That Summer
📘 About This Book
For fifteen-year-old Haven this is the summer where everything changes. Dad is remarrying. Her sister Ashley is planning a wedding of her own. They're both moving on, but Haven is lost in memories of a time when life was happy and her family was whole. And then Ashley's ex, the charming and funny Sumner Lee, arrives in town. He reminds Haven of carefree days gone by, and she can't help but wonder - has fate brought this person from her past back to change her future?
📖 Summary
That Summer by Sarah Dessen is a poignant juvenile fiction novel that captures the delicate, often overwhelming transition of adolescence through the eyes of fifteen-year-old protagonist Haven. Published in 2009, this concise 172-page book centers on a pivotal season of change, grief, and self-discovery. For Haven, the world she once knew is fracturing. Her father is preparing to remarry, and her older sister, Ashley, is consumed with planning her own wedding. Both of them are actively moving forward with their lives, leaving Haven behind in a state of emotional stagnation. She finds herself trapped in nostalgic memories of a happier, simpler past when her family was whole, unbroken by divorce and the passage of time. Feeling alienated from the current realities of her family, Haven struggles to find her place in a rapidly shifting environment. The emotional landscape of the novel shifts dramatically with the arrival of Ashley's ex-boyfriend, Sumner Lee. Charming, funny, and deeply familiar, Sumner steps back into town and instantly reawakens the carefree days of Haven's childhood. To Haven, who has always viewed Sumner through the lens of her fondest memories, his return feels like a twist of fate. As she spends time with him, she cannot help but wonder if his reappearance is a sign that the past can somehow be reclaimed, and if fate has brought him back to fundamentally change her future. Dessen uses this dynamic to explore the complex themes of growing up, letting go of idealization, and confronting the reality that people and times change. Haven must navigate the confusing intersection of childhood innocence and adult complexities. Through her interactions with Sumner, her changing relationship with her sister, and her father's upcoming wedding, Haven slowly learns that clinging to the past prevents her from embracing the present. The narrative brilliantly contrasts the physical growth of adolescence with emotional maturity, highlighting how painful it can be to watch the people you love move on while you feel left standing still. Ultimately, That Summer is a deeply relatable exploration of youthful longing and resilience. It speaks to anyone who has ever wished to turn back the clock, offering a reassuring message about the necessity of moving forward even when the future feels uncertain. Dessen's signature writing style brings emotional depth and authenticity to Haven's internal world, making this short novel a powerful and memorable reading experience.
🎯 Key Lessons
⚖️ Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
Relatable exploration of adolescent emotions and family transitions
Engaging and fast-paced narrative style
Believable and multi-dimensional characters
Captures the bittersweet nature of nostalgia
⚠️ Cons
Some readers may find the resolution bittersweet
The short page count leaves some secondary storylines less explored
✍️ About the Author
Sarah Dessen (b. 1970) is an American author known for beloved contemporary young adult novels exploring love and coming-of-age, including 'The Truth About Forever'.
View all books →❓ FAQ
Who is the main character of That Summer? +
The main character is a fifteen-year-old girl named Haven.
Who wrote the book? +
The book was written by Sarah Dessen.
When was That Summer published? +
It was published in 2009.
How many pages long is the book? +
The book is 172 pages long.
What major life changes does Haven face in the story? +
Haven deals with her father remarrying, her sister planning a wedding, and the return of her sister's ex-boyfriend.
