Gemini Summer

What is it about stories of boys and their dogs? They get me every time! This story is about a boy who is feeling lost after the death of his older brother. We have a chance to meet the older brother, an "All-American" teenage obsessed with space during the 1960's, and we feel the boy's grief keenly. Then comes a stray dog who seems to channel the departed brother's soul comes along, and the boy pours all of his love into him. But, when "Rocket" gets into some trouble, the boy goes to extremes to save him. Tear-jerker alert!
A historical fiction novel good for grades 5+

The story opens in the summer of 1964 in rural Hog's Hollow and focuses on young Danny River, who longs for a dog but isn't allowed to have one. The other members of Danny's family have dreams of their own. His mother wants to write a novel. His older brother Beau wants to become an astronaut. His father, convinced that the Vietnam conflict is going to escalate into nuclear war, obsessively digs a fallout shelter in their front yard. Soon tragedy strikes: Beau falls into the dugout and dies. Danny will not be consoled until he becomes convinced that a bedraggled stray dog that arrives at the Rivers' door is his brother brought back to life.

A brother's grief over the death of his older brother is eased when a stray dog adopts him. Somehow he comes to believe that his brother lives within the dog and he sets out to accomplish his brother's dream of seeing a rocket launched

Danny and Beau Rivers are brothers growing up in the 1960s. Danny wants a dog, and Beau wants to be an astronaut like Gus Grissom. A tragic accident changes Danny's life forever, and subsequent events are difficult for Danny's parents to believe. It is up to Danny, who never questions that his brother Beau is back, to find a way to keep Rocket alive.

This book is about a boy named Danny and his dog and their adventure to finding the Cape Cathedral. They lived in Hogs Hollow and was apart of the River family. Each of the family members wanted something, the old man built a fallout shelter, Beau wants to be an astronaunt, Flo wants to pen a southern saga, and Danny badly wanted a dog. In 1965 everyones dreams do not come true except for Danny's. Him and his dog are inseperatable. Danny beleives that that dog holds the spirit of someone he loved dearly. The dog bit a neighborhood bully and now the police want the dog, but instead Danny and the dog ran away together.

I liked this story because of the adventure. My favorite part was when the dog bit the bully. It could have been better, I show more dont know why but maybe it was because the dogs name was Rocket. I hate how the boy was stupid enough to run away, but loyal enough to stay with his dog. I liked Rocket even thought I dislike his name. It was a very good book and I advise you read it too! show less

This book is basically about a young boy named Danny. He wants a dog more than anything. His brother, Beau, wants to be an astronaut when he grows up. When Beau suddenly dies, Danny and his family changes forever. Then, when Danny gets a dog, he is convinced that Beau is inside him and tries to prove that to his parents. He names him rocket and goes on many adventures with him. That`s it for the plot. This book I would probably give a three out of five. I loved the plot, but the chapters were extremely short. The setting took place in 1964 and 1965 and they pointed out notable events in history. The vocabulary and the way people talked fit in the time the plot took place in. The names fit in the plot as well. The plot was well planed show more and organized. The dialogue was mild as well. show less