book cover

Summer's Dream

by Cathy Cassidy

Interest age: 11+
Reading age: 11+

Published by Puffin Books, 2012

  • Coming-of-age
  • Love and romance

About this book

The third instalment of Cathy Cassidy’s Chocolate Box Girls series about five very different sisters and their unconventional family, Summer’s Dream is told from the perspective of aspiring ballet dancer Summer.

Thirteen year-old Summer has always been passionate about dancing, but when the chance to audition for a place at a prestigious ballet school comes her way, she feels sure her dreams are about to come true. Refusing to leave anything to chance, she throws herself heart and soul into preparing – so whilst her sisters enjoy lazy summer days and beach parties with their friends, Summer spends every spare moment of the summer holidays at the ballet studio, determined to make her performance absolutely perfect. But soon, the approaching audition becomes an obsession, and in her quest to be the perfect dancer, Summer begins to spiral out of control.

This insightful story presents Summer’s dreams, insecurities and anxieties with warmth and understanding: Cassidy tackles the difficult and complex subject of anorexia responsibly and with empathy. Although it is part of a series, and continues the ongoing story of the Tanberry sisters, this sensitive and thought-provoking story stands equally well alone.

About the author

Cathy Cassidy wrote and illustrated her first book at eight-years-old. She has worked as an editor on Jackie magazine, a teacher, and as agony aunt on Shout magazine. She lives in Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland, with her husband, two children, three cats, two rabbits and a mad hairy lurcher called Kelpie.

Cathy Cassidy's warm, funny, tender fiction including Dizzy, Indigo Blue, Sundae Girl and many more has won her an army of dedicated fans. The power and importance of friendship is at the heart of each of her books but most crucially, Cathy brings an element of magic to every story, discovering the magic that exists in every corner, in every day and sprinkling it through her narrative.

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