The Lost Summer [Hardcover]

Kathryn Williams (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 14, 2009

"I died one summer, or I almost did. Part of me did. I don't say that to be dramatic, only because it's true."

 

For the past nine years, Helena Waite has been returning to summer camp at Southpoint. Every year the camp and its familiar routines, landmarks, and people have welcomed her back like a long-lost family member. But this year she is returning not as a camper, but as a counselor, while her best friend, Katie Bell remains behind. All too quickly, Helena discovers that the innocent world of campfires, singalongs, and field days have been pushed aside for late night pranks on the boys' camp, skinny dipping in the lake, and stolen kisses in the hayloft. As she struggles to define herself in this new world, Helena begins to lose sight of what made camp special and the friendships that have sustained her for so many years. And when Ransome, her longtime crush, becomes a romantic reality, life gets even more confusing.

 

Told with honesty and heart, Kathryn Williams' second novel tackles the timeless theme of growing up, set at a camp where innocence is created and lost.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 9 Up—Helena, a 17-year-old rookie counselor at the Tennessee camp where she had been a camper for eight summers, learns that growing up and taking on responsibilities changes almost everything about the innocent fun of camp. One good change: Ransome, an older counselor at the neighboring boys' camp, is actually interested in her, and their flirtation grows more serious. Yet Helena experiences a change for the worse in the friendship department. Katie, her best friend, has a birthday too late to allow her to be a counselor this year, and the division in their status leads to a gulf between them. When older counselor Winn lets Helena into the inner circle of counselors, it's a dream; but when Winn begins treating Helena like a pariah after she and Ransome begin a physical relationship, the freeze-out by yet another camp friend is a nightmare. A terrible accident ensues, and all of Helena's hopes for the best summer ever are lost. This coming-of-age novel might deserve a spot in some summer-camp care packages, but Helena comes across as a bit whiny and weak at times. Those looking for outdoorsy girl-drama can find some here, though the ending is a bit abrupt.—Suzanne Gordon, Peachtree Ridge High School, Suwanee, GA END

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion Book CH (July 14, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1423101286
• ISBN-13: 978-1423101284
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,569,327 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Pretty Great!, February 26, 2010

By 

Lauren's Crammed Bookshelf (PA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Lost Summer (Hardcover)

I don't know about you, but I adore camp themed books. Maybe it's because I've never really gone to a true sleep away camp ( I'm not too found of nature, so I have no clue what I would do if I did go to camp every summer like Helena does) or beacuse I love summer.

The Lost Summer was a pretty decent book that I enjoyed a ton. I loved the descriptions of the camp actives all of them partake in to how we see what different things the counselors do "after hours".

The characters were for the most part well developed. Helena was probably one of my favorites. Though, Katie Bell was one that I wished would disappear for most of the book. Since at times most of her actions and decisions seemed a bit... childish. Luckily, towards the end of the book, I began to like her because I saw what a great friend she was to Helena. Another thing I disliked about this book was Roger. I really didn't see what Helena saw attractive about him. He smoked tobacco, for goodness sake, leaving him to spit out random sprints of black goo at times. I mean seriously what is so hot about that?? I really just don't understand.

The Lost Summer was mostly a coming of age book that dealt with finding out who your true friends are while experiencing romantic relationships and making good chooses in the end. This left the plot to be interesting and overall keep you engaged in the book.

Overall, The Lost Summer was my first Kathryn Williams book, but it certainly won't be my last. :)

I suggest this to fans of Sarah Dessen and Susane Colasanti.

Grade: B-

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Williams sets a storm of emotions brewing and building, September 22, 2009

By 

Teenreads.com (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Lost Summer (Hardcover)

Seventeen-year-old Helena Waite lives for the five weeks of the year that she gets to go to summer camp. She's been attending Southpoint for years, and she loves every moment of the beautiful Tennessee camp for girls. But this year is especially exciting, as Helena will be working as a first-year counselor. Unfortunately, her best friend, Katie Bell, missed the age requirement by only a few months and must remain a camper for one more year. Even though both are disappointed, they know Southpoint will offer another awesome summer to fill with happy memories.

Helena and Katie Bell met at camp. However, since they live so far apart, they only get to see each other for the five weeks at Southpoint. Despite this, they are the absolute best of friends. In fact, it was Katie Bell who helped Helena get through the nightmare when her father left. Because of Katie Bell and their special friendship, Helena found laughter again.

Even though the two swear things will remain the same, almost immediately the boundaries set between camper and counselor begin to affect their friendship. Katie Bell feels left out and left behind as Helena jumps into a whole new world. Helena is doing things she never dreamed she would, like skinny-dipping in the middle of the night with the neighboring camps' male counselors, and sneaking cigarettes. She also can't believe her good fortune when Ransome, her longtime crush, finally notices her and even seems to like her. Can life get any better?

Or any worse? The line drawn between Helena and Katie Bell as counselor and camper starts to put a strain on their friendship. Camp life definitely isn't the same as before, and Helena feels she's growing apart from Katie Bell. Arguments, misunderstandings, rumors and secrets are pushing a huge wedge between them. Will their friendship survive? And when the horrible accident explodes right beneath their feet, will they even survive to try and gather up the pieces of their once unbreakable bond?

Ya gotta love the summer camp novels, especially the extra awesome ones like THE LOST SUMMER. Kathryn Williams's fondness for her own summer camp experiences shines through the pages, allowing readers to share and take part. Throughout the book, her vivid characters come across as real and likable, thus touching the reader's heart with emotions and tickling the brain with noteworthy thoughts. And amidst all of the exciting camp activities and relationships, Williams sets a storm of emotions brewing and building, successfully creating an underlying suspense that bursts with the final chapters. Williams's talents make THE LOST SUMMER a book to catch a hold of and enjoy.

--- Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting coming of age story, July 27, 2009

By 

The Book Muncher (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Lost Summer (Hardcover)

Helena Waite loves her summer tradition of Southpoint. Since she was just a little girl, she has enjoyed the fun activities, familiar landscape, and spirit of sisterhood the summer camp provides and fosters. Now that Helena's seventeen, she is no longer a camper, but a counselor. Unfortunately, her best friend Katie Bell, her seventeenth birthday just a few months shy of the cutoff, is still a camper. Helena's decided to make the best of her situation; after all, she does have the best of both worlds. But as the counselors' late night antics with the counselors of the nearby boys' camp make her innocent camp life of summers past seem juvenile, Helena finds herself abandoning Katie Bell in favor of her counselor friends. Camp is no longer the simple carefree place of refuge from the real world it used to be for Helena, and when her counselor friends turn their back on her, all for a boy, Helena is forced to rethink this summer's decisions. But it might have to take a disaster to show Helena--and everyone else--what really matters.

Williams' second novel, though much more serious than her lighthearted and funny The Debutante, is just as poignant and moving. The Lost Summer is a coming of age story centered on summer camp and all that entails, including summer crushes, and array of camp activities, and new and evolving friendships. This whole book is about growing up, about new responsibilities and opportunities, letting go of cherished routines not because we want to but because we have to, and realizing that we always have to keep moving forward. Helena comes to that realization the hard way, because she turns her back on childhood when she's not quite ready to let go and a dreadful accident forces her to finally make peace with the fact that she no longer is a child. Williams portrays this border between childhood and womanhood wonderfully, showing that while the realization may be sudden, the journey from one state to another is gradual. The Lost Summer is very direct with its meaning and emphasis that we all have to grow up and that friendship is valuable and important. I would have enjoyed a bit of humor in The Lost Summer because this story was sometimes too serious, but overall, I thought The Lost Summer was a beautiful and meaningful read.

The Lost Summer will be enjoyed by more thoughtful summer vacationers, and also by those who liked Everything Beautiful by Simmone Howell and Slept Away by Julie Kraut. Fans of William's The Debutante will probably also enjoy this novel even if it lacks somewhat in the funny factor.