The Summer Birds [Paperback]

Penelope Farmer (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

An imaginative, gracefully written fantasy about a boy who teaches the village children to fly. Ages 10-14.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 102 pages
• Publisher: Dell Yearling (May 1, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440477379
• ISBN-13: 978-0440477372
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,856,629 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Maybe not living up to 'Charlotte' but it's still excellent, October 16, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Summer Birds (Hardcover)

In the Summer Birds, the first book about the Makepeace sisters, Charlotte and Emma find a boy on the road who teaches them to fly, and then teaches the rest of the village children. This book is a good introduction to the characters in Emma in Winter, as well as a superb introduction to Charlotte, her way of thinking, and the way she is. Unfortunately, unlike in the other novels, what happens isn't explained as cathartic; that is, in the others, it's prefectly clear the Makepeace sisters' experiences are ways of healing and protecting themselves from their parent's death. Thus, the novel isn't as 'deep' as the others. What I liked most about The Summer Birds, as well as the other books in the trilogy, is that I relate so well to Charlotte: I was constantly teased in grammar school and called a prig because I never got in trouble and was too shy to even speak up in class. I think most children go through this in one form or another. But either way, this novel clicks immediately with the reader...

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A book I will always remember, July 18, 2006

By 

Julia Mcc Fales "cometdawg" (Olivet, MI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Summer Birds (Paperback)

I read this book as part of a summer reading program when I was in fourth or fifth grade. I never forgot this book and like another reviewer stated--it ignited my love of reading. I was fortunate enough to locate a copy and have shared it with my young sons. I hope I age in a similar manner to the teacher who understood the children and the wonderful boy. Please share this book with the young people in your life.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's been 10 years, and I still rember, December 15, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (United States of America) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Summer Birds (Lythway Large Print Children's Series) (Hardcover)

I read this book when I was in sixth grade. It had a profound effect on my life. After I read the book, I fell in love with reading. It was a school libray book, and I only read it once, but it was one of those books that I won't forget. I rember vividly details of this book, especially the relationship between the boy and the other children in the town. I would love to have a copy of this book for my own children one day.