Forever This Summer by Leslie C. Youngblood
A Review By: SS
The second book from critically acclaimed author Leslie C. Youngblood, about family, identity, and learning to stand up for what's right.
Georgie has no idea what to expect when she, Mama, and Peaches are plopped down in the middle of small-town USA - a.k.a. Bogalusa, Louisiana - where Mama grew up and Great Aunt Vie needs constant care.
Georgie wants to help out at the once famous family diner that served celebrities like the Jackson 5 and the Supremes, but everyone is too busy to show her the ropes and Mama is treating her like a baby, not letting her leave her sight. When she finally gets permission to leave on her own, Georgie makes friends with Markie - a foster kid who'd been under Aunt Elvie's care - who has a limb difference and a huge attitude.
Then Markie asks Georgie to help her find her mom, and suddenly summer has a real purpose. But as Georgie and Markie's histories begin to entwine, Georgie becomes more desperate to find the truth. But words spoken cannot be taken back, and once Georgie knows the truth, she may even find a way to right past wrongs and help Aunt Vie and Markie out after all.
Review Notes:
Audio Book Publication Year: 2021
An installment in a Series? Yes
Narrator (s): Channie Waites
This second installment in the Love Like Sky series takes readers on a journey with Georgie to Bogalusa, Louisiana, to help her mother care for her great aunt during summer break due to her declining health. Of course, Georgie finds mischief to get into when she makes a new friend in the rambunctious Markie Jean. Markie Jean is slightly older than Georgie but much older in spirit due to her life experiences as a foster child. Although the culture in Bogalusa is much different from what Georgie is accustomed to in her hometown of Atlanta, Georgia, she learned that the love in her family/community were the same as she and her newfound friend worked to put on a talent show to bring about change in people’s lives.
I liked how the author showed a different cultural experience without making the small town living experience appear to be less than the big city life Georgie was accustomed to. I appreciate how this author weaves real life issues that children can understand and relate to.
Once again, Channie Waites did a good job of bringing these characters to life. Each character had a distinct voice, and listeners are easily able to distinguish who is talking throughout the story.
Reading Recommendation? Yes!
Rating: 4 (It’s lit!)
Content Warnings? None
