By Ally Condie
4Rbooks: 5/6, grades 6-8
Amazon rating: 4.6/5, grades 5-6
Good Reads: 3.87/5
Common Sense Media: 5/5, ages 10+
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Synopsis:
Cedar Lee’s mom has bought a new house in Iron Creek, a town in the high desert where her parents and brother live. She has brought Cedar and her brother Miles there to spend the summer so they could be around family. This is important as this is the first full summer since the accident which took the life of Cedar’s father and brother Ben.
Iron Creek is famous for its Summerlost theater festival. Shakespeare’s plays are performed on the stage (destined to be demolished for a new theater next year) and people dress up in costume selling concessions and helping guests. Through a chance meeting with a neighbor, Leo, Cedar lands a job selling programs and volunteers in the costume department. She and Leo become good friends and start their own tour company based on the life of Lissette Chamberlain, a famous actress who got her start in Iron Creek.
What, at first, seemed to be a boring summer becomes a summer to remember for Cedar. Mysterious objects appear on her windowsill, she finds the answers to a mystery, and becomes more involved in theater and theater production then she thought possible. Along the way, she deals with her feelings, learns to let go, and becomes appreciative of the day-to-day moments that make up our memories of those who are gone.
Parental Guidance: medium
One of the over arching themes of the book is dealing with death. Cedar’s
father and brother died in a car accident, and a famous actor’s death
is a mystery they want to solve.
The children in the book lie to their parents on a regular basis. Apologies
follow, but it a recurring character flaw.
Cedar takes chances that could be dangerous for a 12-year-old girl.
Cedar refers to an image on a t-shirt worn by three older women that
would bob up and down with their boobs.
The topic of death, though handled honestly and well, is dealt with from
more of a spiritual view, not a religious view.
Cedar and Leo are bullied by a group of boys and Cedar is mocked because
of Asian heritage.
The children watch a TV soap opera where a woman has been buried alive.
Recommendation:
There are many reasons to recommend this book, but what I enjoyed the most was watching the friendship develop between Cedar and Leo. It was an honest portrayal of two 12-year-olds who realize how close they have become, how important they are to each other, while knowing they aren’t ready for anything more serious. They “get” each other, and just enjoy being together.
While I think this is a good read, it may have a limited audience. It’s about relationships and self-discovery, not a lot of action or drama. I can see it being appreciated by the kids who see themselves as outsiders: Cedar is new, half Asian and has faced racial bullying; Leo is the theater kid in a family of football players; Ben had autism. Children who are into acting should also enjoy the story and glimpses of life it provides about theater productions. Readers who want stories about relationships will also find reasons to appreciate this novel.
Because of the mature themes, it is better suited for middle school students and libraries instead of elementary schools. Children who have lost a parent or sibling will be able to connect with this book and what Cedar’s family is going through, though it could be a tough read without emotional support and guidance.
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