The dialogue is plagued by overly poetic and offbeat exchanges that seem unrealistic coming from small-town teens. Even the names are quirky and a bit too on the nose - Fernweh means 'wanderlust' in German, for example.

But the constant angst over her lack of magical powers grows tiresome quickly and makes her appear uncharacteristically oblivious to the many hints that most readers will pick up on almost instantly.ĭespite their relatable qualities, author Katrina Leno overloads her characters with quirkiness, describing their personal aesthetics more than giving them depth. Readers can relate to Georgina and her anxieties about the future as well as her romantic insecurities, which she handles with support from her friends and a fair bit of (occasionally morbid) humor. With diverse characters, a quaint setting, and a touch of mystery, this story has a whimsical tone but often feels contrived and muddled. The plot deals with mature themes like violence and sexual assault, but there are no graphic moments. There's some peril, and a teen wields a gun at one point, but no one gets shot. And while this is a romance, that doesn't dominate the story. Characters swear frequently, including 'f-k,' 's-t,' 'bitch,' and 'a-hole.' Teens drink and smoke pot at parties, go skinny-dipping in the ocean, and talk about dating and sex. Witchcraft and magic are central to the story, with one scene involving a Ouija board. It's told from the perspective of 17-year-old Georgina, who struggles with living up to her family's magical legacy and the anxiety of leaving home - not to mention dealing with the ups and downs of being one of the only out lesbians on the tiny island where she's lived her whole life. Parents need to know that Summer of Salt is a coming-of-age story that blends magical realism, mystery, and romance. References to being hung over.ĭid you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide. This isn't a firm rule, but the book should preferably be new, too, so you can feel like you're in-the-know.Teens drink hard alcohol, smoke pot at parties. And of course, your pick can't be too long, otherwise nobody will finish it. Maybe it needs to deal with a current issue or it needs to have tons of twists. Maybe it needs to be a little controversial or a little sad. Pull together some friends or coworkers, mix up your favorite summer cocktails, and get ready to dive into some books together.īut of course, there's the million dollar question: what is your book club going to read? There are so many fantastic new books coming out this summer, so it can be kind of tough to decide.Ī good book club pick needs to foster discussion. To me, that means it's the perfect time to start your summer book club. in the company of other people and with a glass of wine. It's summer, and the longer days probably have you inspired to do more.

Summer of salt katrina leno