Bat Summer [Hardcover]

Sarah Withrow (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1999 | Age Level: 11 and up

In this award-winning novel (winner of the Groundwood 20th Anniversary First Novel for Children Contest), 12-year-old Terence faces some tough choices. With his best friend, Tom, away at camp, the summer stretches endlessly in front of him. Should he hang out with a creep like Rico, an overgrown, hormonally challenged kid whose idea of fun is calling the lifeguard Boobacious? Or should he try to make friends with the old chess player (nicknamed "The Pervert" by Rico) who hangs out in the park? Terence finds he keeps thinking about the weird but oddly compelling girl who goes around wearing a blue cape and hangs by her feet from the jungle gym. By the novel's end, Terence has thrown off his fear of being "uncool" in order to befriend someone who needs and values him for who he is.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 6-9-While hanging around the park, Terence, 12, meets Lucy, a mysterious girl who insists that she is a bat. Terence becomes drawn into her world and into the bizarre workings of her mind. This is mainly Lucy's story, and it soon becomes clear that she is very disturbed; readers later find out that she was traumatized by the death of a friend. In the end, Terence proves to Lucy that he is a true friend, and readers sense that she is beginning to trust and care once again. This is an interesting novel, and the main characters represent a realistic view of the preteen world. However, the adults are cardboard cutouts, and the parents are too preoccupied to notice what their children are up to or that they are hurting. An unusual story with strong psychological overtones.
Lucinda Lockwood, Thomas Haney Secondary School, Maple Ridge, BC
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 11 and up
  
• Hardcover: 174 pages
• Publisher: Groundwood Books; 1St Edition edition (May 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 088899351X
• ISBN-13: 978-0888993519
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,704,795 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars VERY GOOD!, April 22, 2001

By 

Zac Carter (Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bat Summer (Paperback)

I loved this book! Very different, but in a great way. It's perfect! I mean I could never put it down, I even sat on the floor everytime I went to a store and read this book. You will love it.