When Lillie and her cousins, Trina and Nick, were younger, they spent their summers together at the family cabin playing games and telling stories around the campfire. This year is different though; Lillie is 17 years old now and things have changed. Nick has just been drafted into the Vietnam War leaving Trina to take care of him like a mother hen while he’s away. As if that wasn’t bad enough, tensions are running high between Lillie and her mom since she caught them kissing goodbye. With Nick halfway across the world fighting in a war he might not come back from, can this be their last summer together?
For who is this book for ?
This book is for people who enjoy literature and fiction. The story follows the lives of three cousins as they experience the ups and downs of growing up. With a war raging in Vietnam, this could very well be their last summer together.
Pros :
- The author does a great job of creating realistic and sympathetic characters that the reader can easily root for.
- The story is well written and draws you in, making it difficult to put down.
- The plot is compelling and has a lot of emotion packed into it.
Cons :
- The protagonist is 17 years old and the book feels juvenile.
- There is a lot of tension between Lillie and her mother that doesn’t seem to add up to much.
- The subplot involving Nick’s deployment to Vietnam seems unnecessary and tacked on.
Learn more about the author
A.H. Cunningham is a new author who fell in love with writing during her time at university. She spends her days reading, gardening and taking care of her cats, Gypsy and Merlin.
Reader Reviews
“This novel is rich with emotion and captures the essence of family, love, and loss. Cunningham’s characters are finely drawn and her prose lyrical making for a deeply moving read.”
“This beautifully written book had me hooked right from the start. It is a story of love, loss and hope that will stay with you long after you finish reading it.”
“Wonderful story. Captured the essence of what it is like to be a teenager and dealing with family issues.”
“I don’t think I stopped grinning from ear to ear once while reading this book!”