicadas. Like Lily, she's a poor, motherless wretch who's related to the owner of the general store. Everyone thinks they should be great pals, but Tinny is awful. She steals things, and blames it on Lily, who won't speak up in her own defense. But trouble surrounds Tinny like a fog, and it isn't long until Lily is caught up in the other girl's problems.

Between wanting to slap both Tinny for being such a little brat, AND Lily for not telling on her, AND the fact that I wasn't sure of the time period (fifties? seventies?), I had trouble really getting involved in this one. Perhaps a younger reader would find this more engaging.

Oh, and I thought for sure we'd find out who stole The Haunted Showboat from the library.

[Tasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lily finds herself in the middle of her very own Nancy-Drew-like mystery in the small sleepy Illinois town she lives in. When Tinny arrives, Lily immediately dislikes her. Lily hasn't spoken in two years and everyone thinks she is brain damaged, but Tinny discovers that Lily can read when they first meet. Tinny begins taking over places where Lily felt comfortable, where she was safe and invisible. Tinny is far from invisible and seems to revel in making Lily feel very uncomfortable. But Tinny has a lot to hide too, just like Lily. And Lily is bright as can be, just silent. Strange details begin to trouble Lily, and she discovers that she is the only one who can save Tinny.

The tone here is golden. Lily's viewpoint is very strong and consistent and her inner voice is humorous and endearingly plainspoken. She is a heroine with great depth who reveals her secrets step by tiny step, creating a dual tension in the novel as both girls' secrets are slowly revealed to the reader. Unlike Nancy Drew, there is no car, no clever solutions, there is life. A lovely view of small-town life that has its own sort of mystery and tragedy.

Highly recommended for lovers of Nancy Drew who are now tweens, kids who enjoy mysteries, and anyone from small Midwestern towns who want to return briefly to their childhood. Especially those of us who felt just as invisible as Lily.

[Gwen the Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cicada Summer is a lovely first time novel from Andrea Beaty, who is better known for her picture books.

Lily doesn't speak and she doesn't look people in the eye. People in town whisper "brain damage" but that isn't it. Lily doesn't want to talk or have people pay attention to her. She has made herself invisible because of something bad that happened. One day a mysterious girl named Tinny comes from Chicago. She sees Lily and begins trying to learn her secrets. But Tinny has lots of secrets of her own and Lily wants to be like Nancy Drew and figure them out - then they'll be on equal groud. Which one of the girls has the bigger secret? Like the cidadas that burrow under ground for seventeen years and then emerge, the secrets of the past will come to light.

[A · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good, easy read, which I would recommend for ages 8 and above. Great to read with a parent, and lots to talk about.

[Deborah Rogers · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am in the process of helping an elementary librarian friend weed and genre-fy her fiction section. This is a huge job, and requires reviewing each and every title for both the keep/discard question and to determine what genre to sort it to for future shelving. As a part of this process, I am checking out a few of the unfamiliar books to get to know them better. I retired from another elementary library in the same district, so I bring a little expertise to this endeavor, but mostly I am guessing the answers to all questions.
I was unfamiliar with this title, and no other libraries in the district have it. With a publication date of 2008 it isn't as old as some, but it isn't brand new either. So I read it to see if it is worthy of keeping. It is not. While I did appreciate the story and felt it was well written, I do not know of many elementary students who would seek out this story of death, guilt and unimaginable grief. As an adult, it had appeal, but this is something that only the most rare of student readers would seek out. The main character, Lily, is the narrator of the story, and her voice on the page is strong, but she has not spoken a word aloud to anyone for the last two years. The tragic accident that cause this is slowly being revealed, but the fact that her father, and the entire town, have just accepted that this is how she will be was disturbing to me. She clearly needs help and intensive therapy, but is allowed to just hang out reading Nancy Drew books and sweeping up at the local convenience store. She is 11 and it looks as if her teen years are going to be difficult as well. But, not to worry! All is well in the end, another trauma fixes the first one and we have a happy ending.
My recommendation is to weed this title from the library.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was so goodd aww, perfect for reading on the patio, at the beach, or laying in the grass under the sun. which is exactly when i read this book. such a sweet tale from such a young perspective

[Kara]

This book falls into the genre of mystery and is best suited for students in grades 4-6.

Cicada Summer is about a young girl named Lily who suspects something is up when Tinny Bridges comes into town. Tinny acts suspiciously, but Lily soon realizes that her actions are justified due to a secret she was hiding. Their friendship begins as they are forced together, but through their ups and downs of helping each other, the girls end up being thankful for having met the other.

This is a great book for students to read in book clubs. To make the most of their discussions about this text, I would give them a few discussion points based around character traits and the meaning of unfamiliar phrases used. All of the characters exhibit many traits throughout the book, so I want to point this out to the students and have them think about how it moves the story forward. If I were to use this book as a read aloud, I would have quite a few discussion points about how the characters are feeling and to make predictions about what is going to happen with Lily and Tinny. There were many instances where the events that occurred were not what I was anticipating.

This is a WOW book for me because it kept me engaged and wanting to read the whole thing in one sitting. It didn't have a traditional "mystery" book feel to it, but was very positive and shed a bright light on all characters, even the antagonist. I also really liked how the author made connections to subtle clues noted earlier in the book that all came together to solve the mystery behind Tinny Bridges. It made me think a lot about where curiosity can take you.

[Tali · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot express how excited I am to have found this book. Read this in elementary school and all I could remember was her brother died while racing cars in a barn. Couldn’t remember the name of the book or cover. After two years of asking people and random google searches, I have found it. Can’t remember what I searched but I got it!

This book is so good for a kids book. Great vocabulary which was always my favorite part as a child, learning new words. I cried reading this at 20 years old. Such a sweet message and great story, I loved it all. Obviously this book stuck out to me as a kid and taught me a great lesson, never run a car in a enclosed space. So I have to give it a whole hearted 5 stars from 8 years old 20 years old I loved it.

[Jodi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lily has been keeping a secret for years, one that she can never tell, one that has kept her completely mute for years. Until Tinny comes to town and Lily's world is turned inside out. Tinny is also 12 but she's from the big city, not a tiny town, and she was brought up to steal and lie. She worms her way into the affections of everyone Lily cares about but when she disappears, Lily is the only one who understands why and where. It was a sweet novel but too much is left undiscussed, particularly the animosity that Tinny has for Lily. The happy ending put a smile on my face, though.

[Kamayka · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! Great read for middle schoolers looking for a fun read. This would be a great read for someone who loves mystery, but also likes a good laugh. The main characters of this book are Lily and Tinny. Lily and Tinny both have secrets that keep the book going and make you not want to put the book down. They also have a hard time becoming friends and getting along. As the story progresses lots of things unfold. You do not want to miss out!

[Michelle Hill · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a young-adult book with a first person female narrator. After her brother dies, she stops speaking and people in the town mistakenly think she is brain damaged....but really, she just likes to solve mysteries!

If you have a thirteen year old female in your life, this would be a good gift.

[Jean Giardina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this charming book aloud with Grant.

The only thing that would have made it better would have been to actually read it in summer, instead of the dead of Chicago winter. I miss the cicadas.

My favorite thing about reading aloud with Grant is seeing his reactions to plot twists in these older MG books. He is genuinely shocked and thrilled with each turn of the story.

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once Sentence Review: It's a slender, slight novel but there's something so enticingly memorable about every scene that even months after reading it I can recall every character and thematic element.

[Ami · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an interesting book.

[Amy Layton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a pleasurable read from the childhood trauma to its beginning resolution.  Lily, ever since what happened to her brother, doesn't like to talk to others or make eye contact, which not only makes things difficult for her, but for those who love her as well.  But when Tinny comes along and finds herself interested in our mute main character, things go all topsy-turvy.  Especially when Tinny frames Lily for stealing.  Now, Lily isn't seen just as a sad child, but as a delinquent, too.  And she can't do anything about it.  Unless she wants to say something.  But she doesn't.  

Lily and Tinny are frustrating characters at times, but that's what makes you love them.  They both have a huge backstory that caused them to be the way they are, and that backstory takes a long while to unfold.  Yet there's something about both of them that's endearing and that makes you want to come back for more.  Maybe it's Lily's fondness for Nancy Drew, or maybe it's Tinny brashness, but either way, this duo gives Cicada Summer a dynamic and fun tone.  

As we sort through their tumultuous pasts, more and more becomes revealed not only with their respective families, but with their current town dynamics as well--after all, in a small town, rumors and gossip spread quickly.

Overall, Beaty's book gives us a hugely pleasurable storyline about what it means to be able to speak your truth--literally.

Review cross-listed here!

[Danielle R · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy this book. Perhaps it's because my days of middle grade reading are long behind me.

The whole plot was largely predictable to anyone with a working brain. After Pete suffocates on carbon monoxide while playing in the barn with a car, his sister is traumatized. Lily survives, despite arguably being in the same space for the same amount of time. It's, of course, an accident and Lily blames herself and refuses to talk. Enter Tinny, who lashes out in all the ways a suffering child would with petty thievery and some basic lying. Then, we get "The Ring Man" who is so cartoonishly evil that I can't even tolerate him. He stalks and threatens Tinny, looking for the money her father stole, even though Tinny's been pretty much abandoned and probably too young to be any help. When Lily interrupts the Ring Man's kidnapping of Tinny, he jumps right to murdering her, despite being a thief. I also have no idea how the adults in this novella didn't notice ANY of this going on around them. No one seems to have any common sense throughout the book.

But I love Nancy Drew so I thought it might be worth one read... Unfortunately, despite being name dropped multiple times, this mystery failed to stack up to the inspiration. 3/5

[Scout · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual rating: 3 and a half stars.

Sometimes I wonder if I'll fade so much that I won't even be able to see myself.

SECRETS OF THE CICADA SUMMER is a quick, touching read about a girl named Lily who doesn't speak. She is completely capable, but due to plot points that you find out later on, she chooses not to. She hasn't spoken in two years.

She lives in a small-town where everyone knows each other and the darkest secrets are headliners. When Tinny shows up, Lily, a lover of Nancy Drew mysteries, has no idea what to do about the new girl. Until Tinny ends up being a living mystery herself.

I love this book so much. I originally read this in elementary school and have thought about it off and on for years. A few weeks ago I happened to find it among boxes and children's novels and thought, why not? I am so glad I picked it up. I recommend this to anyone looking for a quicker, more simple read without sacrificing their love for darker plots.

[Adam James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cicada Summer is a sweet little below-grade-level-book that's just long enough to be challenging, yet just short enough for struggling 5th-7th graders to finish independently.

It was an interesting read for me, since the entire setting was nostalgic of my childhood in Middlebury, Vermont. Our "Grammy" and "Grampa" lived next door, and behind their house stood the majestic barn, which housed several vintage cars individually tarped. Behind the barn were the fields, which included Grampa's garden and as well as several apple & pear trees. Across the street was the town store, similar to Fern's store in Cicada Summer.

Reading this quick-mystery was a cozy jaunt through tucked away memories; images I had placed long ago in a decades-old box had been lovingly carried out of the closet of my subconscious and allowed to linger within the safety of my conscious memory.
But, now that the story's over, I think I'll let the cover off the box for a little while longer.
At least until Grampa calls out from the porch that it's time for dinner.

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

From a debut novelist, a heroine who will make you laugh, and will break your heart.

Eleven-year-old Lily has a passion for Nancy Drew stories and a secret she is keeping from those she loves. When summer brings lying, stealing, sneaky Tinny Bridges to town, Lily must be on her guard with this perceptive newcomer, or risk having her secret revealed. But Tinny won’t leave Lily alone. She takes candy from the general store and blames Lily. She tries to steal Lily’s friends and even her father’s affection. Then Tinny goes missing, and only watchful, mystery-loving Lily has any idea what happened to her. But for Lily, finding Tinny means confronting her hidden past.

Funny, poignant, and peopled with memorable characters, this first novel announces a writer of great warmth and talent.

[Kimberly Van Sambeek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly, the plot for Tinny and her mystery was boring for me. Granted this book is for tweens, but it felt very juvenile at some points. While I’m sympathetic for her upbringing, she was an annoying character who got away with too much.

Major Spoilers ahead:



Lily is wonderfully written. I thought the author did a fabulous job capturing the guilt and fear after losing a sibling. The struggle between her and her father figuring out how to navigate their emotions and relationships following Pete’s death should have been the plot. There’s so much I could rave about with how well the author was able to describe Lily’s worries and her desperate attempt to keep her father loving her at the risk of losing herself and gaining a reputation of being a mute and stupid girl.

[Dixie Keyes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This light mystery may take us all back to the days of summer when we had time to eavesdrop on adult conversations, when we felt like young detectives, and when we experienced our first loss. I like how the author leads us slowly toward knowing what the loss is and why Lily won't talk. Lily loves books, specifically Nancy Drew mysteries (LOVE!), and feels that civic responsibility towards her family and the townspeople. She has her own inner turmoil to solve though, and the journey of her story allows her to that and to help solve a mystery. This book has some beautiful lines and was a joy to read...a must-read for any 3rd or 4th grader!

[Agnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great early middle grades mystery starring a twelve-year old girl growing up in a tiny Southern Illinois town who has lost both her mom and older brother and has not spoken in two years since the latter’s tragic death. By the author of the Questioneers picture books (Rosie Revere, Iggy Peck, etc.), this is her debut novel for an older kid audience. Nicely done.

[Happy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lily decided not saying a word after an accident that caused the death of his brother, Pete. They live in this small town, Olena, where population is just a few hundred people.

She loves Nancy Drew stories and adores her brother.
And then Tinny arrived in town and accused her of stealing.

The long story short, their friendship blossomed by saving each other.

Cute.

[Caroline · Rating 2 out of 5]

Accidentally read this book instead of the adult book “cicada summer”. The only reason why cicadas are related is the beginning and the end and it just describes the scenery to fit it in. Otherwise, they could have left that out and called it something else. Last few chapters are unnecessary in my opinion.

[Selene Clare · Rating 4 out of 5]

I discovered this book while scoring NYS test!
Great book for a 5th/6th grade read aloud! The book discusses and connects with real issues among a rural setting. Students who have survived trauma can relate and the ending is bittersweet!

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wanted to read this since we had our cicada Brood X this year. This is not the same brood as hers has black marble eyes and ours have RED eyes. Anyway, the cicadas are just part of the setting and timeline.

This was a good read about children dealing with hard topics.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book. The story is about a young girl after a traumatic loss. Told through her. She loves Nancy drew and the story has a mystery feel to it. Very sweet, made me cry.

[Abigail Levy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a book club book.

[Calei Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A favorite of my childhood ❤️