Not Quite a Cruel Summer

Not Quite a Cruel Summer- a YA Book Review

Noel, A.  (2010) Cruel summer. [Kindle Version].  Retrieved from www.amazon.com

A 17 year old American teenager, Colby, is sent by her divorcing parents to spend the summer with her “Crazy Aunt Tally” who lives on the small Greek island of Tino.  Through her blog, “Cruel Summer”, and alternatively “Circle in the Sand", Colby shares glimpses of the superficial life she leads at home complete with materialism, false friends, and distracting impulsiveness.  Three months later, after experiencing Greek culture, Colby has changed due to the simple way of life she has adapted during her time in the Mediterranean, and faces her future with a greater appreciation of people, relationships, and simplicity.

This book was recommended by the Planet YA: Europe- Epic Reads blog but I am not sure that I would consider this a multicultural book.  California born and raised author Alyson Noel has experienced life in Mykonos and I appreciate her respect for the Greek Cyclades

actively expressed in this novel, however I do not feel as if a major social issue was breached or even approached.  Admittedly, Colby matures throughout the course of the book and may appeal to teenagers who are facing similar challenges of divorce, the narcissism of our appearance on social media, and general feeling of not being anchored.  On the whole, I would have preferred a novel that tackled a heavier social issue, allowing acceptance of a way of life different from my own through the eyes of a European protagonist.  That being said, the book is one I would be comfortable recommending to students aged 14-20 as a simple summer read.