Dandelion Summer Book Review and Giveaway!
Jul 21, 2011

Dandelion Summer
Author: Lisa Wingate
Publisher: NAL Accent
Publication Date: July, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-451-23327-1

This is a great story of people finding love and friendship in people they would never expect. There’s also a nice little mystery involved!

Epiphany Jones is a young girl who’s mother feels she’s nothing more than a burden. When her mother became pregnant she was disowned by her family. You see, while her mother is white, her unknown father was black, leaving Epiphany also feeling unsure of where she belongs. Her mother has moved her to a new town, away from the safety and warmth she previously had in her old home and she is having an extremely hard time fitting in at school.

Meanwhile, on the rich side of town, successful aeronautics engineer J. Norman is now a rambling old man alone in his home. His daughter – with whom he has a strained relationship – is pressuring him to sell the home and relocate to a senior center. J. Norman is having none of that.

It transpires that Epiphany’s mother is a housecleaner for J. Norman and makes a deal with his daughter for Epiphany to come over after school to cook and keep him company. While neither of the two are happy about this arrangement, it’s the start of a wonderful friendship.

Together they take on two mysteries in life – where is the other side of Epiphany’s family and why does J. Norman have memories of a life when he was small that his family always denied existed?

The dialogue is great, with just enough dry humor running through it to make you smile. The conversations between a 16 year old and a man of 70 range from humorous to tearful.

I really enjoyed the story and think you will too.

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