A move from an impoverished tenement to an unfinished suburban development turns thirteen-year-old Socko's world inside out.It's summer vacation, and Socko and his best friend Damien are hangi
A move from an impoverished tenement to an unfinished suburban development turns thirteen-year-old Socko's world inside out.
It's summer vacation, and Socko and his best friend Damien are hanging around the Kludge apartments, taking care to avoid the local gang members. When Socko's great-grandfather suddenly offers to buy a house in the suburbs, Socko's mom jumps at the chance to leave the bad neighborhood. Socko hates to leave Damien behind, but they pack up their few belongings and move to Moon Ridge Estates.
Nothing there is even remotely what Socko had imagined - Moon Ridge is a lonely wasteland of half-finished houses. Socko tries to make the best of a bad situation, hopping on his skateboard to explore the empty streets that are now his private domain.
Constructing new lives will involve taking some risks, but in time a ragtag community begins to rally around the struggling development. With humor and heart, Adrian Fogelin weaves a timely story of loyalty, family, community, and economic hardship.
Adrian Fogelin is the author of several novels for middle readers and young adults, including Crossing Jordan and The Real Question. She lives in Florida.
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"A winsome tale chock-full of strong-minded people providing mutual support and well-timed nudges in good directions." —Booklist, * STARRED REVIEW *
"...The third-person narration is tightly focused through Socko's perspective, adopting a gentle colloquial voice that complements the natural dialogue. Steeped in violence (more implied than graphic) and poverty, but focused on love and hope." —Kirkus Reviews
"...I love Summer on the Moon (Peachtree) by Adrian Fogelin..." —Susan Marston, editorial director of Junior Library Guild
"...While it has good female characters, Summer on the Moon is a perfect summer read for boys age 10 and older." —Washington Post
"...Adrian Fogelin artfully weaves together a touching story of despair and poverty into one of hope while emphasizing the power of love through friendship and family. A sensitive and moving look at the effects of economic hardship across the classes of society..." —Boys to Books blog
"...Something is always happening in this story, and the stakes are high - but not at the expense of characterization, and I love that about this book. In an awesome way, Adrian Fogelin has melded the story's action with character development, and the reader leaves the story with an understanding of and a connection to each character..." —Barbara Watson blog
"...a story of survival, hope, overcoming obstacles and finding family. In the space of very few pages Adrian Fogelin has created a strong male leading character that shines through his vulnerabilities and concern for others...This was a wonderful story, one I'm positive young readers will thoroughly enjoy and learn from!" —There's a Book blog
"...This interesting story explores the importance of home - both the physical place and the people who inhabit it..." —Ms. Yingling Reads blog
"...I went into this book thinking that it was going to be about an inner-city kid who made a bad choice and had to go work for his grandfather or something. I thought Socko would be gritty and hard. I was wrong on both counts. Socko is a gentle giant who will do anything for his friends..." —Maestra Amanda's Bookshelf
"...In the YA category, Summer on the Moon...has left many of us breathless for more..." —Roxie's blog
"This is a story of friendship, family, and finding community. It doesn't gloss over the realities of urban poverty, but doesn't dwell on them either. Instead, there's an underlying hope for the future." —Sally's Bookshelf blog
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