Summer Song [Paperback]

Susan Rowan Masters (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

"I guess you could say my first disaster was getting born to a ma who didn't want me."That suits Etta May just fine: she and her grandfather, Gent, are happy on their own. But Gent is ill, and he won't see a doctor. When her ma comes to visit, Etta May finds herself relying on her as Gent gets worse. The only thing she'll let herself count on is her promise to Gent to let him die peacefully in his own bed, no matter what ma says

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Etta May, a self-proclaimed magnet for disaster, carries more than her share of burdens. Soon after the death of her beloved grandmother, her grandfather Gent grows too weak from emphysema to tend his cherished roses or take care of the run-down trailer where he and Etta May live. When Etta May realizes that Gent's disease is terminal, she resolves to carry out his last wish: to let him die in his own bed. She wages a lonely battle against doctors and, even more painfully, the absentee mother she has hitherto seen "all of nine times." In the tradition of Where the Lilies Bloom and A Day No Pigs Would Die, this story about love and compromise traces the struggles of a determined child taking on adult responsibilities. Scenes depicting the clash of wills among three generations are balanced with portrayals of familial tenderness and compassion. Masters's quick dialogue adds color, while her poignant narrative evokes the frustration, fear and final acceptance experienced in the face of a deep loss. Ages 8-12.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-7?Etta May has lived with her grandparents in a trailer park her whole life. She has only seen her mother, who lives and works in the city nearby, a few times. But after the girl's grandmother dies, her grandfather Gent's health deteriorates and suddenly her mother is back in her life. Now the child must cope with the elderly man's illness and with her conflicting feelings about her mother's return. In addition to looking after Gent, she's in the midst of encouraging her best friend, the shy Quentin, to try out for a musical talent show. Readers will admire Etta May's resilience and independence, and sympathize with her confusion and longings. Her close relationship with her grandfather is sensitively portrayed and adds depth to the story. Although the writing is occasionally flat and the other trailer park characters sometimes seem like caricatures, this is an accessible story with a likable heroine dealing with a host of difficult subjects.?Cyrisse Jaffee, formerly at Newton Public Schools, MA
Copyright 1995 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 9 and up
  
• Paperback: 148 pages
• Publisher: iUniverse (November 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0595144071
• ISBN-13: 978-0595144075
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,089,590 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

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful for Youth and Adults, June 5, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Summer Song (Paperback)

Several family and friends, of middle school and older ages have smiled, cried and laughed while reading this book about a girl who befriends her friend, a boy trying to break into the country singing business, while coping with the terminal illness of her dear grandfather. Families looking to deal with loss of loved ones will find this uplifting and charming book extremely helpful.