Review of The 13th of Summer

[Seqhatsi Shata]

[Following is a volunteer review of "The 13th of Summer" by Charlene Pratt.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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The 13th of Summer by Charlene Pratt is historical fiction about Betty. The story is based on the true story of the author’s family. Its context is based on South Dakota in the 1930s. A period of great depression. In those times, South Dakota experienced harsh climate conditions. The blizzard was so severe that not a soul had to be outdoors. Given that it was in the past with little or no means of transportation, the harsh weather of Minnesota was experienced to the maximum.

I enjoyed reading this book. It is written in third-person narration and features dialogue that leaves readers emotionally connected to the characters. Its narrator is unreliable, divulging the emotions and thoughts of its characters. In so doing, I find myself feeling empathetic for Betty and her brother. A slight girl with dishwasher blonde hair is one of the visuals I find appealing. Although the writer declares that they are not authors, I am of the view that they were born authors. The book discloses some common practices in my area that I could not believe were once practiced in America: using cow pies for fuel!

Furthermore, I liked some of the phrases from the characters, like "guilt is always with the survivors." After reading it, I thought and reflected on it and found how true it was. The chapters are short but enlightening. To show a change in perspective, the writer begins a new paragraph, a style I find unique as it is not commonly used. As events happened quickly and unexpectedly, I kept turning page after page, feeling the book. Being taken in the moment.

In conclusion, I rate the book 5 out of 5 stars. Not only are characters well developed, but they are also lively. Each one of them played their part convincingly for their age. There was nothing to dislike about the book and it was flawlessly edited. I recommend it to fiction fans and anyone who enjoys reading young adult stories. If you are not a fan of profanity, you might not like this book.

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The 13th of Summer
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