Teen Review – The Last Summer by Judith Kinghorn
Review by Tahsin, member of the Dufferin/St.Clair Branch Youth Advisory Group.
This is about a 
young girl named Clarissa Granville, who is born to wealthy family in the Edwardian era. She lives a sheltered, privileged life until 1914, when World War I explodes.
What others didn’t like about this book is what made me enjoy it so much.
To be fair, this book is like many other books. Even the name of the romantic interest in this book, Tom, is a common and popular name in WWI books. But as one reviewer once wrote “it’s not what a book is about, it’s about how it’s told.” (Emily May, Goodreads)
The main character is what made this book so good, just because she is so realistic. Most books show us the flaws in our character to make them seem this way, but few show us the worst but most common ones. In this case, the flaw helped to drive the plot: the all too common fear of going after what you want. Clarissa tried to please others in her life and this made her a relatable character to me. In most stories, the protagonist goes against everyone, no matter how stupid or wrong it is.
In this book, we meet a girl choosing between what she wants vs what society and her mother expect from her. She faces prejudice, class distinctions as she falls in love with someone below her station, and pervasive sexism stops her from pursuing a career. All of these are portrayed very realistically in the story.
She does not do the ideal-and the usual-action of doing only what she wishes. Clarissa tries to please everyone, and faces the inevitable outcome of it. While it is not the best decision, it is the one that many us choose.
If you are looking for a story with a perfect happy ending, then I do not recommend this book to you. This book is for people who can read about the gritty reality of human nature.
Place a hold on The Last Summer by Judith Kinghorn.
Comments