Twenty Boy Summer

by: Sarah Ockler

Published by: Little, Brown Young Readers

Reviewed by Krista Quinn

Summer is about to begin, and best friends Anna and Francesca (Frankie) are ready for it to be A.B.S.E—the Absolute Best Summer ever. Anna and Frankie are going on three-week family vacation to Zanzibar Bay, California, and Frankie comes up with plan for the two to meet at least twenty boys on their vacation, with the hopes that at least one will become a summer romance. But, Frankie doesn’t know that Anna had had a budding relationship with Frankie’s brother, Matt, just before his sudden death the summer before.

Anna’s not ready to meet any new guys, fearing that if she develops feelings for someone else, it will diminish what she had with Matt. But she can’t tell Frankie about her fears without telling her about Matt, and Anna’s not ready to do that. So Anna figures she’ll go along with Frankie’s plan and let Frankie meet all the guys. But then Anna meets handsome, kind-hearted Sam, and everything changes for her.

20 Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler is young adult literature at its best. Ockler strikes just the right notes with each of the characters as they deal with the grief of a teenager’s tragic death and the complexity of the healing process. From the parents whose marriage has been all but shattered by the death of their child, to sister Frankie, whose grief has caused her to become self-absorbed and boy crazy, each of the characters are well-developed.

At no point does Ockler rely on stereotypes to explain what could easily become a cliché, especially in Young Adult literature. Ockler does especially well in developing Anna and Frankie, and she captures the push and pull of teenage female friendship in a most realistic and believable way.

Although this book is categorized as Young Adult, both teen and adult readers will be satisfied with all parts of this novel. It’s light and fun and flirty at times, and at other times it’s deep, and deals with issues people of all ages grapple with every day.

Armchair Interviews says: A 5-star young adult debut novel with a deep theme.

Author’s Web site: http://www.SaraHockler.com