Cold in Summer [Hardcover]

Tracy Barrett (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

The new girl in town meets a mysterious old-fashioned girl who can’t seem to find her way home.

The girl didn’t say anything. Her face held no expression.
Ariadne shivered. It was cool in the shade, and her hair was still wet.
“Hello,” Ariadne said. No answer. “Um—I was just taking a walk. Is this your property?” Still nothing. She took a step toward the girl and stumbled on a fallen branch. She caught her balance and looked back at the tree, but no one was there.
The girl had vanished.

It’s bad enough that Ariadne’s family just moved to a tiny boring town in the middle of nowhere. But worst of all is that she’s so far away from her best friend. The kids in Dobbin seem nice enough, but none of them really understands how lost and unhappy Ariadne feels.

None, that is, but May Butler. She’s an odd, quiet person who wears the strangest old-fashioned clothes and has a spooky habit of appearing and disappearing in the blink of an eye. Despite their differences, there is a bond between the two girls. May, too, knows what it’s like to feel lost.

 

Cold in Summer is a 2004 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8-Ariadne's family has just moved from Florida to tiny Dobbin, TN, and she hates it. She misses the ocean, her old school, and her best friend, Sarah. One day, after swimming in Cedar Point Lake, she meets an odd girl in old-fashioned clothing, whose name she later discovers is May. In the course of doing research for a class project on the history of her new town, Ariadne learns of a local legend concerning a child named May Butler who mysteriously disappeared one day in the 1850s, and she decides to discover the truth about the strange girl who drifts in and out of her life with no explanation. The story is rather predictable, and readers figure out what is going on long before Ariadne does. Also, some of the clues that lead her to solve the mystery fall into place a little too easily, with many of the supporting characters seeming to exist merely as vehicles for plot twists. The mutual concern that Ariadne and May have for one another, however, is affecting, and fans of ghost stories should enjoy this light, easy read.
Alison Ching, North Garland High School, Garland, TX
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 4-7. When Ariadne's family moves to a small community in Tennessee, she sorely misses her best friend from home and barely attempts to make friends in her new school. She becomes intrigued, though, with an odd girl named May, who wears old-fashioned clothes, doesn't attend school, and seems to appear almost magically when Ariadne is outdoors and feeling lonely or needy. After many clues, Ariadne deduces that May isn't just a loner, but a ghost. Younger readers may enjoy figuring out that May is a ghost before Ariadne is willing to admit it to herself, but older ones will probably feel impatient with Ariadne's slow acceptance of the inevitable. Otherwise, Ariadne makes a convincing character, wrapped up in her own problems at the beginning, but increasingly willing to extend herself to help others as the story progresses. The adventure scenes at the end of the book speed up the pace in a satisfying way and lead to a resounding conclusion. From the author of Anna of Byzantium (1999). Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR); First Edition edition (May 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805070524
• ISBN-13: 978-0805070521
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,620,450 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and grew up mostly in New York state. I went to college in New England and graduate school in California.

The first book I ever read by myself was called Little Bobo and His Blue Jacket. I still have it. I learned to read when I was three, but I know now that this doesn't mean much. My brother didn't really read until he was seven, and now he reads more and remembers it better than I do.

I have a husband, two grown children, and two crazy Jack Russell terriers.

I teach Italian and other subjects at Vanderbilt University, but I've handed in my resignation and plan to retire in May, 2012, to write full time. I love doing school visits and hope that when my schedule doesn't mean that I'm working while kids are in school, I'll be able to do more of them.

I like to travel, especially to Italy, and especially with my family. I used to skydive (that's how I met my husband, but on the ground, not in the air!) but I haven't jumped out of an airplane in a long time.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cold in Summer - an awesome read!, May 18, 2006

By 

J. Newcomer "Bibliophile Extraordinaire" (Farmington, MI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cold in Summer (Hardcover)

Tracy Barrett has created a wonderful, enthralling read for young adults and adults! I always try to pre-read fiction before giving it to my daughter, and found this book incredibly intriguing. Once I started it, I couldn't stop! I read into the night, woke early to read before breakfast, had it in the car in case I got stuck in traffic, and hid it on my desk under my work to finish it. Truly a "can't put it down" book.

The story is realistic and set in modern times, but highlights the deductive reasoning of an intelligent 12 year old girl to solve a mystery over 100 years old. There's no witchcraft or wizardry necessary - just a wonderfully written, imaginative story that draws you in and won't let go until you've finished the book.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Cold in Summer by Tracy Barrett, February 6, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Cold in Summer (Hardcover)

In this book Tracy Barret has excellent writing that took me into a whole other world where I could see the characters and feel the surroundings. I deffinetly would recommend this book. At first one would think "Oh I already know this. Why read the rest?" I promise it gets good. It tells you May is a ghost but the suspense is thrilling and really rewarding at the end.
* . * . *
Ariadne just moved from Florida into a small rural town in Tennessee where everybody knows everybody. Ariadne misses what she calls "home". May who has lived there all her life is "lost" and counts on Ariadne to get her "home". Many people have tried to help her but can Ariadne be the one to do it? I promise you will understand EVERYTHING once you read the book!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thrilling, January 31, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Cold in Summer (Hardcover)

The book Cold in Summer is about a girl named Ariadne. She moves from Florida,the best place on earth,to Tennesse. The town is so rural and everybody knows everyone. One day when Ariadne feels sad a strange dull-looking girl named May Butler comes to her! May tries to help her,Ariadne wonders if she's the only one that see's her! A few people have but it was nearly 100 of years ago. Ariadne's social studies project helps her find the truth about her strange and mysterious friend. She wil do anything to find out the truth,even a life and death situation/conflict!