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Horn Book In a winning first novel, twelve-year-old narrator Lily has exiled herself to a self-imposed silence and isolation after a hinted-at tragedy that involved her older brother Pete (absent from the scene except in flashbacks that reveal his obsession with cars and driving) and left Lily supposedly brain-damaged. “Invisible” Lily is thus in a position uniquely suited for the close observation of her tight-knit southern Illinois small town, complete with eccentric elderly sisters and a kindly general store owner. Then a new girl, Tinny, comes to town; she lies, steals, and threatens to expose Lily’s secret after she catches Lily reading a book. “Tinny is trouble,” Lily thinks—but the real trouble starts when a criminal arrives from Chicago, looking for Tinny and a cache of money she apparently knows something about. The various strands of the mobster mystery, Pete’s fate, and Lily’s mutism meet in an expertly constructed, tense, and very moving climax. Cicada Summer suffers a bit from first-novel-itis: the premise that voracious reader Lily could feign brain damage for two years strains credulity, and the book arguably has a few too many endings. But all quibbling aside, this is compelling fiction that will be a hit with young readers, as rich and thought-provoking and yet as accessible as DiCamillo’s Because of Winn-Dixie.
School Library Journal In this evocative debut novel, 12-year-old Lily Mathis has attempted to remain invisible to the 117 residents of Olena, IL, since the death of her brother. For two years she has not spoken a word to anyone, not to her dad, or the kids at school, or the general-store owner Fern, who keeps talking to her even though the child doesn’t respond. Lily has been swallowing a secret that has burdened her ever since Pete died, but it’s hard, especially after Fern’s grandniece moves to town. Tinny has her own secret: she tells lies and steals from Fern, and she catches Lily up in a dangerous intrigue that threatens to harm them both unless Lily can break her silence and speak the truth. The story unfolds in alternating chapters of past and present, slowly unveiling Lily’s adoration for her big brother who loved old cars and gangster movies and running through the cornfields at night, leading inevitably to the present-day climax that brings resolution to both girls’ problems. Throughout the well-developed plot is Olena, where the drone of the cicadas and the rustling of the cornstalks mingle with the daily conversation of the people. The story is believable because not much happens in this small town, so when tragedy strikes, or strangers appear, or a child goes missing, it is the town that feels it, not just the individuals involved. One part memory, one part mystery, and a generous dose of atmosphere make this the kind of satisfying read that Summer Reading is all about.–Teri Markson, Los Angeles Public Library
ShelfTalker: A Children’s Bookseller’s Blog
“This book snuck up on me. I couldn't *quite* decipher the mystery on these pages before it was finally brought together for me. And I wasn't fully aware of the extent to which it had me in its clutches emotionally, until I hit a page that turned on the water works and found me reaching for the nearest box of tissues. I wound up reading Cicada Summer from cover to cover in one sitting, too drawn in by the its story and characters to be able to set them aside. Which is, come to think of it, what used to happen to me while reading Nancy Drew....”
“Two interwoven storylines are filled with small town characters and countrified charm, and Cicada Summer is a wonderful addition to the bookshelves of fans of Deborah Wiles, Polly Horvath, and even Sharon Creech. Beaty has captured the sultry feel of summer as well as the world of children that seems so insular next to that of the adults in their lives.”
Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast March 19, 2008 Read review (You must scroll down in text to reach Cicada Summer.) “This short novel has it all: drama and intrigue . . . Vivid characterization, some unforgettable imagery, just the right dose of not-too-heavy-handed symbolism . . . And best of all, a big, throbbing heart at its center and characters you care about. It’s all brought to us like a gift by an author who, lucky for us, knows that—as one of her characters puts it — we don’t always need to see a thing with our eyes or hear it with our ears to believe it.”
Jen Robinson’s Book Page June 7, 2008 “I'm just going to go ahead and say it. This book has that Newbery award feel to me. Deep characters, beautiful writing with pockets of humor, and a touching story. I would like to read it again, to savor it (but not until after the 48 Hour Book Challenge). Highly, highly recommended. Don't let the small size fool you. Cicada Summer is a keeper.”
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“... this is compelling fiction that will be a hit with young readers, as rich and thought-provoking and yet as accessible as DiCamillo’s Because of Winn-Dixie.” —Horn Book |
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Border’s Original Voice Selection May 2008! |
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