About the Book
Title: Bingo Summer | Author: Dawn Malone | Publication Date: May 7, 2014 | Publisher: Independent | Pages: 173 | Recommended Ages: 10+
Summary:
On her thirteenth birthday, Summer Haas scratches the lottery ticket her mom tucked into her birthday card and the down-on-their-luck family become instant millionaires. Then the attention gets crazy in their small Illinois town, and the family moves north to ‘disappear’ in the Chicago suburbs. Summer’s new home might as well be on the Moon, it’s so different from where she used to live.
Suddenly, Summer is a candidate for student council, trades her t-shirt and jeans for mall-brand clothes, and throws a party for her entire grade even though she didn’t invite a single guest. Everyone wants Summer to be someone other than herself, including the super-popular Suri who Summer hopes will be her new best friend. There’s Mara who wants Summer to forget about competing with her for third base when softball season comes. And Summer just wants to avoid Dink and Anna even though she has more in common with them than she wants to admit.
But when Mara discovers how Summer’s family made their millions, and threatens to tell the whole school, Summer needs a friend more than ever. Can Summer fit in AND stay true to herself?
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Excerpts and Links to Reviews of “Bingo Summer”
Bingo Summer received 24 new reviews on Amazon, 20 new reviews on Goodreads, 13 new reviews on Barnes and Noble, and 15 bloggers posted reviews on their websites through this Book Review Blitz.
Bound 4 Escape: “Dawn Malone’s writing style flows well and is easy to read. It’s easy to picture the people and places she’s writing about. Bingo Summer is not only a good story but it emphasizes the importance of accepting ourselves for who we are and that we’re not going to be happy if we try to be someone we’re not… I definitely recommend Bingo Summer for readers 10 and up.”
Sylvia (Goodreads): “The writer visits many issues that kids deal with: parents, siblings, step-parents, fitting in, friends, finances, bullying and more. Yet the entire time, the story remains entertaining without becoming depressing or painful. We are right there with Summer as she grows and her life changes. As an adult, I would recommend this for tweens, teens and adults. There is something here for all of us to enjoy and learn from. Kudos to Dawn Malone for a beautiful story.”
Jane Ritz: “This is a book that would be great to use with a reading group or Book Club in fourth or fifth grade. I think winning the lottery would spike the interest of both boys and girls.”
Cyndi Flores (Goodreads): “Great book with a great story and a good moral. It shows how all teens, whether poor or rich still struggle with friends, and things they want to do versus what a friend wants to do. I think most girls and boys will enjoy this story in middle school.”
Loreen Whetstone (Amazon): “Bingo Summer is an excellent book for middle grade readers. It is a fun novel that has a wonderful moral.”
Sweet Southern Home: “At the heart of the book this is a family story, and it was simultaneously cringe inducing and heart warming to see Summer and her mom adapt to life in such a different society.”
Pragmatic Mom: “A lucky lottery ticket for Summer Haas’s 13th birthday suddenly makes her family instant millionaires but the change in lifestyle is unsettling. While it’s nice to live in a big house in a new town where no one knows them that her mother impulsively buys in the Chicago suburbs, Summer still has to adjust to making new friends and starting a new school.”
Julia P. (Amazon): “The best of the book is the relationship with her mother and sister, is so full of moral values, I would not be surprised to see an adaptation on the Hallmark Channel. It is a book for the whole family, for a mother to give it to her teen daughter.”
A Bit Bookish: “I found myself really relating to Summer (although I’ve never won millions on a scratch-off). Her struggle with learning the difference between working to fit in with the popular kids & impressing people to make friends… and being real and true to yourself & just finding the place you fit to find friends was just so REAL. So true to life. I think it’s something most kids in junior school and high school go through. Heck… it’s something people continue to go through as adults.”
Heart of a Philanthropist: “I really enjoyed this book and believe any girl between 11-13 will like it too.”
Nik’s Picks: “The characters in this book, especially Summer’s quirky, eccentric mother, are well-written and relatable, and the book moves at a good pace. There’s good conflicts and lessons learned (dealing with “mean girls”, overcoming the “shame” of coming from a poor background, the scary thought of losing old friends) and a nice hint at romance.”
BeachBoundBooks: “I found Bingo Summer to be well written and identifiable. Lottery winnings aside, young readers will be able to relate with Summer’s struggles. At one time or another all of us have lost our way and possibly been untrue to ourselves. Summer shows us, it’s never too late to rediscover who we really are. Bingo Summer is an enjoyable read, perfect for any tween.”
Rockin’ Book Reviews: “This is a very entertaining “from rags to riches” story!”
Tales of a Bookworm: “Teachers and parents could use this in the classroom or at home to discuss making friends, finances, and growing up. In fact, this would be a really fun story for students to discuss and work on creative writing, too. I’d highly recommend this for any reader; it’s descriptive, well-written, and relatable!”
Bookworm for Kids: “The characters are well done, making it easy to slip into their skins. Their problems are easy to sympathize with. . well, maybe not the getting rich part, but the struggles for acceptance, fitting in and self-esteem are very fitting for this age group. The dialogue is believable, and the setting nicely described. I loved the character’s reactions to the changes that she was faced with and enjoyed the way she dealt with the different problems and successes she faced.”
Amy Bowens (Barnes & Noble): “This story was filled with many lessons for a young teen to learn.”
Kids Read Too: “This was such a cute story. I loved the relationship the girls had with their mom, not all relationships between parents and children are like that, so I liked the non-confrontational method of communication depicted in the book. It was nice to see Summer growing to understand that even people we think we have nothing in common with could lend a different perspective to the world and that even Frank had a valuable perception for the people around him. Great book for kids of any age.”
Amanda V. (Amazon): “I think everyone has dreamed of hitting it big at least once in their life, and this is one side of the fantasy. If you are looking for a great tween tale or book club read, this is a book for you!”
Kay LaLone ~ I Love Books!: “I loved this book. Summer is such a fun character and it is great to meet another Cubs fan… Great book for girls 7 – 14.”
The Book Lover’s Lounge: “Bingo Summer was a fun read all throughout. I especially love the ease and simplicity that I experienced while reading this book – no complications – and the situations are exactly how many real-life happenings occur.”
Bing Icefairy (Amazon): “I like the author’s writing style and the story kept my interest from beginning to end despite the fact that I’m much older than the targeted readers… It is an inspiring read for both boys and girls.”
Monique B. (Goodreads): “Bingo Summer is an excellent depiction of one girl’s journey to discovering and accepting herself and being open to new experiences and new people. This is a book I would (and have) recommended to others.”
SOS Supply: “A super book for any junior high library. Appeals to teenage girls who will be able to empathise with the characters. A lovely read.”
Arlene Mullen (Amazon): “This a very good book for pre teen and teenagers. It talks about how to stay true to yourself despite everything life throws at you.”
About the Author: Dawn Malone
Dawn Malone is an author and former newspaper reporter. She has written on a wide range of subjects, from a creole cooking school in New Orleans to award-winning irises in a Wisconsin greenhouse. Writing those articles and working other odd jobs over the years – cake assembly line worker, yogurt seller, substitute teacher ? helps her develop the quirky characters that populate her stories. Her work has appeared in the Wisconsin State Journal, the Chicken Soup for the Soul Think Positive for Kids edition, and Highlights for Children. When she’s not writing, Dawn loves hiking when someone else carries her backpack. She lives in central Illinois.
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Again, thanks so much MDBR! The services you provide for children’s authors are invaluable!
Thank you for the kind feedback Dawn! It’s my pleasure and I’m so glad that everyone enjoyed the book so much! Congrats!