How I Survived My Summer Vacation: And Lived to Write the Story

by Robin Friedman

Determined to write a novel during the summer before he starts high school, thirteen-year-old Jackie struggles with his inability to finish anything and with the advice of others

Genres: Young Adult, Teen

192 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2000

About the author

Growing up, Robin Friedman loved to write, but it was not until after she had worked as an editor in New York City and attended a year of law school that she finally decided to pursue a career as a children's book author. Beginning her writing career in 2000, Friedman is the author of How I Survived My Summer Vacation: And Lived to Write the Story and The Silent Witness.

Reviews

[Molly Harnish · Rating 2 out of 5]

One word: blah. I never wanted to put this book down because it was so awful. It was just plain vanilla. Jackie's friends were not relatable in the least and personally I did not like them at all.

Nothing worth calling a plot was in this book - okay, yes, I realize that Jackie was trying to write a novel - but everything else that happened didn't help the story along, it just hindered the story so that whatever plot was originally there disintegrated.

The writing in itself was, for lack of a better word, there - it wasn't particularly awful or exceptional.

It doesn't deserve one star, because there's nothing that makes you want to throw it against the wall and scream. It doesn't deserve more than two, though.

I picked up this book because the summary sounded so interesting, but it left me feeling lukewarm. If you're considering reading this book, my advice is to look for something else that's a better use of your time.

[Dianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another book for our Public Libraries summer reading challenge. It is fun going back to life as a young teenager even though I never wanted to write the great American novel. I enjoyed a look at what a teenage boy may go through especially one wanting to be a writer and how parents try to help there children achieve there goals.

[Alisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book as nothing original. The summary sparked my interest because of the strange events and odd combinations of people but it did not have much detail, decription or anything unexpected. It was ok but it did have a couple of tips about writer's block. For example: It said to write what you know. OR, If you are aiming to write a lengthy piece or novel start with something small and gradually make your way up to the top. So besides these tips and a few humorous statements it was just a plain story with not much substance. It was basically about boy, Jackie, whose dream it was to write the great novel. Unfortunately, too many distractions came in his way. One of his best friends, Mallory, is in love with theme parks and unexpectedly begins to date Jackie's swim team's rival. And suddenly the beautiful Kelly Philips likes Jackie! His other two friends are Nick and Garus. Nick is petrified of dogs yet in the name of love he overcomes his fear. Garus (Gary) on the other hand trys to copy Nick's every move to become the popular one. Also, his parents who everybody thought to be the weirdest editors ever are now being adored. Jackie feels as if he is losing everthing and nothing is the way it used to be (the right way). He refuses to take advice from others and thinks he can achieve everything by himself. But that is the lesson he has to learn.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jackie is going to write the great american novel this summer. He can come up with many great opening lines, but the rest is a little harder. Things keep getting in the way, things like his weird health food parents, his stupid friends Nick and Garus, joining the swim team, and his best friend Mallory. He even gets a girlfriend! Even though the novel may never get written, this may turn out to be Jackie's best summer yet!