Book Summary: The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
(High School Level)
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This book is the first in a trilogy. More on this Jenny Han trilogy here.
The Summer I Turned Pretty is a young adult romance novel written by American author Jenny Han. It was first published in 2009 and is the first book in the Summer I Turned Pretty trilogy. The book was a critical and commercial success, winning the American Library Association’s Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature in 2010.
Summary
The Summer I Turned Pretty tells the story of Isabel “Belly” Conklin, a 15-year-old girl who spends her summers at Cousins Beach with her mother and older brother, along with her mother’s lifelong best friend and her sons, Conrad and Jeremiah. Belly has been friends with Conrad and Jeremiah since she was a child, but the summer she turns 16, things start to change. Belly is starting to develop feelings for both brothers, and she must decide who she wants to be with.
Analysis
The Summer I Turned Pretty is a coming-of-age story about love, friendship, and growing up. Belly is a relatable character who is struggling to figure out who she is and what she wants. She is also dealing with the complicated relationships she has with Conrad and Jeremiah.
Conrad is the older brother, and he is more brooding and mysterious. Jeremiah is the younger brother, and he is more outgoing and carefree. Belly is drawn to both brothers for different reasons, and she must decide who she wants to be with.
Over the course of the summer, Belly grows and changes. She learns to trust herself and her instincts. She also learns that it is important to be honest with herself and others.
Strengths and weaknesses
One of the strengths of the novel is its relatable characters. Belly is a character that many readers will be able to relate to. She is struggling to figure out who she is and what she wants, and she is dealing with the complicated relationships she has with Conrad and Jeremiah.
Another strength of the novel is its realistic portrayal of teenage relationships. Han does a good job of showing the complexity of teenage love, and she does not shy away from the difficult aspects of relationships, such as jealousy and heartbreak.
One weakness of the novel is that the plot can be predictable at times. However, this is a minor weakness, and the novel is still an enjoyable read.
What makes the book unique or worth reading
The Summer I Turned Pretty is a well-written and engaging novel with relatable characters and a realistic portrayal of teenage relationships. The novel also explores a number of important themes, such as love, friendship, family, and growing up.
Use of literary devices or techniques
Han uses a variety of literary devices and techniques in The Summer I Turned Pretty. For example, she uses symbolism to represent the different aspects of Belly’s journey. The water represents Belly’s emotions, and the beach represents her journey to self-discovery.
Han also uses foreshadowing to hint at future events in the story. For example, early in the novel, Belly has a dream about Conrad and Jeremiah. This dream foreshadows the love triangle that develops between the three characters.
How the book relates to the author’s life, other works, or broader social issues
The Summer I Turned Pretty is the first book in the Summer I Turned Pretty trilogy. The other books in the trilogy are It’s Not Summer Without You and We’ll Always Have Summer. Han has also written the To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before trilogy.
The Summer I Turned Pretty can be read as a story about female empowerment. Belly is a strong and independent young woman who learns to trust herself and her instincts. She also learns that she is worthy of love and respect, even though she has made mistakes.
Possible questions for a high school test
- What is the conflict in The Summer I Turned Pretty?
- How does Belly change over the course of the novel
- What are some of the themes explored in The Summer I Turned Pretty?
- What are some of the strengths and weaknesses of The Summer I Turned Pretty?
Functional details
- ISBN: 9781416968290
- Number of pages: 320
- Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
- First publish date: 2009-05-26
- Has it been made into a movie, tv or other streaming format?: Yes, The Summer I Turned Pretty was made into a television series for Amazon Prime Video in 2022.
- Genre: Young adult romance
- BISAC Categories: FICTION / Youth Fiction / Contemporary
- Suggested Reading Age: 12+
Other reviews
- The Summer I Turned Pretty Book Review by Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/183092.The_Summer_I_Turned_Pretty
- The Summer I Turned Pretty Book Review by Publishers Weekly https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1416968290
- The Summer I Turned Pretty Book Review by BookPage https://bookpage.com/reviews/book/the-summer-i-turned-pretty-by-jenny-han
Where to buy the book
Is this book part of a series?
- Yes, The Summer I Turned Pretty is the first book in the Summer I Turned Pretty trilogy. The other books in the trilogy are It’s Not Summer Without You and We’ll Always Have Summer.
Awards and accolades
- The Summer I Turned Pretty won the American Library Association’s Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature in 2010.
About the author
- Jenny Han is an American author of young adult novels. She is best known for writing the Summer I Turned Pretty trilogy and the To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before trilogy. Han’s books have been translated into over 30 languages and have sold over 10 million copies worldwide. She is a New York Times and international bestselling author.
Other bestselling books by the author
- It’s Not Summer Without You
- We’ll Always Have Summer
- To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before
- P.S. I Still Love You
- Always and Forever, Lara Jean
- The Love and Lies of Rukhsana Ali
- Anna and the French Kiss
- Isla and the Happily Ever After
- The Paris Game
Conclusion
The Summer I Turned Pretty is a well-written and engaging novel with relatable characters and a realistic portrayal of teenage relationships. The novel also explores a number of important themes, such as love, friendship, family, and growing up. If you are a fan of young adult romance novels, then I highly recommend checking out The Summer I Turned Pretty.