Twenty Boy Summer [Hardcover]

Sarah Ockler (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2009

"Don't worry, Anna. I'll tell her, okay? Just let me think about the best way to do it."
"Okay."
"Promise me? Promise you won't say anything?"
"Don't worry." I laughed. "It's our secret, right?"

According to her best friend Frankie, twenty days in Zanzibar Bay is the perfect opportunity to have a summer fling, and if they meet one boy ever day, there's a pretty good chance Anna will find her first summer romance. Anna lightheartedly agrees to the game, but there's something she hasn't told Frankie---she's already had that kind of romance, and it was with Frankie's older brother, Matt, just before his tragic death one year ago.

Beautifully written and emotionally honest, this is a debut novel that explores what it truly means to love someone and what it means to grieve, and ultimately, how to make the most of every single moment this world has to offer.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

“What is the statute of limitations on feeling guilty for cheating on a ghost?” Anna writes in her journal, or rather, writes to Matt, her first true love and her best friend Frankie’s brother. More than a year has passed since Matt’s sudden death, and all that time Anna has kept her brief relationship with Matt a secret from Frankie. Matt had planned to tell his sister but died before he had the opportunity. Now, while on a beach vacation with Frankie’s family, Anna finds herself falling for cute, sensitive Sam against her will—if she can love someone else, does that mean she no longer loves Matt? Anna approaches this issue and other big questions with the insight and maturity that come when a young person loses someone he or she cares deeply about. Anna’s authentic voice and some lyrical writing will satisfy fans of Sarah Dessen, while the mix of romance, drama, and tragedy will be a draw for teen readers of Nicholas Sparks and Jodi Picoult. Grades 9-11. --Heather Booth

Review

"[A] sincere, romantic tearjerker. Readers will easily relate to Anna's authentically depicted feelings of lust, longing, shame and fear as she cautiously embarks on a new summer love." (Kirkus Reviews )

"This is smoothly written and romantic as all get out....ideal for readers looking for romance salted with a bit of tears as well as a bit of sea air." (BCCB ) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; 1 edition (June 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316051594
• ISBN-13: 978-0316051590
• Product Dimensions: 5.9 x 1.1 x 8.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (125 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #368,504 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Sarah Ockler is the bestselling author of critically acclaimed young adult novels Twenty Boy Summer, Fixing Delilah, and Bittersweet. Her books have been translated into several languages and have received numerous accolades, including ALA's Best Fiction for Young Adults, Girls' Life Top 100 Must Reads, IndieNext list picks, and more. Her short fiction and essays are featured in two young adult anthologies: Defy the Dark and Dear Teen Me.

Sarah is a champion cupcake eater, coffee drinker, night person, and bookworm. When she's not writing or reading, Sarah enjoys taking pictures, hugging trees, and road-tripping through the country with her husband, Alex.

Her latest novel, The Book of Broken Hearts, will be released in May 2013.

Visit her website at sarahockler.com or find her on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An insightful and funny story of discovery and love May 29, 2009

By The Compulsive Reader VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

Anna's best friend Frankie is determined to make this summer their Absolute Best Summer Ever. To the outsider, it seems like it will be perfect: Frankie's family is taking Anna on their annual vacation to Zanzibar Bay, California and Frankie schemes to meet twenty different guys while they're there so she and Anna can have the perfect summer romance. But really, Anna and Frankie are still reeling from the loss of their best friend and Frankie's brother, Matt. And what Frankie doesn't know is that Anna's already had her perfect summer romance--with Matt.

Though outwardly fun and flirty, below the surface Sarah Ockler's Twenty Boy Summer is a reflective and insightful story of loss and discovery as well. Ockler does an excellent job at characterizing each person in her novel, even the most insignificant characters, making Anna's world tangible and realistic. The different portrayals of each person's grief--Anna's retreat into her journal, Frankie's recklessness, and her mother's withdrawal--are all apt and serve as one of the most significant elements of the novel as it causes conflicts and also enables each character to grow. Ockler's simple use of juxtaposition is also a striking element, and is a detail that really stands out. Twenty Boy Summer is a fun-filled, romantic book containing every girl's dream summer vacation, but made more meaningful by the grief and sadness that Matt left behind. It's wonderfully detailed and sensitive as it exploes the bonds of friendship, first (and second) love, loss, and ultimately learning to let go. Twenty Boy Summer is a definite summer must-read.

Cover Comments: Love, love this cover! It's so beachy and fun. The sea glass is a really nice touch that ties into the book, and I like the look of the boards that make up the background. I can just picture the beach whenever I look at it. Though the font of the title isn't my favorite, I like how the white stands out. This cover definitely gets my seal of approval!

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Touching Story July 12, 2009

By Julie Peterson

Format:Hardcover

TWENTY BOY SUMMER by Sarah Ockler seems to be everywhere right now and so are the glowing reviews for it. In fact, I don't remember reading even one less than positive review. I actually read this novel a few weeks ago while I was with my family at the swimming pool, and I swore that I was going to come home right away and write my review. Famous last words because life has just gotten in the way (and a little old thing called BEA.)

So now, I'm writing my review about two weeks after finishing this book which I really don't like to do because I tend to forget details after a few days. However, this one time I think it's going to be okay. TWENTY BOY SUMMER is one of those books that has actually stuck with me -- I can remember this book like I just read it and the characters keep popping up in my mind. I think that says a great deal about the quality of this novel.

TWENTY BOY SUMMER is Sarah Ockler's debut novel, and I have to admit that I'm a little surprised by this. I found her writing to be so polished and real that it just seemed as if she's been writing books for a long time. Her prose and descriptions are just beautiful, but I also really appreciated how authentic her dialogue was. I can't say enough about how she developed the characters in this story, especially Anna; and I think she captured the devastating effects of loss on a family so very well. I really think Ms. Ockler is going to have a wonderful writing career ahead of her, and I'm looking forward to her future books.

Although I really, really liked this book (and maybe even loved it) I have to mention that I was a little surprised that the back cover of the ARC says that this novel is for ages 12 and up. My daughter is almost 10 years old and I realize that there is a lot of growing up between the ages of 10 and 12, but I don't think that I would let me daughter read this book until she is quite a bit older than 12. TWENTY BOY SUMMER deals with some mature issues including teenage sexuality. In fact, one of the major story lines is about Anna's attempt to meet twenty boys over the summer and lose her virginity to one of them -- they actually refer to it as "Anna's Albatross." I felt as if losing one's virginity was taken very casually in this story, and I kept hoping that there would be a big moral lesson at the end of the book. I realize that this casual approach might be reflecting reality in today's society, but I don't want my daughter reading about these things until she's much more mature.

Having said that, there are so many wonderful things about TWENTY BOY SUMMER and I do recommend it (just to adults or older teenagers.) I can not rave enough about how the author portrayed grief and loss as themes in this novel. My heart went out to all of the characters, but especially Anna. Not only did she lose one of her best friends in the death of Matt, but she also lost her first love. In addition, Frankie, who was her best girl friend, was dealing with the loss of her brother and the effects that had on her entire family. It was almost as if Anna lost both of her friends with Matt's death. And since Anna wasn't talking about her feelings for Matt with anyone, I think it made it even more painful for her to deal with this loss. My heart went out to her on so many levels.

I also think the author did a wonderful job of showing how Matt's death affected his entire family. Frankie's reaction to his death and her eventual acting-out seemed to be very realistic to me (albeit unfortunate.) However, I also thought Frankie's parents' actions seemed genuine. Even though the story was told through Anna's eyes, the reader could still see how devastating the loss of a child can be on a marriage and a family.

TWENTY BOY SUMMER is a terrific book that I highly recommend reading. If you are looking for a beautifully told story that deals with loss and grief, then you should really take a look at this novel.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A great summer read May 28, 2009

By Cheryl Koch VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

Twelve months ago, Anna Reiley and her friend, Frankie Perino were having the time of their lives together. Anna has developed a crush on Frankie's brother, Matt. Matt is seventeen and about to go off to college. Anna has secretly been wishing that Matt would kiss her. That wish comes true on Anna's fifteenth birthday. The kiss is the most wonderful thing that could ever happen to Anna.

Matt and Anna made a promise to each other that they would not tell Frankie about their relationship. That is only because Matt plans to tell Frankie during their family vacation as that is the best time. Frankie is fragile. Unfortunately Matt never gets a chance to tell Frankie. Matt, Frankie, and Anna had all went out for custard and on their way back, they got into a car accident. Frankie and Anna were the only ones to survive. Everyone around them says that they are very lucky but it doesn't feel like it.

A year has passed since the accident but Anna still misses Matt. The worse part is that Frankie still doesn't know about her and Matt. Anna has thought about telling Frankie many times but no time ever seemed like the right time. Frankie and Anna are trying to put the past behind them and what better way to do so then to spend twenty fun filled days in sunny California. Frankie comes up with a contest. While out in California, Frankie and Anna will have a friendly competition to see who can get the most boys interested in them. Anna agrees. Will this be the summer that Anna finds love again?

Twenty Boy Summer is a perfect summer read. Though this book may be catorgized as young adult, it can still be enjoyed by older readers as well. I felt for Anna and Frankie and what they lost and gained. It was interesting to see how the car crash changed both Anna and Frankie in different ways. The contest that Frankie and Anna had is age approriate and fun. Sarah Ockler has made a name for herself with this book. I cant wait to see what Sarah comes up with next.