Summer Hawk [Mass Market Paperback]

Deborah Savage (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 25, 2001

When Taylor and her family move to the remote town of Hunter's Gap, she copes by being an impartial observer. After all, what better way to begin her journalism career? But she doesn't count on rescuing an orphaned hawk, or getting to know a boy she'd never imagined being friends with-or working for Dr. Rhiannon Jeffries, the "hawk lady," whose many secrets awaken deeper emotions in Taylor than she understands . ...

"Savage skillfully addresses the myriad themes and issues that weave through this novel-conservationists vs. hunters, dual-career families, ambition, fidelity, the importance of family, a budding first romance, and mental illness. Fast-paced yet thoughtful, this book is satisfying on all counts."
-School Library Journal, starred review

"Savage deftly combines a nature tale with a coming-of-age story."
-The Horn Book, starred review

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

When Taylor and her family move to remote Hunter's Gap, she must decide whether to go to boarding school or remain in their new town. "Savage paints a convincing portrait of her teenage heroine, a city girl `exiled' to a backwoods community, but overdoes the other players," said PW. Ages 12-up. (June)n

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 6-10-Taylor and her family have recently moved from Philadelphia to the small Pennsylvania town in which her sculptor father grew up. After coasting through one year of public school, she is looking forward to starting 10th grade at her psychoanalyst mother's alma mater, an exclusive boarding school. However, the aspiring journalist must do a summer research paper in order to participate in its honors writing program. After the teen finds an abandoned young red-tailed hawk, she and her classmate Rail take it to a neighbor who runs a raptor-rehabilitation center. This provides Taylor with a subject for her research paper; she is also hired by the center's earthy and charismatic director, Rhiannon, to handle public relations for the facility, which is facing opposition from local residents. Taylor grows more estranged from her mother, who is rarely there, and grows increasingly closer to her new friends. Her world collapses when she discovers that her father and Rhiannon are having an affair. After her parents work through this crisis, Taylor decides to stay where she is, editing her high school's first literary newspaper and spending time with Rail. The author uses raptors, and especially the red-tail, as metaphors for the heart's yearning to be free and strong, and to be a survivor, as Taylor and her hawk both are. Savage skillfully addresses the myriad themes and issues that weave through this novel-conservationists vs. hunters, dual-career families, ambition, fidelity, the importance of family, a budding first romance, and mental illness. Fast paced yet thoughtful, the book is satisfying on all counts.
Ellen Fader, Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (June 25, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0141312203
• ISBN-13: 978-0141312200
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,986,672 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Summer Hawk Takes Flight, October 3, 2005

By 

Kyomada Maki - See all my reviews

This review is from: Summer Hawk (Mass Market Paperback)

Quite like a thunderstorm, a tornado, or a hawk's plunge, Summer Hawk by Deborah Savage captures readers from the instant their eyes hit the page.

A teen novel, at first it seems as if Melissa T. Armstrong-Brown's problems are that of every other teen; she's having a bit of trouble at school, she's getting ready to move, and her parents seem distant, or apart from her. It seems as if the novel is going to be ordinary - just like any other teen romance. However, Taylor soon comes across a baby hawk, and from there many different people tie into her life; the quiet boy Rail Bogart, the mysterious "hawk lady" Dr. Rhiannon Jeffries, children from her school, and many more. Taylor's life is suddenly turned upside down with all of these new discoveries, and in them, she has yet to discover herself.

What makes this novel fit the teenage audience the most would have to be that - in watching Taylor discover herself - readers get sucked into her. By the time a reader reaches the fourth chapter, their emotions are bound to Taylor's, and - before they realize what is happening, they are whisked away to that windswept hilling, seeing themselves lay out before them. At least, I'm aware that it happened to me.

The best chapter would have to be the very last chapter - Chapter 19. In this chapter, you see that things are finally going right for Taylor. She finally found herself, she gets over the intense anger that had been locked up inside of her soul, and she is around those she loves. I won't spill what else happens in this chapter - for I want you to read the book - but this book is finally when Taylor - and the reader - feels fine.

This book is excellent. Whether you are a teenager that the directed audience waits for, or an adult looking for a young read, this book will never cease to amaze you. Summer Hawk is certainly a desiring read that - like a windswept hill on a summer's day with a red-tail gliding above you - you will never want to leave.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A favorite, August 21, 2005

By 

Crystal B. Perugino (Florida, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Summer Hawk (Hardcover)

I first read this book in my early teens, and enjoyed it so much that I read it completely through in one sitting. I love the style, love the characters, and most of all, love having a book that has left a lot out to make it a better book. As I read the previous reviews, I was surprised. There are more than a few unfavorable ones, which really did catch me off guard. Since I haven't read the book in a while, I sat back and thought about the comments and complaints, trying to receive them with an open mind. As it is, I still can't agree. The book is a favorite 'mood' book for me. When its raining outside and I've finished writing one of my own stories, I love to pick it up and re-read the descriptions of the hawk lady (whose name actually inspired me to research the mythology of the goddess Rhiannon)and Taylor's father. In danger of rambling on I have just one last opinion to give-that as a daughter of a separated, and now divoreced mother, I feel a slight connection to Taylor, and maybe this is why I enjoyed the book so much. It helped me to understand myself.
Oh, and the fact that I am also a female called Taylor didn't hurt things either!

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars SURPRISING!, June 3, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Summer Hawk (Hardcover)

When Taylor M. Armstrong-Brown moved to Hunter's Gap, Pensylvania, she expected to meet only hicks. But when she met Rail, a supposed "redneck," she began to see that there are more to people than just what one sees on the outside. If you are looking for a normal Savage novel, this book will not fit what you are looking for. Although Savage weaved another extraordinary twist into the ending, the Savage-style love story does not apply to this book. Not that I'm saying you shouldn't read it. It is a very well done piece of work, and DS never ceases to amaze me with her plot-twists at the end. A word of advice, though: Savage rambles quite a bit on the subject of journalism. I enjoyed this because I plan to be a journalist someday, but if you aren't interested in the subject, it could get old.