Customer Reviews

The Callahan Cousins: Summer Begins (No. 1)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was so glad to stumble upon this book at my local bookstore, as I am always looking for new books for my nine year old daughter. I am pretty tired of all those extremely raunchy books that they are marketing to her age group, and was thrilled to find an alternative! This book is fun, refreshing, wholesome without being preachy, and really taps into that tween age group so well. It made me want to be a kid again, and I particularly loved all the small details about things like penny candy and stressing about boys that seemed so real. The author must have children this age, because she really nails it.
Another thing I appreciated, as did my daughter, is that the central character, (Hillary) is dealing with the impending divorce of her parents. It was great for my daughter to read about the very real emotions that she is going through, because she could totally relate.
I will definitely recommend this book to my friends and their children.

A mother of three girls, I picked up this book to glance at it and could not put it down. Fun and beautifully written, the book has momentum, suspense and great characters. Each of the four cousins is instantly loveable, different and poignant in her own way, each offering a potential role model for her reader. By simply opening the book one gets a taste of a rich and wholesome world filled with home-baked pies, sage advice and young excitement. Depicting the special relationship between cousins and with their grandmother, Summer Begins is a slice of paradise, if not problem-free, marked by remarkable family values, strength of character and the adventures of self-discovery. I loved this book!

Perfect for summer leisure reading is this spirited adventure of the twelve-year-old Callahan cousins who anticipate fun at their grandmother's seaside estate for the whole summer without parents in Callahan Cousins: Summer Begins. Add a mystery revolving around legend and an old rivalry on the island and you have a fast-paced story warm with family interactions and discovery.

Hillary's parents have split up, so she's particularly happy to be spending time with her father's relatives. Since she and her three cousins --- Phoebe, Neeve, and Kate --- have all turned twelve, they get to stay an entire summer without their parents, at Grandmother Gee's big house on Gull Island.

Grandmother Gee's house is absolutely perfect for a summer with Hillary's beloved cousins --- huge and rambling, with hidden nooks and many cozy corners. It comes complete with a view of the nearby ocean and a swimming pool. The cousins, all so different and yet all so very Callahan, are ecstatic to be spending the summer together. As Gee says, "Cousins last forever."

Hillary longs to prove to her father, and to herself, that she's a true Callahan. She decides that the best way would be to revive a game her father and uncles once played against another island family, the Bickets, in which each family competed to plant their flag on a certain small gull-shaped island. Hillary plans to have the Callahan flag firmly planted on the proper island by the time her dad arrives for a family reunion. But she can't do it alone. Can she talk her less adventurous cousins into joining her?

When Hillary suggests the flag-planting scheme, only Neeve is eager to begin the adventure. Neeve manages to sway Kate and Phoebe by suggesting that the game will cheer Hillary up, and help her have a happy summer in spite of her parents' divorce.

Even with all the cousins (more or less) willing, there are other obstacles to Hillary's goal. The girls must find and equip a boat, and learn to sail it. They need to find the right gull-shaped island. Unfortunately, unfriendly Sloan Bicket learns of their scheme and seems snottily determined to uphold the Bicket honor. Will Hillary attain her goal before her father arrives? If she does, will it result in an all-out feud between the two families?

This first book in the Callahan Cousins series is irresistibly cozy. It manages to have an old-fashioned flavor while remaining totally "today." While the reader learns a bit about Ireland, ocean tides, islands, boats, and other subjects, the teaching is understated enough to be interesting without overpowering the story. Although the setting and some of the characters (such as Gee, the grandmother) may seem a bit too good to be true to some, others will adore their utter perfection.

THE CALLAHAN COUSINS: SUMMER BEGINS is refreshingly sweet-tempered; it decidedly is not gossipy, sarcastic or edgy. Readers, myself included, will eagerly anticipate the next book in the series.

   --- Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon (terryms2001@yahoo.com

Do you think family matters most? Kate, Neeve, Pheobe, and Hillary do. These four,12 year old cousins are spending their whole summer at their grandmother, Gee's seaside estate, with no parents! The girls quickly find themselves caught up in an old rivalry involving a lost island, an ancient family lore, and a adventure they'll remember for a lifetime. The cousins show determination and trust as they defend their family's honor, but will they become family heroes or get themselves sent home? Read to find out how the author carries you into the adventure and the characters out!
This book shows how family bonds are very important and being a team is hard work, especially if you're related. Kate is the peacemaker and sometimes needs a boost from her cousins to convince her to go or do something. Neeve is very bold, a great leader and in her own way, spunky. Hillary is always ready for adventure and action and could easily take Neeve's spot. Pheobe loves to read and always supports her cousins. I think I am most like Hillary and Pheobe. I think I'm a mix of them because I like to read and to help out like Pheobe. I'm like Hillary because she likes to be a leader and share her ideas.
Elizabeth Doyle Carey uses such descriptive words it seems like you're in the book. For instance," The late afternoon sunlight poured over the island like golden honey as they pedaled back to The Sound". In this sentence I can really imagine the sunset looking down on Gull Island.
As you can see this book is a prize possession and you really should read it.

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This is a pleasant book that I bought because the cover attracted me; it looked like the type of cover that might have been on an old Trixie Belden book from years gone by. I liked the girls well enough and was relieved that this was not yet another abused child or fantasy story; there seems to be such a glut of them on the market right now! On the other hand, the entire Callahan series is like a real-life fairy tale because despite their little emotional problems, these kids have such a great life! They never want for anything; they either have the spending money or their grandmother buys it for them. They have no chores to do and their grandmother even has a friendly housekeeper who makes delicious dishes and cookies. It's friendly and fun.

At first, it would seem that The Callahan Cousins couldn't be more different if they tried. Kind, worrisome Kate loves baking. Phoebe is a perfectionist who likes order, cleanliness, and bohemian fashion. Neeve has lived all over the world and has a sophisticated flair. Hillary is still reeling from her parents splitting up and thinks up ways to rebuild her family.

When these four get together for a parent-free summer at their grandmother's house, they bond almost immediately. They are twelve years old and determined to take over the world - or, at least, ride their bicycles around Gull Island and stir up an old family secret or two!

This is a good, clean story, just right for a breezy summer read. The book is suitable for ages 8 and up. Each reader will find a character to relate to, as each cousin has a distinct style, appearance, and main interest. Though the girls do engage in a little feud with another family on the island, their intentions are well-meant; they attempt to plant a flag in an attempt to mimic something their fathers did twenty years early. This summer does not only give each girl a self of independence, but one of togetherness, of family.

I highly recommend this story. My friends and I all loved it and it reminds us of our group. I am so happy that it is going be a series of books because I am waiting to start on the next one. Definitely read this as it is a really fun book.

I bought this book for my god-daughter who is 11. When she was through just the first chapter she called me to tell me, "it was the BEST book ever!" and could I please send her the 2nd book when it came out. She went on and on, so I decided to get a copy myself and start a book club with her. I was pleasently surprised at how much I enjoyed it myself. It has been a great bonding experience and helped me to find the kid in myself again.

I am reading this book as bedtime reading to my younger children. They have really enjoyed it!