That Summer
Encyclopedia
That Summer is Sarah Dessen
's first novel, published in 1996. The movie How to Deal
is based on this novel as well as another one of Dessen's novels, Someone Like You.
For fifteen-year-old Haven (tall, lanky, bordering on six feet) it is a summer framed by two weddings: her father's to Lorna Queen (the "Weather Pet" of the local TV station, and only five years older than Ashley) and her sister Ashley's engagement to dull-as-dishwater Lewis Warsher, a boy Haven can't imagine plucky Ashley being attracted to. Nothing seems stable except for Haven's memories- especially those of the summer when Ashley dated Sumner Lee, who made her parents laugh and loosened Ashley up. Around Sumner, even Haven felt special. Suddenly Sumner reappears in her life, a link to that perfect past- and her future....or so it seemed.
Allusions and references to other work
Sarah Dessen
Sarah Dessen is an American writer who lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.- Background :Sarah Dessen was born in Evanston, Illinois on June 6, 1970. She moved with her family to Virginia then North Carolina where she now resides with her husband, Jay, daughter Sasha Clementine, and dogs...
's first novel, published in 1996. The movie How to Deal
How to Deal
How to Deal is a 2003 film directed by Clare Kilner and starring Mandy Moore, Allison Janney and Trent Ford. It is based on two novels by Sarah Dessen, That Summer and Someone Like You.-Plot:...
is based on this novel as well as another one of Dessen's novels, Someone Like You.
For fifteen-year-old Haven (tall, lanky, bordering on six feet) it is a summer framed by two weddings: her father's to Lorna Queen (the "Weather Pet" of the local TV station, and only five years older than Ashley) and her sister Ashley's engagement to dull-as-dishwater Lewis Warsher, a boy Haven can't imagine plucky Ashley being attracted to. Nothing seems stable except for Haven's memories- especially those of the summer when Ashley dated Sumner Lee, who made her parents laugh and loosened Ashley up. Around Sumner, even Haven felt special. Suddenly Sumner reappears in her life, a link to that perfect past- and her future....or so it seemed.
Characters
- Haven McPhail - The protagonist of the novel. She is 15 years old, lanky and is nearly 6 feet tall. Her summer is revolving around 2 weddings - her dad and the weather girl Lorna Queen and her sister Ashley and boring Lewis.
- Mac McPhail - Haven's dad. Cheated on his wife with a younger woman - Lorna Queen - who was also the weather girl on the local news station. He is the sport's broadcaster on the same channel. He got married to Lorna at the beginning of the book. Towards the end of the book, he is having a baby with Lorna.
- Lorna Queen/Mac's new wife. Is only 5 years older than Haven's sister Ashley and the weather girl. She is described as very pretty and perky. She marries Mac at the beginning of the book and towards the end, realizes that she is having a baby with him.
- Ashley McPhail/Warsher - Haven's older sister. She is 21 years old and has had many boyfriends. Her husband is Lewis Warsher, a boring man whom she met at the mall. She marries him at the end of the book, having gone through many dramas before.
- Casey Melvin - Haven's best friend. Had gone to 4-H camp before the book and came back a different person. She got herself an older boyfriend, started to smoke and had a bad attitude. After her boyfriend broke up with her, she went back to normal.
- Sumner Lee - Ashley's former boyfriend. He is happy, joyful, always looks on the bright side and always makes Haven feel happy. Works multiple jobs during the day. Haven saw Ashley break up with Sumner but didn't realize that he cheated on her. He was in a cheese commercial while dating Ashley.
- Lydia Catrell - Haven's neighbor. Is a widow and befriended Haven's mom. Has highlighted hair, goes out every Thursday and wants Haven's mom to go to Europe with her.
- Gwendolyn Rogers - A Lakeview model. Is really famous but suffers a nervous breakdown in the book.
- Bert Isker - Manager of Little Feet (where Haven works.) Is very old and sometimes scary.
Allusions and references to other work
- Robert, one of Ashley's ex-boyfriends was killed in a motorcycle accident just like Michael Sherwood in Someone Like YouSomeone Like YouSomeone Like You may refer to:In film and theater:*Someone Like You , a 2001 film*Someone Like You , a West End musical*Unnaipol Oruvan, an Indian film directed by Chakri Toleti...
- Haven's dad remarries Lorna Queen. In The Truth About ForeverThe Truth About ForeverThe Truth About Forever is Sarah Dessen's sixth novel. It was published in hardcover on May 11, 2004 and in paperback on April 6, 2006.-Summary:...
, the main character is named Macy Queen.
- One of Haven's dad's co-worker is Charlie Baker. In The Truth About ForeverThe Truth About ForeverThe Truth About Forever is Sarah Dessen's sixth novel. It was published in hardcover on May 11, 2004 and in paperback on April 6, 2006.-Summary:...
, Macy's love interest is Wes Baker.