Summerlost

Although summer has now passed and our autumn colours are well and truly showing their glory, Summerlost makes for a perfect little holiday read no matter what time of year. This wonderfully bittersweet story is written by Ally Condie, author of the very popular fantasy series 'Matched'.

Lost

‘Last summer we had a Dad and a brother and then they were gone. We did not see it coming.’

After the death of her husband and son in a horrific car accident, Cedar’s mother takes her grieving family back to the small town where their grandparents live. Twelve year old Cedar narrates the story of her family’s adjustment to life without their loved ones, and their first summer of knowing that in the space of one moment your life can be changed forever.

‘We learned from the accident that anything could happen. Anything bad, anyway.’

Found

Cedar worries about what might happen if her mum finds someone new and falls in love. But, reeling in her loss and trying her best to make like life is normal, Cedar’s mum buys a holiday cottage to give them new focus.

‘Mom didn’t end up falling in love with a person, but she did fall in love with a house.’

A character-filled holiday house becomes part of their healing process. Cedar’s mum works obsessively on the house’s renovations while Miles and Cedar entertain themselves and try not to let their mum know they’re watching soap operas for most of the day!

Lost

With time on their hands, memories and regrets flood back. Cedar lives in deep remorse of her last words and actions toward her little brother, who had special needs.

'I couldn't tell anyone. I never, ever wanted Ben to be dead. But sometimes I wanted him gone. And then he was.'

Found

Cedar becomes curious about the boy who rides past her house each day, nicknaming him the Nerd-On-A-Bike. When she learns that his weird attire is his costume for the outdoor Summer Shakespeare theatre festival she stops being so mean to him and a delightful friendship evolves. 

With help from Leo (Nerd-On-A-Bike), Cedar also gets a job at the festival and the two become intrigued by an old unsolved mystery at the theatre. Cedar gets so caught up in solving the mystery of actress Lisette Chamberlain that she makes some decisions that result in her new friends being hurt and betrayed.

Found

I am so glad I found this adorable coming-of-age story. And, I have to admit it was the gorgeous cover image that sold it for me.  

The grief journey Cedar and her family goes through is raw and honest. Cedar makes mistakes and has to live with them.  Most of these actions are born out of her emotional processing and Ally Condie does a magnificent job of writing this voice of grief and loss. I love the way Condie completes the story with a beautiful conversation between Cedar and Leo:

“A minute ago you told me that you thought I was cute.”

“Yeah,” Leo said. “I mean, I do think that. But you’re not my girlfriend. You’re my person.”

I knew right away what he meant.

I thought he was cute and he thought I was cute but it was different than it was when people have crushes.

With Leo I’d fallen into another kind of like. I couldn’t wait to tell him stuff and I loved hearing him laugh at my jokes and I loved laughing at his jokes. He made me feel like I had a spot in the world.

It felt as if Leo and I could like each other all our lives.

So I hugged him.

He was my person too.”

Zinga Rating: Five Stars *****

The Matched series also by Ally Condie