It's been said that the classic New Yorker story theme is 'Closing Up The Summer House,' and this is an entire book with that theme, told from the perspective of a child named Thomas who is beginning to apprehend some truths about adults, and it's just a terrific first novel by a Finland-Swedish author. Definitely read this book if you want something that seems relevant to summer and the beach, without being fluffy and trashy. Definitely do not read this book expecting to learn about Finland, since the characters are firmly (and rather surprisingly, to me) oriented toward the United States; there are multiple John F. Kennedy references but not one mention of Urho Kekkonen, and the action could have taken place in any upper middle class summer community.