The Perfect Summer
It’s summertime! That
means it’s time to sit back, relax and just have fun, right? Wrong! For Marlena
Fernadez, Gloria and Valerie James and Max and Mickey Martin. . .summer is all
about life lessons in these three page-turning tales about kids in search of
The Perfect Summer.
Synopsis of each Story
Jackie Lee
A Lesson for Summer
Fourteen old twins, Gloria and Valerie James, had the ideal
plan to spend their summer vacation. They would spend their summer shopping,
talking about boys, and going to the movies. However, when their dad felt the
calling of the Lord, they were now going to have to spend their summer moving
to another town and volunteering to mentor a bunch of snotty nose seven year
olds. The twins do everything to sabotage their parent’s plans for them.
However, in the end they learn lessons in life that truly makes this the
Perfect Summer for both of them.
Excerpt from A Lesson
for Summer
I knew that look meant that my twin sister did not like what
she was hearing.
“There you are. We were wondering what was keeping you,” Dad
said in a cheerful voice.
I politely smiled and took a seat beside my sister on the
sofa. My eyes darted over to the
strangers in the living room. The man had fine gray hairs
around his bald spot. He wore thick
glasses that made his eyes look like a huge red moon. He
also wore too much cologne. Whew!
He had the living room lit up like the perfume part of
Macy’s. The woman beside him wore this
big Kool-Aid smile. She had on a red dress with blue
flowers. Her dress was loud enough for my friends
to hear her across the street. “I have heard so many
wonderful you, young lady,” said the balding man.
The lady with the loud dress just kept smiling.
“Your parents tell me that you are the captain of the church
praise dance team and worship
leader for the youth. That is wonderful! I love to see our
youth active in church,” the man
continued. I just
continued to stare at him. My sister elbowed me, so I managed to say, “Thank
you.”
My mother jumped into the conversation.
Morgan Billingsley
A Country Summer
It's summertime and Max and Mickey are headed to their
grandmother's house. But these two city kids aren't ready for a Wi-Fi free
country summer. But when Max makes new friends, he learns to adapt and have
fun. Can he get his twin sister to see that attitude is everything and can
determine whether they have the Perfect Summer!
Excerpt for a County Summer
When that last bell rang, signaling the beginning of our summer vacation, I felt like
I’d
just been given a Get Out of Jail card. I had been counting
down to this day and was looking
forward to hanging out with my twin brother, Max, playing
video games, and taking daily
swims in the pool my parents had built last winter. You know, just having fun.
I wasn’t expecting this.
I mean, in the fun dictionary, a road trip to a
country town was nowhere in the book. Yet, that’s exactly what we were doing.
“Ugh! Are we there yet?” I asked my dad, who was driving our
large SUV like a skilled
truck driver. My mom was next to him and they were singing some corny old people song on
the
Gabrielle Anderson
It's summer vacation time, and the Fernandez family is
headed to Disney! Marlena, the oldest, is not excited about riding the teacups,
she out grew those long ago. She decides that she is old enough to hang out on
her own. With her cell phone in tow, her parents allow her tackle the park
alone. It's no surprise that she learns many life lessons the greatest of which
is family love.
Excerpt from Two Big
for My Teacups
Six hours, four arguments and three stops later, they made
it to the hotel in Birmingham. It
was early evening and all Marlena wanted to do was swim.
They were staying in a room that had
two queen beds and a pullout sofa.
“I call the sofa bed,” Marlena said while putting her bag on it.
“I want the sofa bed,” whined Kyle.
“It’s big enough for the both of you,” her dad said.
Marlena protested. “I don’t want to sleep with him. I called
it first.”
Her mother let out a loud sigh then gave Marlena a look.
“It’s been a long ride, let’s go swim,” her father suggested.
“Good idea,” her mom replied. “Get your suits on.”
Marlena and Kyle got dressed quickly. He in basketball
shorts, and she in her one-piece. Of
course she wanted a two-piece, but her parents said that was
out of the question. Not until she
was old enough to buy it herself. Marlena didn’t think it
was such a big deal, most of her friends
had one. While her mom was in the bathroom, she decided to
dress Chloe in her suit. She found
her little pick suit with ruffles around the bottom and put
it on her. Chloe was such a cute little
girl. She and Marlena always got along. If her mom wasn’t
around, she preferred Marlena to
anyone else. Sometimes Chloe even slept in Marlena’s room.
Biography of each author
Morgan Billingsley
is a seventh grader, who loves writing, acting, swimming and volleyball. She
enjoys helping out and making people laugh. Everyone who knows her, applauds
her nurturing heart. Morgan can often be found assisting her mother, ReShonda
Tate Billingsley at book signings. She is active in her school organizations
and serves as secretary for her Teen group in Jack and Jill of America, Inc.
Follow her on Instagram @c_momo_b
Eleven year old, Jackie
Lee is a lover of the letters and the arts. She has starred in three
theatrical productions produced by Cherie Garland. She portrayed Crystal in
“The Christmas Present,” Glenda, The Good Witch in “The Wiz” and the Ballerina
in “One Night with a King.” Jackie’s love of arts also extends to church. She
participates in the praise dance ministry at East New Hope Baptist Church. She
utilizes her musical talents as a clarinet player at Forest Hills Elementary
School Band. Jackie can often be found at various literary events assisting her
mother and guest authors. She also enjoys journaling and making sketches in her
notebooks. She resides in Virginia with her parents and siblings. You can
follow her at http://thecreativelifewithjackielee.blogspot.com/
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Eleven year old, Gabrielle
Simone attends Pulaski Academy College Preparatory School, where her
teachers describe her as hardworking and passionate about learning. She is the
student council representative for fifth grade, plays both basketball and
soccer and has a personality bigger than life. The confident young writer is
also the daughter of young adult author Celia Anderson. Having grown up tagging
alongside her mom at book signings and lectures, it’s no surprise that she has
become interested in the art. Gabrielle says that one day she would like to
attend Stanford University in California, but that may change as she grows
older. Currently she resides with her mother in Little Rock, Arkansas, enjoys
playing dress up, singing and playing with her American Girl Dolls. She lists
both her mother and maternal grandmother, whom she affectionately calls FeFe,
as the people who have influenced her the most.
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