Publisher: Aladdin
Format Read: Paperback
Number of pages: 368 pages
Published: May 30th 2023 (original publication) Reprinted May 7th 2024
Source: Purchased
Opening Line: "Period (noun) : a length or segment of time."
Twelve-year-old Victoria Reeves and her brother Jack haven't seen their father in two years, not since the divorce and he vanished into a new life without them. But that's about to change as he's coming to pick them up for a long road trip to Ohio with his new picture-perfect family that he replaced them with. Victoria is determined to show him how grown up and mature she has become. But the moment the car pulls away, cracks begin to show. Awkward silences, buried resentments and painful misunderstandings mount with every mile. What began as a hopeful second chance quickly spirals into hurt feelings, shame filled jabs, and the ultimate betrayal by her father.
The cover of The First Magnificent Summer really captured my attention at Barnes and Noble. I was looking for a summertime themed book and curious about the girl writing in her journal and intrigued by the premise that things go in unexpected ways. Victoria writes in a journal about her dreams of repairing her relationship with her father. She even has a no fail plan to win him back. Her journaling really gets you inside her head and the anxiety she feels as the time lapses across the day from July 15th (the day he was supposed to come) to July 16th. It's in these moments where Victoria's internal dialogue expresses her hurt and resentment to the way that her father is behaving. She expresses all the things that she would love to say back to her father, and boy do you wish she could say them. She writes about the anxiety of starting her period and fear of running out of supplies. She even notes how her and Jack's relationship has been changing. I really identified with that feeling, it doesn't hit you at first, everyone is busy and vested in their life, but then there's a moment that happens and you actually feel that change in you and your sibling's relationship.
Twelve-year-old Victoria Reeves and her brother Jack haven't seen their father in two years, not since the divorce and he vanished into a new life without them. But that's about to change as he's coming to pick them up for a long road trip to Ohio with his new picture-perfect family that he replaced them with. Victoria is determined to show him how grown up and mature she has become. But the moment the car pulls away, cracks begin to show. Awkward silences, buried resentments and painful misunderstandings mount with every mile. What began as a hopeful second chance quickly spirals into hurt feelings, shame filled jabs, and the ultimate betrayal by her father.
The cover of The First Magnificent Summer really captured my attention at Barnes and Noble. I was looking for a summertime themed book and curious about the girl writing in her journal and intrigued by the premise that things go in unexpected ways. Victoria writes in a journal about her dreams of repairing her relationship with her father. She even has a no fail plan to win him back. Her journaling really gets you inside her head and the anxiety she feels as the time lapses across the day from July 15th (the day he was supposed to come) to July 16th. It's in these moments where Victoria's internal dialogue expresses her hurt and resentment to the way that her father is behaving. She expresses all the things that she would love to say back to her father, and boy do you wish she could say them. She writes about the anxiety of starting her period and fear of running out of supplies. She even notes how her and Jack's relationship has been changing. I really identified with that feeling, it doesn't hit you at first, everyone is busy and vested in their life, but then there's a moment that happens and you actually feel that change in you and your sibling's relationship.
This was not the summer vacation that Victoria and Jack deserved. It just breaks your heart how belittling her father is. At first his comments seem to be attempts at being "ha ha funny" or teasing, but then they are downright mean and insulting. Victoria is hungry for his approval, acceptance and affection but instead he's just a jerk to her. He makes me really angry. The events in the story seem to be partially based off the authors own experiences. In the author's note she states that "no one should be made to feel by anyone in their lives that they have to earn love," and I full hardly agree. I wished the book included Victoria finding a support system to confide in or perhaps resources for children experiencing or at risk of child abuse, a hotline number or suggestion to contact a crisis support or talking to a trusted adult would have fit here.
Jack is treated slightly better, possibly because he's a boy, but they both walk on eggshells around him. Then three days before they're due to go home, he violates her trust and reads her journal. Accuses her of lying about him and in anger lashes out at her. The ending is hard to swallow as there's no consequences for Victoria's dad's actions. Although I imagine that is unfortunately more accurate. It's not entirely a happy ending but Victoria does find the words to express that her journal is for her eyes only and she learns that her writing matters. No one has the right to pass it off as "scribblings." I'm excited to see that there's a companion novel, Something Maybe Magnificent that has been published and really eager to continue reading Victoria's story.
Jack is treated slightly better, possibly because he's a boy, but they both walk on eggshells around him. Then three days before they're due to go home, he violates her trust and reads her journal. Accuses her of lying about him and in anger lashes out at her. The ending is hard to swallow as there's no consequences for Victoria's dad's actions. Although I imagine that is unfortunately more accurate. It's not entirely a happy ending but Victoria does find the words to express that her journal is for her eyes only and she learns that her writing matters. No one has the right to pass it off as "scribblings." I'm excited to see that there's a companion novel, Something Maybe Magnificent that has been published and really eager to continue reading Victoria's story.
I hope you'll check out all the other Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday posts at Greg Pattridge's blog HERE
I love finding books at a book story or library. This sounds like a very hard experience that Victoria had to endure. I'm not surprised it didn't end happily. Thanks for sharing it this week.
ReplyDeleteI did love the grandmother in this one, and the historical setting. It also made me remember the summer that my family lived at a campground in our travel trailer when we were moving to a new town!
ReplyDeleteThose covers are really attention-grabbing. I can see why you picked it up off the shelf. I like your note about wishing the book offered resources to readers. I love when authors do that. Thanks for sharing this book review!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this book when it came out and share the same opinion you have about the father. I didn't know there was a companion novel so I've added it to my future read list. Happy MMGM!
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