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The Growing Summer

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( 772 ratings, 81 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
In The Growing Summer by Noel Streatfeild, four city children are sent to stay with their eccentric great-aunt in a remote Irish village. As they adjust to country life, they encounter unexpected adventures and learn important lessons about independence and family bonds. This children's book combines humour and heartwarming moments in a rural setting.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you enjoy heartwarming tales of adventure and growth, especially those featuring children discovering new places and learning valuable life lessons. Set in the idyllic Irish countryside, it portrays siblings embarking on a unique summer journey filled with challenges, independence, and the warmth of family bonds. If you cherish stories about resourcefulness and the spirit of adventure, this might be a delightful read for you.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

A beautifully written novel by the beloved author of Ballet Shoes. With enchanting illustrations by Edward Ardizzone.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description
BY THE AUTHOR OF BALLET SHOES

with beautiful illustrations by Edward Ardizzone

'A joyous, sunlight book. For me, the best Noel Streatfeild of all' HILARY MCKAY

'"You have a whole wing of the house to yourselves. The glorious world outside to play in. All that the earth brings forth to feed you, and you stand there asking foolish questions until my head reels. Help yourselves, children, help yourselves." Then, flapping her cloak as if to shoo off a clutter of chickens, Great Aunt Dymphna was gone.'

Summer will be different for the Gareth children this year. Their father, an epidemiologist, is ill abroad, and their mother must go to help him. So Alex, Penny, Naomi and Robin are sent to Ireland to stay with an eccentric distant relative.

Great Aunt Dymphna is like nobody they've ever met. She lives in a ramshackle house, quotes swathes of poetry and flits about like a great bat. And, to the children's consternation, she expects them to fend for themselves. Despite tears and many mishaps, they learn something new every day, and living with Great Aunt Dymphna becomes an adventure.

Series: Virago Modern Classics

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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Growing Summer by Noel Streatfeild is a delightful children's book praised for its charming storytelling and strong character development. Reviewers appreciate the engaging plot and the way it captures the adventures of the children as they navigate the challenges in a new environment. The book is well-received for its vivid descriptions and the author's ability to transport readers to the picturesque Irish countryside setting.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780349014449

Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 06 May 2021

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Virago Press Ltd

Contributors:

  • Illustrated by Edward Ardizzone
  • Illustrated by Edward Ardizzone

Audience: Children

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 22.0mm

Width: 124.0mm

Height: 196.0mm

Weight: 202g

Pages: 256

About the Author

Noel Streatfeild was born in Sussex in 1895 and was one of three sisters. After working in munitions factories and canteens for the armed forces when the First World War broke out, Noel followed her dream of being on stage and went to RADA where she became a professional actress.

She began writing children's books in 1931 and Ballet Shoes was published in 1936. She quickly became one of the most popular authors of her day. She was one of the first winners of the Carnegie Medal and was awarded an OBE in 1983.

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