This book was just okay.

I received a copy for an honest review. This story is best for pre-teens and even teenagers as it shows the evolution of character writing in a storyline. Overall, I would recommend it; albeit, it took me a bit of time to get involved in the plot. ( )

What’s ruling your life? What secrets are holding you back?

Had someone asked Madelyn’s mother and grandfather these questions at the beginning of Dandelion Summer, the answers would have constituted deflection and denial. Too bad. Problems that seemed overwhelming could have been conquered with a bit more trust. Instead, it took the set of circumstances devised by author Mary Ellen Bramwell to get these secrets out into the open where they could be handled with some terrific results.

Madelyn’s father relies on her. They read stories together and he teaches her how to write checks, which her mother will sign, and shop for groceries. He’ll be out of town on a 10-week summer business trip, and he seems a bit worried about how Madelyn’s mom will cope. Madelyn’s also worried. How will she deal with a father who’s away for ten weeks? She’s never been that close to her mother, but she has no choice.

During the summer she befriends an unfriendly neighbor, discovers how clever her mother actually is, and helps uncover clues about her father’s disappearance. One step at a time, one day at a time, she becomes a mature young woman who understands the difference between superficial concerns and appearances. Details are deliberately omitted so you can be as surprised as I was by all this book reveals. This is a strong family drama—as strong as the dandelions that Madelyn has promised to remove from the yard by the time her dad gets home.

Author Mary Ellen Bramwell does a terrific job of revealing secrets and how they are destroying this family. She does an equally good job of showing us Madelyn’s detective work. We learn how to build a friendship: Bring cookies. Then we find out how to expose shame: Ask direct questions. Most of all we learn that trust deepens relationships, which take on new life in Bramwell’s Dandelion Summer.

It was a pleasure to read this pre-Internet story told from an adolescent’s point of view. The pace is reminiscent of my childhood summer vacations. There’s something heartwarming about the character’s discoveries, the neighborhood, and the relative simplicity of the times. I recommend Bramwell’s Dandelion Summer for women, their daughters, school libraries, community libraries, and everyone who’s ever recognized a need. ( )

I had a hard time putting this one down. I’m not sure if a fourteen year old could’ve actually handled all that went on here but all in all I think it’s a great read for middle schoolers. I highly recommend it for Christian based libraries and schools as well. ( )

I received this book for free to review it.

Dandelion Summer is bound to be a page-turning mystery for the 8-12 set. The plot is thoroughly developed with foreshadowing to help young sleuths solve the mystery along with protagonist Madelyn. The writing is accessible and the cast inclusive of those with disabilities in a non-patronizing way. However, despite being set in the 1970s with flashbacks to the 1940s, racial diversity is absent.

This book's organization should also appeal to younger readers, with chapters being organized by weeks and then days in the summer, with flashbacks along the way. Some readers may be put off by Madelyn's vacillating between behaving as a much older teen or a much younger child, depending on the situation. She is clearly struggling to know her place as her role in the family changes, which is a major plot point, but certain passages had me wondering if this character was pure wishful thinking (or at least I don't know any teens who'd invite a boy over to help mow the neighbor's yard...).

Hard themes are explored in this novel, including illiteracy, war, and family relationships. There are some great messages along the lines of trusting your family (in both directions, not just teens trusting parents), of anyone being able to help anyone else regardless of age, and doing the right thing even when it's lucrative to not.

As an adult reader, the pacing was a little slow but coupled with the small amount of suspense, younger readers may appreciate the time to absorb details and hints to mentally tuck away until later.

This would be a fun book for parents and kids to read simultaneously and discuss, much like Madelyn and her father do with The Hobbit. This book is full of likable characters with their own flaws who work together toward a common goal. The themes are primarily positive and there isn't any bad language or inappropriate scenes. It's an easy, enjoyable read. ( )