The Summer of Firsts and Lasts

For Ages: 14 and up

customer reviews

Three sisters. One life-changing summer.

Calla loves summer because summer means Duncan. They’ve been best friends for years, but Calla has never worked up the nerve to tell him how she really feels. This summer, the summer before college, is Calla's last chance.

Violet isn't much of a rule breaker in real life. But this isn't real life, this is summer, and Violet is determined to make the most of it. Besides, a little sneaking out never hurt anyone. And sneaking out with James is 100% worth the risk...even though James is completely off-limits.

Daisy has never been the sister that boys notice, but when sparks fly with Joel at the first bonfire of summer, it seems so easy and right. So why is being his girlfriend so complicated?

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Book details:

Simon Pulse |
432 pages |
ISBN 9781442402133 |
May 2011 |
Grades 9 and up

$16.99 List Price

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Book Cover Image (jpg): The Summer of Firsts and Lasts
Hardcover 9781442402133

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Author Photo (jpg): Terra Elan McVoy
photo credit: Robin Henson

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Praise

“An unflinchingly honest look at sisterhood, first love, and how one amazing summer can change everything. I completely lost myself in this book.”

– Lauren Barnholdt, author of Two Way Street

SEE ALL PRAISE (5)

“An unflinchingly honest look at sisterhood, first love, and how one amazing summer can change everything. I completely lost myself in this book.”

– Lauren Barnholdt, author of Two Way Street
“This is a poignant portrayal of sisterhood, summer love, responsibility, betrayal, and forgiveness that fully captures the intensity and emotion of the fleeting days at summer camp. ”

– Booklist
“[A] well-told story that celebrates the powerful love between sisters....[McVoy's] writing brings the summer camp setting to life. ”

– PW
“Fans of Ann Brashares's Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series (Delacorte) or Jodi Lynn Anderson's Peaches books (HarperCollins) may enjoy McVoy's novel because of the focus on the girls' close relationship and the character-centered story lines.”

– SLJ
“Will most certainly transport readers back to the their own magical summer camp memories of first crushes, giggling friendships, and midnight ghost stories told around crackling bonfires.”

– VOYA

Read an Excerpt

Monday
DAISY

The way Calla’s marching back and forth up there with her white shorts and her important-person headset, you’d think they really did name this camp after her, instead of the other way around. She was bouncy and excited when Violet and I arrived for check-in yesterday, running over to grab us in a hug before we were hardly out of the car, but this morning I can tell she’s nervous. Tenser than normal, anyway. It could just be from her job working in the camp director’s office, and the stress of the first gathering. Or it could mean something’s already happened with... see more