Summer of Adventures

Kristin Butcher writes novels for young adults. Her most recent works
are Cairo Kelly and the Mann, The Gamma War, and The Tomorrow Tunnel.

Book 2 in the Summer Series finds Anneke a year older but still
struggling with the issues that plagued her in Summer of Changes (2001).
Because of her mother’s schizophrenia, she continues to live with her
foster parents, Larry and Eileen, and though she likes them, she can’t
stop yearning for the life she led before her mother’s illness. When
Larry and Eileen indicate their desire to adopt Anneke—and her own
mother supports the idea—Anneke balks, and her headstrong behavior
skyrockets out of control.

On a camping trip with her friend, Ken, Anneke disobeys the adults and
manages to get Ken and herself lost and Ken almost killed. This part of
the novel is particularly well written, and the suspenseful events
propel the story along at a lively clip. Alma clearly knows about
wilderness dangers and survival strategies, and consequently the reader
has no difficulty buying into the predicament in which the young people
find themselves.

Less credible, however, is the subplot concerning 10 small Netsuke
carvings. Anneke finds one on a gravel bar in the middle of a raging
river. Two others are in an old abandoned cabin she comes upon while
lost. Amazingly, Ken’s mother has the seven remaining figurines, and
once they are all gathered together, the long-lost parts of Ken’s
family are suddenly reunited. So many coincidences render this facet of
the story unconvincing. But the excellent adventure and good character
development more than make up for the flaw. Young readers should enjoy
this story. Recommended.