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Monday, July 25, 2011

Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

Twenty Boy Summer
Release Date: June 1st, 2009
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 290
Buy This Book: Amazon
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In Sarah Ockler's debut novel, she explores the roiling waves of death and grief while finding new light in a life still living. Anna is on vacation with her best friend Frankie in California, and when Frankie suggests project Twenty Boy Summer(twenty guys in twenty days) Anna reluctantly agrees. The thing is, she's not ready for a summer fling. Especially since just a year ago, Anna fell in love with Frankie's brother Matt and he died in a car crash. Now, she must bury the secret deep in her heart, or else risk the shattering of her seemingly normal life-and the guilt of betraying her first love. 

Sarah Ockler writes with grace and beauty, able to make you feel in simple phrases with the ocean always ebbing and flowing behind you. Though not as good as Sarah Ockler's Fixing Delilah, she still manages to create a perfect character in Anna; pretty, but not too pretty, smart, and confident, but not too confident. The relationship between Anna and her best friend Frankie is complicated and tangled, but Ockler manages it with realistic emotions and plot twists. Anna's romance is also sweet and satisfying, leaving you guessing at the end. Having been to the San Francisco area myself, I feel Sarah Ockler describing it perfectly, especially in the ocean scenes. The grief Anna and Frankie have for Matt will be forever undying, and perfectly executed by Ockler's pen. 

This is definitely a recommended read for Sarah Dessen and Deb Calletti fans, and Sarah Ockler has already joined their ranks as a fantastic writer of contemporary fiction for YA readers.



2 comments:

Anonymous

Hey Kaja! Thanks so much for posting your review of Twenty Boy Summer. I'm glad you enjoyed the book! And I'm honored to be compared to Sarah Dessen and Deb Caletti - my two contemp faves!

Happy reading!

-Sarah Ockler

Unknown

Hi! :)
You just won yourself 6 awards. :)
You can claim them here:
http://angelsalvogomez.blogspot.com/2011/07/you-deserve-these.html

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