The Summer of Firsts and Lasts by Terra Elan McVoy - ADVISABLE

McVoy, Terra Elan. The Summer of Firsts and Lasts, 423 pgs. Simon Pulse, 2011. $9.99. Language R (41 swears, 1 ‘f’) Sexual Content R, Violence G. Every summer sisters Calla, Violet, and Daisy spend three weeks at Camp Callanwolde where there parents met years before. Since Calla is going to college in the fall, this will be the last summer the sisters spend together. Calla is too old to be a camper, so she got a job as junior assistant to the director. She vows that this will be the summer she finally tells her best friend and fellow counselor, Duncan, that she is in love with him. Boys flock to Violet, but Violet has never really returned their attentions. But when the camp hires a new track coach, Violet feels an instant spark and vows to spend her summer with him even though it is very much against the rules. Being the youngest, this is only Daisy’s second summer at camp. She decides to participate in track as her concentration, and realizes that she has a talent for long distance running. However, the other girls in her cabin think that the coach is just playing favorites and begin to bully her. Instead of asking for help, Daisy pretends nothing is wrong so she doesn’t have to bother her sisters. I liked this book a lot. It was interesting to see how all of the sisters were so different, but still had common streaks. It was a very real portrayal of sibling relationships, nothing was sugar coated. Sometimes the girls loved each other, and sometimes all they wanted was to stay far away. But throughout everything that happens over the summer, the girls still stick together when it really counts. Middle School, High School-ADVISABLE. Reviewer: AL