Not Our Summer

April 1, 2021

Gr 8 Up-Although they are cousins, high school seniors KJ and Becka, who are white, have been strangers most of their lives, until they meet again at their eccentric grandfather's funeral and learn that they must fulfill his bucket list of adventures...together. The two have lived separate and very different lives as a result of a feud between their mothers, but their grandfather wanted them to be friends despite the rift, so he forces them to go on five exciting trips. All of the experiences were meticulously planned before his death, and the girls and their mothers will not receive their large inheritance unless they fulfill each one. As they ride mules to the bottom of Grand Canyon, hike through Yellowstone, whitewater raft in the Chattooga River, and scuba dive in Key West, the cousins reluctantly find that they have more in common than they thought. Their fondness for each other predictably grows, until they learn a shocking fact about their past that threatens to sabotage their trust. The girls' distinct personalities are revealed through alternating first-person chapters, and letters that arrive from their grandfather throughout the summer disclose why he has gone to extraordinary lengths to reunite the girls. The descriptions of their experiences are enough to tempt a traveler, but they remain a backdrop against which the plot and characters evolve. VERDICT Although there are many unanswered questions, this engaging debut packs authentic dialogue, strong personalities, and fabulous destinations into a heartwarming tale of family drama and personal growth.-MaryAnn Karre, Binghamton, NY

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2021
Two estranged cousins are thrown together by their agoraphobic grandfather when he leaves detailed travel plans for them to carry out following his death. Following the example set by their respective mothers, 18-year-olds K.J. and Becka loathe one other. The same family secret that drove the sisters apart poisoned their daughters against one another, leaving them virtual strangers throughout their lives, though they've lived relatively nearby in Oklahoma and Arkansas. However, K.J. and Becka find themselves spending the summer together as a condition of receiving an unexpected inheritance. Alternating narration allows for introspective character development as they ride mules in the Grand Canyon, hike around Yellowstone National Park, go whitewater rafting in South Carolina, try diving in Key West, and compete in a rodeo event. K.J.'s adventurous, impulsive personality initially clashes with that of the more image-conscious Becka, but there's never any real doubt they'll find common ground. Still, this novel is an engrossing example of the journey, not the destination, being the point. K.J. comes from a markedly less privileged background, and this raises the stakes for her in a way that Becka doesn't have to face, but readers will easily empathize with both young women. Main characters are White. A poignant family drama that realistically explores the growth of a complicated relationship. (Fiction. 14-18)

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April 1, 2021
Grades 8-11 Estranged cousins K.J. and Becka are on opposing sides of a dispute begun by their mothers decades ago. They don't talk, they don't know each other, and they don't want to. Then their grandfather, who had a weird sense of humor, dies and leaves them an inheritance on one condition--that they visit a list of places, together, the summer after they both graduate high school. While at first they're only begrudgingly accomplishing their grandfather's list, soon enough the girls are talking--and even trusting each other. Through their alternating chapters, with occasional asides from their grandfather, the truth of the long feud between their mothers is slowly revealed, and it shakes them both. Can they move beyond their mothers' secrets and remain friends, or will their truce only last for the summer? Bazay's debut is enjoyable realistic fiction, and believable, relatable heroines K.J. and Becka will appeal to anyone with heavy family histories. A recommended purchase for teen collections.

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