Common Sense Media Review
By Michael Berry
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Kid sleuths investigate zany time-travel mystery.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
At the start of THE LAST LAST-DAY-OF-SUMMER, cousins Otto and Sheed Alston meet Mr. Flux, a strange little man who tricks them into freezing time with a special camera. Chaos ensues throughout Logan County, and the boy sleuths must find a way to "unstick" their friends and family members. As they do, they learn about themselves and what the future might hold for them.
Is It Any Good?
In the wrong hands, a book-length serving of absurd humor might be too much of a good thing, but this zany time-travel adventure keeps the bizarro laughs coming until the very end. Logan County is a strange place, but in The Last Last-Day-of-Summer, author Lamar Giles makes it seem appealing, even when a giant platypus runs amok. Otto and Sheed are highly likable main characters: inquisitive, brave, and true to each other. Their antagonist is both annoying and dangerous, and the cousins' confrontations with various aspects of time are clever and sometimes even moving. Dapo Adeola's black-and-white spot illustrations lend a touch of reality to a story that includes robots, mirrors full of tentacles, and giant marsupials. Giles seems just to be getting started exploring Logan County, and middle-grade readers will welcome further adventures for Otto and Sheed -- boys especially.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the time frame in The Last Last-Day-of-Summer. What's so special about the end of summer and anticipating the beginning of the school year?
Why do you think time travel is a common theme in science fiction? Why is it fun to imagine going forward or backward in time?
Otto and Sheed are cousins and share a special bond. Why do some kids prefer to hang out with members of their family?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Dapo Adeola
- Genre : Science Fiction
- Topics : Superheroes , Adventures , Friendship , School ( Middle School )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Versify
- Publication date : April 2, 2019
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 10 - 12
- Number of pages : 304
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate