Scan barcode
zapkode's review against another edition
3.0
{my thoughts} – I accepted this review with an open mind. I understood what the jist of the book was about and that I may not end up liking it. I strongly try not to be overly judgmental when it comes to reading a book and I couldn’t help but do that while reading this particular book. Be judgmental that is.
This book is about a girl named Lexi that has lost her dad to cancer and her mom falls into a shell of depression. One day her mom questions her about her sexuality and Lexi chooses to be honest with her as opposed to lie. This causes a lot of sour tension between her and her mother for days. Her mother then tells her that the Pastor of their church would like to see her the next day. Lexi meets with the Pastor who gives her a brochure to a de-gayifying camp called New Horizons and sends her on her way. When Lexi gets home her mother seemingly appears to be a different person. Lexi attends the camp under the understanding she needs to cure herself to save whats left of her family.
When Lexi gets to the camp she is placed in a group with three other campers – Carolyn, Daniel and Matthew. These three characters with Lexi help to build a wonderful atmosphere within the book. Their playful banter, their opposing ideals, their inability to let the world bring them down and their desire to please are some of the traits I ran across. This is all I will say in regards to the book on a spoiler premise.
However, did I like the characters. I did like the four main characters. I did not like Mr. Martian or his counselors he had working with the children. I didn’t enjoy his attitude in general throughout the entire book and was disgusted by him the more I read. I was surprised when I learned more about Briana but I still couldn’t learn to like her anymore then Mr. Martian. I fell in love with Lexi and Matthew and learned to like Carolyn and Danial.
There were many things in this book I had problems getting through. I didn’t like the constant you must change your ways or you cannot go into the kingdom of Heaven. I strongly believe that if people weren’t meant to be who they are God wouldn’t have made them the way they are. I don’t see anything wrong with those individuals that are attracted to the same gender and it irritates me that this book was so determined to make it seem like such a nasty thing. I know that isn’t the stance the book keeps, but instead of helping teenagers and giving them hope – the book misleads them and sets them up for confusion and terrible thoughts to possibly cross their minds.
One of the most memorable parts of the book for me was the attack on Harry Potter. You’ll have to read the book to know what I am talking about, but it was an interesting analogy in my opinion.
I admit this book was well written, I don’t have anything wrong with how it is written it is with the how the storyline was delivered. I don’t know if this was the right book for me to read, as I had trouble committing to the story. I also had problems walking away from it completely because I wanted to know what happened in the end even though I was mostly unsatisfied with the book. I just can’t stand behind a book that in a sense instills in teenagers that they aren’t normal if they don’t like opposite genders. I strongly believe that you can’t help who you fall in love with.
If you want to know what happens in the book completely you will need to read it, but you may have just as much difficulty enjoying the book as I did.
This book is about a girl named Lexi that has lost her dad to cancer and her mom falls into a shell of depression. One day her mom questions her about her sexuality and Lexi chooses to be honest with her as opposed to lie. This causes a lot of sour tension between her and her mother for days. Her mother then tells her that the Pastor of their church would like to see her the next day. Lexi meets with the Pastor who gives her a brochure to a de-gayifying camp called New Horizons and sends her on her way. When Lexi gets home her mother seemingly appears to be a different person. Lexi attends the camp under the understanding she needs to cure herself to save whats left of her family.
When Lexi gets to the camp she is placed in a group with three other campers – Carolyn, Daniel and Matthew. These three characters with Lexi help to build a wonderful atmosphere within the book. Their playful banter, their opposing ideals, their inability to let the world bring them down and their desire to please are some of the traits I ran across. This is all I will say in regards to the book on a spoiler premise.
However, did I like the characters. I did like the four main characters. I did not like Mr. Martian or his counselors he had working with the children. I didn’t enjoy his attitude in general throughout the entire book and was disgusted by him the more I read. I was surprised when I learned more about Briana but I still couldn’t learn to like her anymore then Mr. Martian. I fell in love with Lexi and Matthew and learned to like Carolyn and Danial.
There were many things in this book I had problems getting through. I didn’t like the constant you must change your ways or you cannot go into the kingdom of Heaven. I strongly believe that if people weren’t meant to be who they are God wouldn’t have made them the way they are. I don’t see anything wrong with those individuals that are attracted to the same gender and it irritates me that this book was so determined to make it seem like such a nasty thing. I know that isn’t the stance the book keeps, but instead of helping teenagers and giving them hope – the book misleads them and sets them up for confusion and terrible thoughts to possibly cross their minds.
One of the most memorable parts of the book for me was the attack on Harry Potter. You’ll have to read the book to know what I am talking about, but it was an interesting analogy in my opinion.
I admit this book was well written, I don’t have anything wrong with how it is written it is with the how the storyline was delivered. I don’t know if this was the right book for me to read, as I had trouble committing to the story. I also had problems walking away from it completely because I wanted to know what happened in the end even though I was mostly unsatisfied with the book. I just can’t stand behind a book that in a sense instills in teenagers that they aren’t normal if they don’t like opposite genders. I strongly believe that you can’t help who you fall in love with.
If you want to know what happens in the book completely you will need to read it, but you may have just as much difficulty enjoying the book as I did.
izywithonez's review against another edition
2.0
2 stars. The book was not written well at all, but it was a story I felt like I could connect with.
mehsi's review against another edition
4.0
This book came to my attention because of the genre, I am always interested in reading about a character (or characters) who are lesbian/gay and others.
This book was even more interesting, since it is about healing camps for gays and all that came with it.
I can honestly say after this book, wow. Disturbing, shocking and at times just horrific. Father wounds? Beatings? Exorcisms? There were various things that I just had trouble getting through, I felt uncomfortable reading it. Like with the father wound exercise and everything that happened there. And the whole thing with Mr. Martin (I had my suspicions about him and I was right). It felt to me like a cult, not a camp, it didn’t feel like something from God, but just a cult where things happen that shouldn’t happen to anyone.
Our main girl Lexi though is a strong and interesting character. She doesn’t mind being gay, but wants to do her best in de-gayifying for her mother, who isn’t herself after the death of her husband (and Lexi’s father). But Lexi tries and tries, but sadly lightning struck as soon as she met Carolyn and she can’t shake the feeling off.
Lexi is a headstrong girl and sees right from wrong. I felt sorry for her at times, for what she went through (Zoë and her mom finding out, and the camp of course), and at other times I cheered for her and her awesomeness.
My second fav character is Matthew. Wow, he was awesome. He was dumped in the camp by his father and he is clearly not going to change. I loved his attitude, I loved how he fought and I loved how strong he was. Sadly it wasn’t always an attitude that helped him, I was horrified when we got to the parts with Mr. Martin and the exorcisms and what happened there. At those times I just wanted to throw the book against the wall.
He was a great friend to Lexi, and he was wonderful with trying to get Lexi and Carolyn together. Especially loved the parts where he was cheering and wanted to know everything were fun and brought some light in the book.
I loved Carolyn, she was a bit hard to read at times, but logical, she got hurt really bad by someone. But she was a wonderful character in all, she tried her best, but she too couldn’t ignore the lightning that struck those weeks ago. :)
All in all a wonderful book, though I wouldn’t recommend it to people who get angry easily, or who don’t like the idea of gay-healing camps.
I do wish one thing, I had hoped for a better ending. Like what happened to New Horizons? What happened to Mr. Martin? How is Matthew doing? Maybe something like an extra chapter set a few months later would have been nice.
Review first posted at http://twirlingbookprincess.com/
This book was even more interesting, since it is about healing camps for gays and all that came with it.
I can honestly say after this book, wow. Disturbing, shocking and at times just horrific. Father wounds? Beatings? Exorcisms? There were various things that I just had trouble getting through, I felt uncomfortable reading it. Like with the father wound exercise and everything that happened there. And the whole thing with Mr. Martin (I had my suspicions about him and I was right). It felt to me like a cult, not a camp, it didn’t feel like something from God, but just a cult where things happen that shouldn’t happen to anyone.
Our main girl Lexi though is a strong and interesting character. She doesn’t mind being gay, but wants to do her best in de-gayifying for her mother, who isn’t herself after the death of her husband (and Lexi’s father). But Lexi tries and tries, but sadly lightning struck as soon as she met Carolyn and she can’t shake the feeling off.
Lexi is a headstrong girl and sees right from wrong. I felt sorry for her at times, for what she went through (Zoë and her mom finding out, and the camp of course), and at other times I cheered for her and her awesomeness.
My second fav character is Matthew. Wow, he was awesome. He was dumped in the camp by his father and he is clearly not going to change. I loved his attitude, I loved how he fought and I loved how strong he was. Sadly it wasn’t always an attitude that helped him, I was horrified when we got to the parts with Mr. Martin and the exorcisms and what happened there. At those times I just wanted to throw the book against the wall.
He was a great friend to Lexi, and he was wonderful with trying to get Lexi and Carolyn together. Especially loved the parts where he was cheering and wanted to know everything were fun and brought some light in the book.
I loved Carolyn, she was a bit hard to read at times, but logical, she got hurt really bad by someone. But she was a wonderful character in all, she tried her best, but she too couldn’t ignore the lightning that struck those weeks ago. :)
All in all a wonderful book, though I wouldn’t recommend it to people who get angry easily, or who don’t like the idea of gay-healing camps.
I do wish one thing, I had hoped for a better ending. Like what happened to New Horizons? What happened to Mr. Martin? How is Matthew doing? Maybe something like an extra chapter set a few months later would have been nice.
Review first posted at http://twirlingbookprincess.com/
fallonheartss's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
stephwiesman's review against another edition
4.0
It was way too short! I would have loved to know about some of the aftermath with Mr. Martin and whether or not he was brought to justice. Also, what happened to Matthew and Daniel? I feel like this is a book that needs a sequel or a 1.5, something like that!
kaylawhite17's review against another edition
3.0
I overall enjoyed this book. It was a simple and quick read but I adored the love story and an insight into conversion therapy.
lisawreading's review against another edition
4.0
Wonderful, sensitive, and insightful -- I highly recommend The Summer I Wasn't Me! See my review at Bookshelf Fantasies.
vtorialeigh's review against another edition
5.0
I was moved to tears by this book. It dealt with a lot of difficult issues that I could really relate to, being a queer teen who's always wondered how my father would feel about me being gay. My only real complaint is that the ending felt a little rushed and that I would have liked to see it go on longer to flesh a few things out.
christajls's review against another edition
4.0
This review originally posted at More Than Just Magic
The first, and perhaps most upfront, reason why I loved this book is because it deals with a very real, very present issue that is happening throughout North America right now – reparative therapy (or “pray the gay away”). I think a lot of people have probably heard that term thrown around or heard the odd story about these camps but may not know just how horrible and abusive they really are. Verdi’s The Summer I Wasn’t Me sheds light on what’s really going on. I know when I read this book I got angry. I was furious and frustrated and disgusted that this was allowed to happen. And that parents would actually send their kid to these places instead of loving them for who they are. I think any book that inspires that kind of emotional reaction is not only one worth reading, but one worth talking about.
I also really loved Lexi. I adored her independence, her stubbornness and how no matter how much the camp pushed her, she was determined to always push back, at least a little, so that she wouldn’t lose herself entirely. She goes willingly to the camp in an effort to fix her relationship with her mom. I think that sense of guilt and of family responsibility is something a lot of people can relate to – gay or straight.
And last but not least, in the heart of all this abuse and tragedy and heartache, is a love story. A story of two people coming together, even though circumstances are against them. Even though it seems impossible. Lexi and Carolyn bond over the Great Gatsby and I love when people come together through a shared reading experience. Their brief moments of happiness really helped to break up the tension and sadness of the rest of the book.
The Summer I Wasn’t Me will make you angry. It will frustrate you and unsettle you. But it will also inspire you and warm your heart. The characters Jessica Verdi has created are ones that will stay with you long after you go on this journey with them. It’s an important and necessary book and one that I can’t recommend enough.
The first, and perhaps most upfront, reason why I loved this book is because it deals with a very real, very present issue that is happening throughout North America right now – reparative therapy (or “pray the gay away”). I think a lot of people have probably heard that term thrown around or heard the odd story about these camps but may not know just how horrible and abusive they really are. Verdi’s The Summer I Wasn’t Me sheds light on what’s really going on. I know when I read this book I got angry. I was furious and frustrated and disgusted that this was allowed to happen. And that parents would actually send their kid to these places instead of loving them for who they are. I think any book that inspires that kind of emotional reaction is not only one worth reading, but one worth talking about.
I also really loved Lexi. I adored her independence, her stubbornness and how no matter how much the camp pushed her, she was determined to always push back, at least a little, so that she wouldn’t lose herself entirely. She goes willingly to the camp in an effort to fix her relationship with her mom. I think that sense of guilt and of family responsibility is something a lot of people can relate to – gay or straight.
And last but not least, in the heart of all this abuse and tragedy and heartache, is a love story. A story of two people coming together, even though circumstances are against them. Even though it seems impossible. Lexi and Carolyn bond over the Great Gatsby and I love when people come together through a shared reading experience. Their brief moments of happiness really helped to break up the tension and sadness of the rest of the book.
The Summer I Wasn’t Me will make you angry. It will frustrate you and unsettle you. But it will also inspire you and warm your heart. The characters Jessica Verdi has created are ones that will stay with you long after you go on this journey with them. It’s an important and necessary book and one that I can’t recommend enough.
dizzybell06's review against another edition
1.0
Ugh this book really disappointed me. I feel like it had a good plot, but something about the book just didn't work for me. The ending was not good at all. The book seemed to build up so much to what would happen to Matt, Carolyn, and Lexi, and then it kind of ends without much clarification. Did Matt's parents allow him back home? Did Lexi ever tell her mom about Carolyn? Did they do anything about Mr. Martin? All questions plus about 20 more I wold have liked to have been answered.