Twelfth Summer is a coming-of-age story that appeals to young and old alike. Twelve-year-old Sarah Bowers finds herself spending the summer in the small coastal town of Beaufort after her father is called up to work on a secret project to help end World War II. Forced to leave her friends and their summer vacation plans behind, the girl pouts: "There is nothing to do in that boring little town, the most I will have to look forward to is piddling around in the salt marsh, being eaten alive by mosquitoes and covered in sticky salt water." However, Sarah's Beaufort Summer proves to be anything but boring. Throughout Twelfth Summer the reader is reminded of life lessons that are all too often forgotten in today's fast-paced world. Hidden beneath a story of awkward adolescence, first crush, and learning to make new friends is so much more. The underlying message is one which will tug at the heartstrings of anyone who has a family, who has struggled through less fortunate times, or has had a loved one deployed overseas. The story is riddled with historical educational tidbits that inspire conversation and curiosity. Even though the story is set 64 years past, one feels that parts of it still happen today in towns where families gather and communities pull together for the benefit of all the citizens. This is a rare book you can share with your parents, as well as your children, truly a must read.
