The $66 Summer [Paperback]

John Armistead (Author), James Pate (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2000 | Age Level: 8 and up

For $66 or not very much more, George Harrington thinks he might be able to buy a used Harley-Davidson motorcycle and ride to Alaska, New York, or any of the other places he dreams about while fishing with his father every Saturday morning. When his grandmother invites him to visit for the summer and help out at her store in small-town Obadiah, Alabama, he sees a way to earn the money he needs. In Obadiah, George hooks up with Esther and Bennett, the children of the cook at his grandmother's lunch counter. An unusual trio in 1950s Alabama, they roam the countryside together, sneaking onto Mr. Vorhise's land to go fishing, looking for lost treasure, and avoiding the hooded old woman who seems to follow them through the woods. George, Esther, and Bennett find more than fish, however, on Mr. Vorhise's land - evidence that leads them to some chilling conclusions. As currents of racism and bigotry come to the town's surface, George must reassess his priorities and learn a lesson about sacrifice.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Set in 1955 Alabama, this carefully developed first novel explores a white boy's introduction to the devastating effects of racism. The summer he turns 13, George yearns to earn enough money to buy a motorcycle and ends up staying in Obadiah with his grandmother, earning a dollar a day at her store. There he becomes reacquainted with some of the folks who live near or on his grandmother's land: two "colored" children, Esther and Bennett, whose father, Staple, ran off unexpectedly a few years ago; George's alcoholic, bigoted father's old friend, scary Mr. Vorhise, who raises fighting dogs; and Auntie Hoosilla, a disfigured old woman reputed to be a witch. Although the book is somewhat slow-going at first, introducing the players and establishing their views on race, none of it is superfluous. Stories told to George by friends and relatives provide clues about Staple's unexplained departure, a mystery that gradually becomes the central focus. Armistead's honest dialogue and believable characterizations add resonance to the timeless theme of injustice. The climax, conveying the tragic fate of Esther's and Bennett's father, will leave a searing impression. Ages 8-13. (May)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8-A coming-of-age story set in Alabama during the summer of 1955. George, 13, desperately wants a motorcycle, so when he gets the opportunity to work at his grandmother's store in Obadiah (three hours from home), he jumps at it. While living there, he spends time with Bennett and Esther Garrison, who are black. The three friends accidentally discover that the siblings' father, believed to have run off four years earlier, was actually murdered by a local bigot. When the truth is revealed, their house is burned down as a warning not to pursue justice. George's grandmother does not believe in segregation and tries to instill a sense of fairness in her grandson. Her strength enables him to selflessly give the $66 he has earned to Esther so that she can afford to go to the Negro high school in Adamstown. Armistead reveals the nature and cruelty of racism; at the same time, he shows that individuals can reach out to one another in times of need. The characters are made believable by their interactions and increased understanding of one another. Like Christopher Paul Curtis's The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963 (Delacorte, 1995), the novel weaves a powerful message into a poignant narrative.
Tracey Ansley, Cary Academy, NC
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 230 pages
• Publisher: Milkweed Editions (April 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1571316256
• ISBN-13: 978-1571316257
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,935,805 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The $66 Summer, Absolutely INCREDIBLE!!!, March 9, 2001

By 

Lea Rodriguez (married name) (Vandenberg AFB, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The $66 Summer (Paperback)

I originally began reading this book for my six year old daughter. When she was ready to stop, I couldn't. I read the book, almost completely, straight through. It will make you laugh; It will make your heart race with our young heros'; and most definitely, at risk of sounding cliche, it will make you cry; as I found myself doing when I reached the end. Wonderful for both its pains and its triumphs.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Mysterious Summer, December 6, 2001

By 

Katie Sharp and Ashley Wilbanks - See all my reviews

This review is from: The $66 Summer (Paperback)

We found this book to be very adventurous. The author keeps you in suspense,and involves you in the lives of the children by using visual imagery. This book displays how families with different cultures and values live in the rural south. It also shows how some cultures and diverse people in past years were not excepted.
As a teacher, you could use this book in your classroom to teach students about diversity and differences among cultures. It teaches children to accept and respect cultures that are different from their own. We thank the author for giving us a glimpse of cultural diversity in the past and teaching us to accept everyone for their differences.