Common Sense Media Review
By Samara Meyer
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Sweet but overly quirky mix of magic, mystery, heavy themes.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
As SUMMER OF SALT begins, Georgina Fernweh is dreading the end of summer, when she'll turn 18 and leave her island home of By-the-Sea for the very first time. Unlike her twin sister, Mary, and the rest of the Fernweh women who came before her, Georgina has yet to show signs of being magically gifted and fears she may never get her powers. Also unlike her twin sister, Georgina is terrified of starting college and the social challenges that come with it. She finally has something to be excited about when the seasonal summer tourists arrive at the Fernweh family inn, including the beautiful newcomer Prue, for whom Georgina quickly develops feelings. But when tragedy strikes and a beloved island creature winds up dead, rumors begin to fly and the island descends into turmoil. Georgina begins to question everything she thinks she knows about magic, family, and home, but she'll stop at nothing to uncover the truth.
Is It Any Good?
With diverse characters, a quaint setting, and a touch of mystery, this story has a whimsical tone but often feels contrived and muddled. Readers can relate to Georgina and her anxieties about the future as well as her romantic insecurities, which she handles with support from her friends and a fair bit of (occasionally morbid) humor. But the constant angst over her lack of magical powers grows tiresome quickly and makes her appear uncharacteristically oblivious to the many hints that most readers will pick up on almost instantly.
Despite their relatable qualities, author Katrina Leno overloads her characters with quirkiness, describing their personal aesthetics more than giving them depth. Even the names are quirky and a bit too on the nose -- Fernweh means "wanderlust" in German, for example. The dialogue is plagued by overly poetic and offbeat exchanges that seem unrealistic coming from small-town teens. The story's tone is poorly balanced by the main dramatic conflict, and ultimately makes the big reveal(s) feel heavy handed, which lessens their impact. But teens, especially girls, looking for a unique read and positive LGBTQ representation will likely be unfazed by Summer of Salt's stylistic shortcomings and enjoy its contemporary magical charm.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about representation and how different sexual identities are included in Summer of Salt. Why is it important to have diverse characters? How does Georgina talk about her own identity and that of her various friends?
What do you think author Katrina Leno is trying to say about the issues of consent and sexual assault? How does her message compare to that of other books, movies, or TV shows that deal with these themes?
How is teen substance abuse portrayed in this story, and do you think it adds anything to the plot? How do the characters' choices make you feel about them?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Coming of Age
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Friendship
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : HarperTeen
- Publication date : July 31, 2018
- Number of pages : 256
- Available on : Hardback, Kindle
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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