The Summer of Bitter and Sweet
By Andrea Beach,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Teen's search for identity and truth is beautifully told.
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What's the Story?
THE SUMMER OF BITTER AND SWEET is the summer before Lou leaves the small town on the Canadian prairie to go off to college, where she wants to study paleontology and play competitive water polo. Once again she'll spend the summer working at her uncles' ice cream shack with her best friend Florence, her recently ex-boyfriend Wyatt, and her ex-best friend King. Lou's mom is spending the summer traveling, and her uncles are so caught up in their own worries that Lou is left to figure out a lot of things for herself. Like what to do when her estranged father, just released from prison, starts making unwanted contact. Or what it means that she doesn't want to have sex with anyone, ever. Or how to rebuild her friendship with King. Through countless scoops of ice cream and with the support of family and friends, a better version of herself starts to emerge.
Is It Any Good?
This first novel is beautifully written and brings the landscape and people of the Canadian prairie vividly to life with warmth and humor. There are also a lot of staunch cries for social justice and change that explore issues of identity, sexuality, racism, family, friendship, and so much more. But these big issues in The Summer of Bitter and Sweet provide important food for thought, and when they're raised they advance the story instead of bogging it down.
Lou's voice as the narrator is solid, and all the characters are well developed. Her struggles with her identity and sexuality make her easy to relate to. An introduction by the author offers some trigger warnings, and an author's note at the end offers further discussion about violence toward indigenous women and the importance of representation in books and other media.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in The Summer of Bitter and Sweet. How do systemic and individual racism affect Lou, her family, and friends?
What about the sexual content? Is it too much? Did any of it make you uncomfortable, or is it not a big deal? Why?
Why is it important to have access to diverse content? What do we learn from reading about different experiences? Why is it important to see yourself reflected in the media you have access to?
Book Details
- Author: Jen Ferguson
- Genre: Coming of Age
- Topics: Friendship , Great Boy Role Models , Great Girl Role Models
- Character Strengths: Compassion , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Heartdrum
- Publication date: May 10, 2022
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 13 - 17
- Number of pages: 384
- Available on: Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Awards: ALA Best and Notable Books , Common Sense Selection
- Last updated: February 10, 2023
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 suggesting a diversity update.
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Where to Read
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