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Summary: Dessen writes a smart, insightful novel for teens & adults.
Review: I must confess, I enjoyed this book even though I was 27 when I first read "That Summer." If only it had been around when I was 15, like the protagonist, Haven.Without getting sensational, Dessen has explored a trite teen issue-- divorce and remarriage of one's parents-- in a new way. Haven deals with the adjustments to her family in a way that shows reflection and self-respect. And Dessen has a sense of humor to keep this novel readable. My book club-- which consists of adults-- enjoyed this novel as much as many that are intended for older readers. This is a great book for parents (and step-parents) to read with their teens, and it is also a great big-sister/ little-sister book. I don't think I've ever read a novel intelligent enough for teens and their parents to talk about together. If you buy a copy, make sure it gets read by more than one member of the household (or else buy more than one copy-- this book must be shared!).
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Summary: Gives teens a honest character
Review: I really enjoyed this book. I am 14 years old and often find it hard to find good young adult books which don't make teens into either drug addicts or goody-two shoes. This book has characters which are convincing and do teens justice. I would definitly recommend this book for some laughs and good reading.
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Summary: wowed
Review: i recently purchased this book and i got to reading it right away. definately hard to put down. it is easy to relate to. it mixes in things that will make you laugh, cry, and inspire. i reccomend this to everyone.
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Summary: A lot Like Me: That Summer
Review: I recently read "That Summer" and I loved it. This book reminded me of the past two years in my life. My parents divoriced and everything in my life sucked. I felt a lot like Haven, confused, scared and out-of-place. This book made me realize that sometimes you have to put the past behind you and move on. Even if it means letting go of something you love so much, you just have to learn to give it up. Just like Haven there always comes a time when we just want to runaway, but we can't. We have to face our fears with open arms. Dessen did an excellent job! I sure hope to enjoy others by her as well. Highly recommended for all ages!
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Summary: this book is great read it if you can
Review: I think the book "That Summer was a great book. I also think that the way that Sarah Dessen described herself a was written just the way a 15 girl would feel. this is also a very sad story.
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Summary: A Great Book
Review: I think this is a great book because Sarah(the author)really describes the way Haven is like. In some parts of the book I got a little confused.For example when Casey told Haven that she was in love with Sumner did Haven felt a little jeaolus was it because she liked him too? Well I stilll think that it was a great book.
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Summary: ThAt SuMmEr
Review: In Sarah Dessen's first novel, Haven, a tall 15 year-old girl tries to deal with her life changing summer, while reminiscing about a special one that stood out in her memory. The summer where everyting was right and perfect and happy. The summer that her older sister Ashley was dating Sumner, and her parents were happy and together. Back in reality though, this summer was crazy, and strange- nothing was the same anymore. Her dad runs off with the "Weather Pet" and her sister is getting married to a boring guy named Lewis. Her best friend returns from camp a totally different girl, who smokes and has a long term boyfriend. Even Haven herself has changed. he is almost six feet tall, uncomfortable with herself and her looks. The boy who made everything right, Sumner Lee, makes a re-appearance after all those years during this summer, and Haven thinks he is the key to making everything go away and be normal again. By the end of this crazy summer, Haven finds herself and understands so many more things than she did before. Sarah Dessen is an oustanding author, who writes with a laid-back, detailed style that anyone can somehow relate to. Her characters are well-developed, and unforgetable. This is a book that you don't want to put down, but after you've finished it, you wish you had savored every page, not wanting it to end. It is sweet, truthful, sad, and funny, all at the same time.
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Summary: ~*ThAt SumMeR*~
Review: In Sarah Dessen's first novel, Haven, a tall, 15 year old girl tries to deal with her life changing summer, while reminiscing about a special one that stood out in her memory. The summer where everything was right and perfect and happy. The summer that her older sister Ashley was dating Sumner, and her parents were happy and together. Back in reality though, this summer was crazy and strange- nothing was the same anymore. Her dad runs off with "The Weather Pet" and her sister is getting married to a boring guy named Lewis. Her best friend returns from camp a totally different girl, who smokes and has a long-distance boyfriend. Even Haven herself has changed. She is almost six feet tall, uncomfortable with herself and her looks. The boy who made everything right, Sumner Lee, makes a re-appearance after all those year during this summer, and Haven thinks he is the key to making everything go away and be normal again. By the end of this crazy summer, Haven finds herself and understands so many more things than she did before. Sarah Dessen is an outstanding author, who writes with a laid-back, detailed style that anyone can somehow relate to. her characters are well developed, and unforgetable. This is a book that you don't want to put down, but after you've finished it, you wish you had savored every page, not wanting it to end. It is sweet, truthful, sad, and funny all at the same time.
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Summary: One of my favorites
Review: My friend has read every Sarah Dessen book and with every one she's read, she'd tell me "You HAVE to read this!" Well, I finally gave in, and couldn't be happier that I took her advice. That Summer starts off with Haven (a tall, lanky 15 year old girl) and her sister Ashley (20, about to get married to boring Lewis) heading off to their dad's wedding, to the weather girl that works at the same news station as he does. After the wedding, the book bounces back and forth from the present summer, and Haven's "picture perfect" summer. That summer (hence the title) was amazing. Her mom and dad were still together, and the whole family - and Ashley's current boyfriend, Sumner, someone that everyone loved - packed up and stayed at Virginia Beach for a while. Haven loved Sumner, he treated her like a ral person, not just his girlfriends little sister. But, when Haven and her dad are eating dinner one night (present times again) - Sumner reappears in Haven's life. It seems like everywhere she goes, there Sumner is, working another odd job. This book also deals with the fights that Ashley and Haven have (much like fights between any sisters), her mom's new friend Lydia...who is trying to change who her mom really is, and her best friend Casey, who has totally changed since camp. This book is great, and I'm glad I read it. It's highly recommended, Sarah Dessen is an outstanding author. Overall grade - A+
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Summary: That Summer Review
Review: My friends had always told me that this was a wonderful book that I must read. It sat on my bookshelfs for months until I finally decided that I needed to read this book. I read it in 2 days! I didn't really understand the hesitation I had against this book. Maybe it was because I myself had gone through a first love that I will never forget. My favorite part of the book was the last sentence. If you have not read "That Summer" I highly recommend it and other Sarah Dessen books. I also think this book will mean more to the reader if you read it when you are in middle school or just entering high school. The plot and the characters will become more real if you read it this way. I hope my review was helpful and just give the book a try, you might be happilly supraised!
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