Chapter Book 7

Title: Summer in the City

Author: Marie Louise Gay

Illustrator: David Homel

Genre: Juvenile Fiction

Sub Genre: Ficiton

Primary Character: Charlie and Max
Secondary Character: people in his neighborhood that he encounters

Theme: Make the best out of anything

Readability Score: n/a

Publication Date: 2012
Publisher:Groundwood Books
Awards: none

ISBN: 978-1-55498-177-9

Summary: Charlie is very upset when he finds out that he not going on his usually unconventional family vacations for the summer. His mom is cleverly calling this a stay-cation, which basically means they need the money, do they are not going anywhere. Charlie quickly finds things to do in his neighborhood and makes his own adventures. Charlie becomes a "lost-dog catcher" however he catch one that isn't lost and returns one that isn't the owners. One night Charlie and his brother Max camp out in the back yard they play flashlight tag and tell stories of vampires, which eventually scares his brother into the house leaving Charlies alone to wander. Oh- and did I mention he finds a skunk that sprays the dog? Vinegar gets out the smell- not tomato juice- more acid in vinegar. Later Charlie and Max find themselves in a bread truck- which takes them up the road quite a ways and the boys must find their way home with no money and subway station requiring money. My favorite story is when Charlie and his dad get caught on the road in the middle of rain storm that turns into a flood leaving him and his dad stranded in a flooding car and his dad cant swim! Luckily the firefighter show up just in time to save the guys from the car with their ladder. Unfortunately Charlie's dad is also afraid of heights and Charlie must help him remain calm. Charlies summer end with a surprise party in the ally with all of his new neighbor friends- it hadn't been that bad of a summer after all.

How would use: We could talk about what all the students do for summer vacation and where they go. I would also like for the students to write about their favorite summer vacation and what they did. Then write about what they would love to do one day for their summer vacation.