Summer of Madness

Margaret Bunel Edwards is the author of Little Stitch, The Ocean
Between, and The ABCs of Writing for Children.

Karen Stewartson, independent yet unsure of her abilities and her
feelings about the people she meets, finds herself in charge of her
younger sister Sarah. She’s also in charge of cooking, cleaning, and
helping her dad on the family ranch because her mother has been called
away to care for Karen’s grandmother. Karen’s interests centre on
the 4-H club, and her strange ability to experience telepathic
communication with Kevin, a long-time friend. He wants a closer
relationship, but Karen can’t make up her mind, despite long
discussions with her girlfriend Paula. Trevor, a handsome classmate,
interests her romantically until she discovers that he has been using
his motorcycle to frighten the cattle. Adding to Karen’s troubles are
a series of threats to the family ranch.

This story combines intrigue with character development. Background
information on how a 4-H club operates, ranch life, boy–girl
relationships, and karate are all cleverly related. Karen is perhaps too
introspective at times as she analyzes herself and the people she
encounters. However, her conclusions are sound and lead to worthwhile
observations. The exciting story line will keep young readers guessing
to the end. Recommended.