Review of The 13th of Summer

[Shiru Elizabeth]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The 13th of Summer" by C.L. Pratt.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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Charlene Pratt's wonderful book, The 13th of Summer, follows 10-year-old Betty as she lives in South Dakota with her parents. A 10-year-old with adult-level responsibility. She was raised with the responsibility of looking after the family and supporting her expectant mother in taking care of the house and all of the people who live there. She took care of her siblings and their farm while living a calm, typical existence at home. While her elder siblings go out into the country with their father to care for the farm, she cooks for the family and cleans the house.

Everything a reader could ask for is in this book. Death, joy, love, and a lot more. I had a great time reading this book. Reading about the South Dakota Prairie and how families survived the Great Depression and other adversities was a worthwhile experience. The book's portrayal of a community where people watch out for one another is what I found most endearing—a quality that is rare in today's society. It was a pleasure to read about how they treated every person in the community as if they were their own. An instance of this is when Betty's family and the community at large attempted to assist James in regaining possession of his house from the bank. Will they assist the family in returning to his house? or will they fall short? Learn more by reading this book.

During reading this book, I did come across a lot of inaccuracies; it may use a little editing. I really enjoyed reading it and found Lloyd to be a really likeable character—a young kid with a genuine heart who wants to make things simple for himself and everyone around him—a real industrious lad with a golden heart. The character was great, in my opinion. After finishing the book, I'll give it a rating of four out of five stars. It was a delightful read that had me on the edge of my seat throughout its brief length. I found myself wondering and envisioning what life was like in South Dakota in the 1930s because of the author's excellent job of explaining and presenting each scenario to its audience in a unique way. I would suggest this book to anyone who enjoys reading fiction that is inspired by true events. A quick read that will delight all readers.

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The 13th of Summer
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