Book review - The Summer We Forgot

 

Title: The Summer We Forgot

Author: Caroline George

Genre: thriller

Similar books: The Girl With the Wrong Name by Barnabas Miller

                      Oblivion by Sasha Dawn

Rating:

 

not as exciting as it wants to be

Summary (provided by publisher): Some memories are better left forgotten.
Darby and Morgan haven’t spoken for two years, and their friend group has splintered. But when the body of their former science teacher is found in the marsh where they attended camp that summer, they realize they have more questions than answers . . . and even fewer memories.
No one remembers—or no one is talking.
The group of reunited friends suspects that a murderer is stalking the coastal highway 30A, and they are desperate to recover their memories as quickly as possible . . . before their history they can’t remember repeats itself.
Everyone has a secret.
As tensions rise and time runs out, Darby and Morgan begin to wonder if they can believe one another . . . or if they can even trust themselves.

My opinion: The set up here is a decent one - a group of one time friends pulled apart by time and an experience that none of them remembers thrust back together by the reveal that they are connected to a murder. Of course they start their own investigation into what happened to them, an investigation that includes mysterious messages that at turns encourage them to find the secret and threaten their safety. So we have danger, friendship, even romance. The plot has enough action and keeps moving, doesn't dwell much on feelings or atmosphere. The problem is that the mystery has some logical leaps and pushes believably pretty hard. For a one-time read it isn't bad but it won't hold up to a repeat or even much of a close read.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

March 18 check-in

 Open on my shelf today:

A Million Quiet Revolutions by Robin Gow

Marvel Tsum Tsum Takeover by Jacob Chabot

The Real McCoys by Matthew Swanson

Total read in March: 29

Pick 6: humor

 This winter has been a bit rough, so we're all looking for a pick-me-up. What better way to lighten the mood than a funny book? Here are 6 new funny books published in the past 6 months.

6 new humor books:

1. Orcs in Space by Mike Tanner
2. Glorious Wrestling Alliance by Josh Hicks
3. The Heist Age by Doug Paleo
4. How to Train Your Dad by Gary Paulsen
5. Blue, Barry, and Pancakes by Dan Abdo and Jason Patterson
6. Housecat Trouble by Mason Dickerson
   

March 17 check-in

 Open on my shelf today:

Falling Short by Ernesto Cisneros

Marvel Tsum Tsum Takeover by Jacob Chabot

The Real McCoys by Matthew Swanson

Total read in March: 28

Listen with me

 

The Real McCoys by Matthew Swanson

I've been listening to more serious books recently so I'm looking forward to something a bit lighter. A kid's mystery set in school, this has the potential to be a lot of fun.

March 16 check-in

 Open on my shelf today:

Falling Short by Ernesto Cisneros

Giant-Size LIttle Marvel by Skottie Young

The Real McCoys by Matthew Swanson

Total read in March: 27

Book review - Mountain Runaways

 

Title: Mountain Runaways

Author: Pam Withers

Genre: realistic fiction

Similar books: I Am Still Alive by Kate Alice Marshall

                      Far North by Will Hobbs

Rating:

 

delivers what it promises

Summary (provided by publisher): First a Canadian Rockies avalanche kills their parents. Then Children’s Services threatens to separate them. That’s when the three Gunnarsson kids decide to run away into the mountains and fend for themselves until the oldest turns eighteen and becomes their legal guardian. Not many would dare. But Jon, Korka, and Aron’s parents ran a survival school.
Turns out their plan is full of holes. When food and equipment go missing and illness and injury strike, things get scary. They’re even less prepared for encounters with dangerous animals and a sketchy woods dweller. On top of that, grief, cold, hunger, and sibling infighting threaten to tear them apart, while the search parties are closing in on them. Do Jon, Korka, and Aron really have what it takes to survive?

My opinion: This book is a pretty solid example of the survival story. We get a trio of kids matching wits with nature, using the knowledge their parents gave them to keep themselves alive. Their personality differences provide the bulk of the conflict. Most of the plot complications are the result of random bad luck. There are some unique details but the plot goes a lot of the places we would expect. The plot is simple and focused largely on practicalities rather than any character development, but it remains a fairly exciting read.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley