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Memories of Summer Audiobook
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(3.08) - 339 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
In 1955, thirteen-year-old Lyric, her older sister Summer, and their widowed father pack the car. Poor yet hopeful, they move from the hills of Virginia to Flint, Michigan, where "Poppy" plans to find factory work. Once they are in Michigan, Lyric and Summer love the excitement of the city. Lyric makes friends at her new school, but Summer feels like an outcast. Soon, the close bond between the two sisters begins to dissolve. Lyric always knew that Summer was a bit odd, but now Summer withdraws more and more into a fantasy world. Filled with love and pain, Memories of Summer is Lyric's story of her sister's descent into mental illness. Newbery Award-winning Ruth White is noted for her ability to capture the conflicts and emotions that affect many young adults. Narrator Kate Forbes'gentle voice captures both the sisters and their changing world. For more by Ruth White, look for Weeping Willow, an ALA Best Book for Young Adults.
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"I picked up this book this afternoon because it was in my library downstairs and the book I am reading is upstairs. The kids were playing outside and this was short, so I figured I would read a few pages while they ran amok. I don't know where or when I purchased this but I was surprised how much I liked this book. It is extremely short and the writing very simple, yet somehow I totally connected with the characters. It's fairly heavy (thirteen year old dealing with her sister's mental illness) but I really enjoyed it. Read it in one sitting."
— Michelle (4 out of 5 stars)
Memories of Summer Listener Reviews
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" Lyric & Summer teenage sisters move w/their father from the hills of VA to Flint, MI in 1950's. Dad gets a job at a car plant, living conditions slowly improve for them, but Summer the older sister spirals into the life of a schzophrenia/paranoia-Good Read "
— Vicki, 2/16/2014 -
" Don't pick this up if you're in for a light and uplifting read. This was a very dark book, but very good. It discusses the struggles a family faces when the oldest daughter is bipolar. This is hard in any age, but this book takes place in the 1950s. "
— Marianne, 2/13/2014 -
" I think that this book was very enlightening and opened my eyes to a subject that I rarely think about. "
— Hebert-Birkenbach.Sierra, 2/2/2014 -
" I enjoy Ruth Whites books because they are based off of her life. This was a good little read. It took about an hour. "
— Melissa, 1/31/2014 -
" I really like Ruth White. This book though had a more sobering theme and was in general darker than her other books. It's the story of two sisters - one watches and is the voice of the book as she sees her sister get sucked into a world of schizophrenia. It was really well-written, but sad on so many levels, as should be expected. I learned some things about the disease I previously hadn't known. A good book, but too adult for younger kids. "
— Allison, 1/25/2014 -
" Nice expression of emotions of the sisters.... "
— Dipanjan, 1/24/2014 -
" My daughter just finished reading this book and she thought I would like it. I originally thought the book was about a girl's memories of summer time, however, it is really about this girls memories of her sister, Summer, who has schizophrenia. I thought that the author did a good job writing about mental illness. We had some good discussion afterward. "
— Jennifer, 1/22/2014 -
" I can really relate to this book. Lyric's sister is sick with skitzophernia and so is my father, and I can really relate well to this story. "
— Mareena, 1/18/2014 -
" This is really a touching book of two sisters. "
— Maya, 1/17/2014 -
" I felt bad for Lyric's helplessness in the face of her sister's steady decline into schizophrenia. I can't imagine being in such a situation, especially with no mother to help. I highly recommend this for middle school on up. "
— Krista, 1/7/2014 -
" This was pleasant and interesting - another period piece. An up-close and personal look at a family member developing full-blown schizophrenia. "
— Kirsten, 12/11/2013 -
" Very quick read about a young teenager who moves with her father and sister from a holler in Appalachia to Flint, Mich., in the 1950s, and her sister's quick descent into schizophrenia. Sad, but sweet. "
— Sara, 12/10/2013 -
" Well told story, but one teens probably wouldn't choose for themselves unless looking for books about mental illness. "
— Kathy, 12/8/2013 -
" this is the best book ive ever read! i just really liked it. "
— Julie, 12/5/2013 -
" lyric is a normal 14 year old struggling to help her sister,summer,whom some might say is loony.its sad to hear about how summer lives her life and how she realizes shes fading away,but it is a great read. "
— Grace, 11/29/2013 -
" This was an interesting story of a girl and her realization of her sister's mental illness (schizophrenia) and set in the 50s. It was interesting to find out that this was a somewhat true story of the author and her memories of her sister who also suffered with this illness. "
— Kendra, 11/1/2013 -
" OMG!!! This is truly one of the best books ever. "
— Katelynn, 10/21/2013 -
" The ending was sad. "
— Dania, 9/16/2013 -
" Not the most fantastic writing, but it does address a topic often not mentioned in young adult literature. It is the story of a family in the 50's dealing with the mental illness of one of their daughters. "
— Emily, 8/3/2013 -
" This is a great novel for children! There is much excitement throughout the book between two sisters. "
— Christie, 7/10/2013 -
" This books is so good but so sad at the end. I highly recommend this book. "
— Jourdan, 5/23/2013 -
" This book was great but it was really,really,really,really sad. "
— Leilah, 5/22/2013 -
" I won't be keeping this one in my classroom. I felt it was very depressing. "
— Doodle, 5/15/2013 -
" Excellent. There are not many fiction books out there that address schizophrenia in such a sensitive, thought-provoking, discussion-provoking manner. Good bibliotherapy material for families and teens. Well written and woven fiction for anyone. It got awards. I would have given it more. "
— Marie, 4/28/2013 -
" I liked reading this book. It demonstrates the strenghth of a younger to get it together and care for her older sister who has mental illness issues. They move as a family minus the mother from Virginia to Michigan so their father can find work. Good for teens and up. "
— Jane, 4/11/2013 -
" i read this book a really long time ago. i don't remember a lot of details but i do remember loving it. "
— Monica, 4/3/2013
About Ruth White
Ruth White is the author of Sweet Creek Holler, an ALA Notable Book; Weeping Willow, an ALA Best Book for Young Adults; and Belle Prater’s Boy, a Newbery Honor Book.
About Kate Forbes
Kate Forbes, winner of four Earphones Awards for audiobook narrating, is a professionally trained actress who has appeared on Broadway, in regional theaters, and with a renowned touring company. After graduating from Sarah Lawrence College, where she was active in theater, she completed an MFA at New York University School of the Arts. With this training, she launched into a successful acting career.