If you’d like to journey back in time to the summer of 1960, Every Now and Then by Lesley Kagen would be a good choice. This book gives the reader a glimpse of what it was like to grow up in the sixties through the lives of three eleven year old girls in Summit, Wisconsin. Frankie, Viv, and Biz have been best friends for as long as they can remember. With their summer checklist in hand, they set out to accomplish their adventures. The girls are planning to sleep in the hideout (Biz’s treehouse), decorate their bikes for the Fourth of July, swim, watch movies, eat ice cream, etc. Those are the things they do most summers, but this summer is a little different because they are obsessed with Broadhurst Mental Institution and getting to know the patients. The girls are looking forward to an unforgettable summer, but their dreams are quickly shattered when three patients break free from Broadhurst.
Every Now and Then is a coming of age story set in small town USA. It’s also a story that discusses delicate issues of racism, mental illnesses, and homophobia. It was heartwarming, but I thought there were too many characters to keep track of. That was a little overwhelming at times, but I still think people who enjoy historical fiction and small town settings will also enjoy this book.
Availability: Book Rating: **** Stars (I really liked it) Reviewer: Crystal, Branch Librarian
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GENRE: Coming of Age Stories; Relationship Fiction
TONE: Suspenseful CHARACTER: Well-Developed
PACE: Fast-Paced
SUBJECT: Best Friends; Memories; Psychiatric Hospital; Secrets; Small Towns; Women Authors
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