#104. Gemini Summer by Iain Lawrence
Gemini Summer by Iain Lawrence
Pages: 261
Finished: Oct. 31, 2007
Reason for Reading: this is on the shortlist for the Gov. Gen. award for children's lit. It also qualifies for the Canadian Book Challenge
First Published: 2006
Genre: YA/children fiction
Awards: PNBA Children's Book Award
Author's website
Rating: 5/5
First Sentence:
Comments: One family leads it's life of joys and sorrows amidst the beginnings of both the Vietnam War and the space race. The father is obsessed with building a fallout shelter for the family, the mother spends most of her time in the basement writing the next 'Gone With the Wind', and then there are the boys, one who wants to be an astronaut while the other who wants nothing more than to have a dog. The vivid portrayal of life during this time reminded me so much of the movie 'Stand By Me'. Tragedy hits this family and the way they suffer, the way they deal and the way they cope is riveting. The writing was mesmerizing, I found myself pulled into this book and living along side the characters. For me this was a perfect book, a reader couldn't ask for more. A beautiful, wonderful story of family. Highly recommended!
I've now read three of the books shortlisted for the Governor General's Award for Children's Literature and at this point this one is my favourite. Read my reviews of the others on the shortlist here:
Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis
The Alchemist's Dream by John Wilson
Pages: 261
Finished: Oct. 31, 2007
Reason for Reading: this is on the shortlist for the Gov. Gen. award for children's lit. It also qualifies for the Canadian Book Challenge
First Published: 2006
Genre: YA/children fiction
Awards: PNBA Children's Book Award
Author's website
Rating: 5/5
First Sentence:
The sheriff leaned back with his feet on the desk, watching the blond-haired boy.
Comments: One family leads it's life of joys and sorrows amidst the beginnings of both the Vietnam War and the space race. The father is obsessed with building a fallout shelter for the family, the mother spends most of her time in the basement writing the next 'Gone With the Wind', and then there are the boys, one who wants to be an astronaut while the other who wants nothing more than to have a dog. The vivid portrayal of life during this time reminded me so much of the movie 'Stand By Me'. Tragedy hits this family and the way they suffer, the way they deal and the way they cope is riveting. The writing was mesmerizing, I found myself pulled into this book and living along side the characters. For me this was a perfect book, a reader couldn't ask for more. A beautiful, wonderful story of family. Highly recommended!
I've now read three of the books shortlisted for the Governor General's Award for Children's Literature and at this point this one is my favourite. Read my reviews of the others on the shortlist here:
Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis
The Alchemist's Dream by John Wilson
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