Unlike any of the other middle grade novels that I have ever read, The Summer of May is not a "sunshine and rainbows" kind of book. Quite the opposite really. This is a tough read, filled with real life emotion that cuts down into your heart as you read. I'll be honest when I say that I literally cried while I read this.

May is a 13-year-old girl who wants nothing more than to feel whole again. Navigating the trials of middle school, she tends to use anger as her defense mechanism against anything (or anyone) who she doesn't agree with. She doesn't enjoy the feelings that bubble up inside her and burst to the surface, but it is the one way that she knows how to deal. Angry words help to mask the hurt that she feels inside. This story is a look at how these feelings affect a person, as well as the people around them.

May isn't the only character in this book who is learning something either. Amidst her tumultuous inner battle, Galante sets up other characters who are fighting the same sort of battle. Although they are much older than her, these characters show May that she isn't the only one who doesn't know quite how to deal with how she feels. Each character chooses their own defense mechanism, but they all have the anger and hurt beneath their surface. It isn't until May starts to spend more time with Mrs. Movado that she starts to make progress towards understanding what is inside her.

At the heart of this book is really a message of forgiveness, and of making amends. This is a topic that is so rarely dealt with in tween/teen books, but I wish it was out there more often. As summer wanes on, May learns to look into herself through the use of writing and poetry. She learns to find the things that are buried deep inside her and come to terms with them. Most importantly of all she learns to forgive, and to ask for forgiveness, in an effort to heal herself from the inside out. If you're thinking that this sounds like a topic from a much older story, I would have agreed at one point. However now that I've finished reading this book I'm not sure I can look at middle grade literature the same again.

Excellently written and brimming with honest emotions, The Summer of May is one of the most surprising and heartfelt books that I have read this year. I applaud Cecilia Galante for so carefully and sincerely dealing with such a tough topic. This is a book that I will recommend to tweens, teens and even adults a hundred times over. Dealing with the importance of family, the power of words, and the idea of forgiveness, I don't think it matters who is reading this book. Everyone can benefit from the messages between these pages. ( )

I loved this book! The book centers around thirteen year old, May. She was caught defacing her least favorite teacher's room. As a result, May has to spend the summer repainting the teacher's room and relearning her English lessons. The author's writing paints a beautiful picture of what it is like for a thirteen year old to lose her mother, the myriad of feelings that go along with her mother's abandonment, and what it is like to feel invisible. She and her teacher share a connection that is slowly developed through the book. The relationship May and her teacher have built over the summer helped both of them heal. I loved how May unfolded throughout the book. It was gentle and believable. I would strongly recommend this book. ( )

Unfortunately for this day and age, it wasn't very realistic. No teacher could possibly have all that one-on-one time with an 8th grade student without serious repercussions. And taking her on "field trips" without parental consent? Shouldn't happen. I also didn't understand all the issues about her mother, I didn't feel like that was explained very well. But it was a sweet story. ( )

Great story!! May gets in trouble and has to spend the summer with her teacher "Movado the Avocado." The story starts out with May hating this arrangement, but then things begin to change. A great coming-of-age story. The ending is quite sad so be aware, but all in all a wonderful book. Reminiscent of The Wednesday Wars. ( )