The Summer of May

Gr 6—8—May's anger is evident in everything she does at home and at school. She can't seem to control herself, often going too far, as when she paints graffiti in her English teacher's classroom right before the end of the school year. Now May is confronted with an untenable choice: repeat eighth-grade English with Miss Movado in summer school or be expelled. May's family members echo a similar anger and the sense of being out of control as they deal with the absence of May's mother. The action and characters are revealed from the girl's perspective. In her one-on-one summer school session, she learns from painting the classroom (to cover up her handiwork), and develops a grudging respect for the conservative, seemingly starchy Miss Movado as an individual all while coming to enjoy English. May finds that there can be self-discovery in writing and ultimately realizes that her teacher and her family have more in common than expected. May's voice is sometimes humorous, at times heartbreaking, and always authentic. Though foreshadowed, the conclusion brings each disparate piece of this touching novel together for a satisfying end to a taut and believable novel.—Maria B. Salvadore, formerly at Washington DC Public Library