Summerlings
A Novel
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3.5 • 2 Ratings
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- $5.99
Publisher Description
It’s the summer of 1959 in the seemingly tranquil suburbs of Washington, D.C. But our young narrator, John, and his best friends, Ivan and Max, know the truth: every door on their street could be hiding an escaped Nazi or a spy with secrets about the A-bomb. The entire city is being plagued by an inexplicable spider infestation—surely evidence of “insect warfare” by the Russians! So when a rare vinegaroon—a whip scorpion—is discovered on Capitol Hill and sequestered for study at the Smithsonian, the boys, along with their tomboy accomplice, Beatriz, hatch a risky midnight plan to steal the deadly creature for their own devious purposes.
Yet when the friends discover some very real instances of anti-Semitism and prejudice in the neighborhood, it’s the shocking and tragic events stemming from a well-intentioned community-building potluck party that change their lives forever.
A vibrantly voiced, heartfelt, and charming Cold War coming-of-age story, Summerlings captures the crystal-clear moments that mark the bittersweet reckoning of childhood’s end.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Howorth (Flying Shoes) cleverly portrays a 1959 neighborhood in this satisfying story of childhood. John is an eight-year-old living on Conners Lane in a middle-class Washington, D.C., exurb, spending a sweltering summer with his two best friends, Ivan and Max. The boys' families and others living on their block represent a wide mix of personalities with diverse backgrounds, resulting in drama of all types as seen through youthful eyes. Arguments are audible between homes, and sometimes the boys witness unsettling confrontations. They're particularly worried about Elena, Ivan's beautiful aunt, whose bruises are visible after a fight with Ivan's father. Boyhood schemes and adventures are nevertheless a large part of this story, including planning a "Fabulous Family Fiesta" to draw the neighbors closer and collecting spiders during a bizarre infestation that overwhelms the area, hoping to find a poisonous variety that can be used as a weapon against the neighborhood bully. The playful fantasies of young boys are richly described, varying from sweet na vet to coarse body functions, and disturbing learning curves toward adulthood are touchingly portrayed. John's voice is real and guileless, a spot-on representation of the youthful innocence that can remain active inside an observant, intelligent young boy.
