Freia Lockhart’s Summer of Awful (Aimee Said, Walker Books)

Freia Lockhart’s Summer of Awful is the follow-up to Aimee Said’s delightful teen novel Finding Freia Lockhart, though it can be read as a standalone title. Things are looking good for Freia after a crazy school year: she has a great group of girlfriends, a super cool boyfriend, and heaps of fun planned for the holidays. But things quickly go pear-shaped when Freia finds out her mum has breast cancer, her friendships are going wonky and her boyfriend has run off to the coast for a few weeks, right when she needs him the most. To top it all off, the most annoying person in the world—Freia’s nanna—flies down from Queensland to butt into the Lockharts’ fragile family situation. This was meant to be the best summer ever, but will Freia—and her friends, boyfriend and family—make it through? Said writes with a characteristic lightness and humour that is a joy to read. The trials of young friendships, sibling rivalries and family dynamics are realistic and moving, not just for the target audience of teenage girls; I found myself relating easily to Freia’s personal woes and dreams. I hope Said brings us more in the series.

Hannah Francis is a bookseller at the Younger Sun Bookshop in Yarraville

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Category: Reviews