The Bibliophile's Bookshelf

June’s Saturday Spotlight theme is Beach Reads!

To be blunt: I don’t know what makes a book a beach read. I typically classify a book as a beach read if it takes place in summer or I would bring it with me on vacation.

The first book I’m discussing is A Summer to Die by Lois Lowry, which is not your typical beach read.

This is by no means a feel good type of book, but I love it! And it takes place in summer, so it made it onto the list.

This book takes place in the 70s or 80s, and was written in 1983, so it is older.

This book is sad. I will start there. But it is the good kind of sad where it is cleansing, and realistic, and you feel something, but there is also a hopeful ending despite what happens. Don’t let the fact that this book is sad turn you away- it is a beautiful story!

A Summer to Die follows Meg and her older sister, Molly. Meg is an aspiring artist and photographer. Molly is beautiful and popular, which is something that Meg is envious of.

Their father is working on writing a book, so they move out of their house and go to the countryside for a year while he finishes his book. There they meet a friendly elderly man and a newly married couple who are expecting a baby.

Meg befriends these people, as well as her sister. Throughout the course of this novel Meg and Molly come closer together, even as Molly develops an illness.

Meg has amazing character development throughout this novel, but Molly does as well. Molly was kind of stuck up and rigid at the beginning of the novel, but by the end of it she had relaxed and become kinder.

A Summer to Die is a heartfelt novel, that follows two sisters as they grow and come to understand each other. While a sad book, it has a hopeful undertone, and is a perfect read for summer!