That Summer

by Sarah Dessen

Book Overview

From the award-winning and New York Times bestelling author of Once and for All The more things change. . . As far as Haven is concerned, there's just too much going on. Everything is changing, and she's not sure where she fits in. Then her sister's old boyfriend shows up, sparking memories of the summer when they were all happy and everything was perfect. . . . But along the way, Haven realizes that sometimes change is a good thing. "Unforgettable"...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0142401722
• ISBN13: 9780142401729
• Release Date: May 2004
• Publisher: Speak
• Length: 198 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.5" x 8.2"
• Age Range: 12 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 7 and higher

Customer Reviews

Great book

I really enjoyed reading this book. It would be a great book for young adults to read as well, I think young adults could relate to the teenaged girl Haven. The book I would say is calming to read, I found myself able to understand Haven in some ways which was nice.

Takes Two Reads

Haven is a 15 year old girl who basically sums herself up in one sentence: "I had dreams of not being ables to fit through doors, of becoming gigantic, towering over people and buildings like a monster." Physically awkward and tripping, inside Haven is fumbling to catch the last remnants of a summer a few years before, when her sister, Ashley, was dating a boy called Sumner Lee and Haven went with them and her parents to the beach. Haven finds that summer perfect, the last before her entire life was shattered. Ashley is now in her twenties and getting married to Lewis Warsher, a rather tame boy who seems to have no interesting qualities and is too bland a person to deserve Haven's sister; Haven's parents were divorced when her father came and told Haven's mother that he was having an affair with Lorna Queen, his co-worker who Haven vindictively calls the "Weather Pet", whom he is marrying at the beginning of the book; and Haven's mother is a fragmented figure of fragility, a wisp, not wholely there even as she pushes herself forward. In her 15th summer between her distancing father's wedding and her sister's, Haven feels alone and lost, watching her old best friend tear become a stranger, "letting boys go up her shirt" and "what my mother would politely call fast", as well as seeing her pine over a boy she met at camp, and Haven seeing the ghost rumors of Gwendolyn Rogers, a model haunted by the infidelity of her photographer fiancee. Then Haven meets Sumner Lee, once again, and the Haven's entire world alternately begins spinning very fast, very slow, and nearly stopping throughout the end of her summer. In lyrical and unforgettably graceful prose, Sarah Dessen's first novel is at first glance a dull and unsatisfying story, but the closer you peer at it, you begin to see the connections and truths and metaphors hidden within every sentence. The characters are deep and dimensional, and though the plot is rather cliche at first, Sarah Dessen takes us to new heights. A story built solidly, spectacularly, and beautifully.

Teenagers will enjoy listening to this story

What teenager hasn't felt ill-at-ease in his or her own skin? Haven is one of many, but in addition to a spurt of growth that brings her to almost 6 feet at the age of 15, she's facing her father's wedding to a mini celebrity from the local TV station and her sister's upcoming nuptials to a really dull fellow. Mia Barron's reading of this story of teenage angst and recovery is pitch perfect from the family arguments to the mayhem at a mall where Haven works to shared confidences with her sister, Ashley. When Haven's life is turned upside down by all the changes to her physical appearance and within her family she remembers what she believes to have been a perfect summer - the vacation when her parents were together and Ashley dated Sumner Lee, a really likeable, charismatic boy. Memories aren't all Haven has because Sumner turns up once more. Listeners will find out what this means, and may very well be surprised. - Gail Cooke

What A Great Summer Book!

"That Summer" by Sarah Dessen is a great book. It is about a 15 year old girl named Haven who is facing a whole lot of problems--her height (She is almost 6 feet tall), her father getting married, AND her sister getting married also, to a boring Lewis Warsher, who just makes her sister Ashley seem as boring as him. Her frind Casey also returns from summer camp as a different person that Haven has to get to know all over again. Nothing seems to be going right for her until one of Ashley's old boyfriends name Sumner, who made a lot more sense as Ashley's boyfriend then Lewis does, shows up again. He shows her that everything isn't as bad as it seems, and makes her feel better about her summer.This book is a good read that you will probably be able to finish in 3 days, tops. It is so good that you won't want to put it down!

~*ThAt SumMeR*~

In Sarah Dessen's first novel, Haven, a tall, 15 year old girl tries to deal with her life changing summer, while reminiscing about a special one that stood out in her memory. The summer where everything was right and perfect and happy. The summer that her older sister Ashley was dating Sumner, and her parents were happy and together. Back in reality though, this summer was crazy and strange- nothing was the same anymore. Her dad runs off with "The Weather Pet" and her sister is getting married to a boring guy named Lewis. Her best friend returns from camp a totally different girl, who smokes and has a long-distance boyfriend. Even Haven herself has changed. She is almost six feet tall, uncomfortable with herself and her looks. The boy who made everything right, Sumner Lee, makes a re-appearance after all those year during this summer, and Haven thinks he is the key to making everything go away and be normal again. By the end of this crazy summer, Haven finds herself and understands so many more things than she did before. Sarah Dessen is an outstanding author, who writes with a laid-back, detailed style that anyone can somehow relate to. her characters are well developed, and unforgetable. This is a book that you don't want to put down, but after you've finished it, you wish you had savored every page, not wanting it to end. It is sweet, truthful, sad, and funny all at the same time.

Not Your Average Teen Summer Story

That Summer is a witty and heartwarming view of the turning point in the life of a young girl. Dessens characters are colorful and believable, and her main character shows an amazingly down-to-earth and realistic personality. A book that makes you feel good about yourself when you're reading it, and leaves you with pleasant memories afterwards.