Reviews provided by Syndetics
Publishers Weekly Review
Emily Hughes's best friend Sloane has disappeared without a trace-Emily has called, texted, and driven by her house, but it's as though Sloane and her family have ceased to exist. Then, one of Sloane's famous "to do" lists mysteriously shows up, with 13 directives for Emily, including "Kiss a stranger," "Go skinny- dipping," and "Dance until dawn." In Sloane's absence, the list-full of things she knew Emily would find fun, but a challenge, too-defines Emily's summer, helping her meet new friends (including cute Frank Porter), come out of her shell, and find a way to hang on to Sloane. Despite the novel's missing-friend hook, Matson (Second Chance Summer) primarily focuses on Emily's progress with the list (the resolution of the question "What happened to Sloane?" is the weakest part of an otherwise thoroughly enjoyable story). Matson's characters feel like familiar, comforting friends, even Sloane, who readers glimpse in periodic flashbacks. It's a sweet, leisurely read with a title that, thanks to Kelly Clarkson, begs to be shouted out loud. Ages 12-up. Agent: Emily Van Beek, Folio Literary Management. (May) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
School Library Journal Review
Gr 9 Up-At the beginning of summer, Emily's friend Sloane disappears, leaving her a mailed "to-do list" with no return address. Convinced the list is the key to finding her friend, Emily is determined to carry out the tasks on the list. Some of them, however, will be hard for her, like skinny dipping. Along the way she meets three friends, Frank, Collins, and Dawn, who are committed to helping her. Soon, Emily finds herself having a transformative summer she'll never forget, but what will happen when she's done? Suzy Jackson brings to life Emily's world and Matson's well-developed characters with unique styles and impressive narrative intonations. Emily and her realistic struggles with finding friends and her quirky nature easily engage listeners. The plot is heart-warming and absorbing, with fun flashbacks that reveal Emily's character growth in an interesting way. Fans of Maureen Johnson's 13 Little Blue Envelopes and other audiobooks by Matson (Second Chance Summer) will enjoy this tale.-Kira Moody, Whitmore Public Library, Salt Lake City, UT (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
Imagine the ominous stillness of waking up one day to find that your best friend and constant companion is suddenly gone family and all. Emily and Sloane shared every thought via text ever since Sloane moved into town, and Emily became the faithful sidekick to her fearless personality. Now, without Sloane as her navigator, Emily is stuck with no friends, no job, and no plans, with only her self-absorbed playwright parents and adventuresome younger brother, Beckett (one of the many literary references sprinkled throughout the narrative). Then a to-do list arrives in the mail from Sloane, and Emily begins a transformative summer that she hopes will lead her to her friend. In Matson's gentle portrayal, Emily's completion of the list propels her to participate in her own life, stand in no one's shadow, have a voice, and value that which makes her whole. The author of Second Chance Summer (2012), among other titles, creates a time-and-space experience for teens that might actually interrupt their social-media convos until they're finished reading.--Bush, Gail Copyright 2014 Booklist
Horn Book Review
Emily feels lost when her best friend, Sloane, disappears without explanation. But Sloane left Emily a daunting to-do list (with items like "kiss a stranger"), and Emily bravely takes on each task, finding new friends, confidence, and a crush along the way. A perfectly awkward protagonist; well-rounded, quirky supporting characters; and spot-on dialogue make this novel of self-discovery stand out. (c) Copyright 2014. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.