Product Description
Set in the nostalgic year of 1955, this touching novel reveals a unique kind of love between kindred spirits. It is told through the voice of 14-year-old Christy Banister, a sweet, slightly naïve young boy in need of guidance as he makes his way through adolescence. He has moved to Baltimore with his father, and as the new kid on the block in an isolated new neighborhood, Christy has few opportunities to make new friends.

At the start of the summer, Christy meets 23-year-old Kathryn Slade. Once a beautiful young woman, Kathryn is now a quadriplegic after a battle with polio that nearly cost her life when she was 17. However, despite Kathryn’s physical limitations, she and Christy develop a strong and intimate friendship.

As Christy struggles to grow up, he must learn to deal with the problems that usually beset a much older boy as he also confronts issues of sex and familial betrayal. Yet the friendship, wisdom and vitality bestowed by Kathryn serves as a guiding light. At the same time, Christy helps to give Kathryn new joy and six weeks of hope. Their summer ends with the ultimate victory of lives lived and loved.

CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 5.0 based on 12 reviews)

excellent read

I was given this book ages ago and it sat on my shelf unread for over an year. I was put off by the book jacket and the description of a girl in an iron lung. I even gave it to my sister who was eager for something to read and she finished it quickly and said it was good. having similar tastes, I finally picked it up and read it. I loved this book!! It is sweet, engaging and funny. It is not depressing at all and you are captivated within the first 20 pages. I read a lot of books. all types of books interest me and this one was one of the best I have read in a long time. I have been burned a couple of time by these customer reviews so now I am a little suspicious of them but I really highly recommend this book. Do yourself a favor and pick this one up. You won't be disappointed!
December 04, 2007

Don't judge a book by its cover...

I have to admit I was reluctant to read this book club pick when I saw the cover. It looked like a trashy summer novel without much substance. How wrong I was!

Frank Deford brings the summer of 1954 to life with his novel about the unlikely friendship between a 14 year old boy, Christy Bannister, and 23 year old Kathryn Slade. When Christy rescues Kathryn's dog from near disaster, he is befriended by Aurelia Slade, her mother, who consequently introduces them, and through her connections helps him salvage his paper route. Although Kathryn is confined to an iron lung because of polio, she's one of the liveliest characters I've seen. She proceeds to teach Christy all sorts of things that summer: about girls, about swimming, about competing, and about having a vision and determination. While he secretly shapes his muscles with a Charles Atlas program, Kathryn demonstrates such personal courage that she helps him realize his own strength. Their friendship is bound through family secrets, challenges, laughter and perseverance.

This is a poignant tale, often humorous and touching without being maudlin.
All the senses are involved with Frank Deford's nostalgic story: The sounds of Kathryn and Christy singing "Sh-boom, sh-boom," smells of a pool and blooming nearby garden, tastes of RC cola sipped through a straw, and touches of an empathetic hand to a lifeless one. Although a quick read, it will be one you'll think about for a long time.

July 19, 2007

Getting to know someone's heart.

While browsing in a local TJMaxx this past summer I came across a copy of this book on the bargain aisle. The cover drew me in - different from on the one pictured on this site - the text on the flaps took hold of me, and the bargain price of $1.00 clinched the sale! I must say, it was the best dollar I've ever spent. Fourteen year old Christy Bannister moves from Indiana to Baltimore, MD with his family and learns a lot about life through his unique friendship with Kathyryn Slade, a twenty-three year old young woman with polio. Deford weaves a great story with true to life characters, ones that could be your own neighbors, as he touches on the issues of suburban growth in middle class America in the 1950's, the fear parents had of devastating childhood diseases, truth and trust among both family and friends, and how love can touch you at any time, any age, any place.
March 05, 2007

Not a new idea but a nice escapist summer read

Having spent the first 19 years of my life growing up in Baltimore of the 60's and 70's, I was able to relate to the setting so it helped add to my enjoyment of this book.

The story of a young child who finds motivation and maturity from an older person who enters his/her life is not exactly an original idea yet Deford makes it just a bit fresher by using a growing city,changing times, and a good assortment of true-to-life characters as the backdrop.

The only nitpick I have is that there are a couple of minor subplots involving a rape and an affair that seemed to be there only as a device to hammer across the point that when you're a 14 year old boy, you learn people can do bad things. For me, those portions added very little. When the story stays focused on the relationship between the two leads(the aforementioned 14 year old boy and a 23 year old girl struggling with polio), the book is gripping and moves forward rapidly. Actually, it seems as though this book could be translated to the small screen pretty easily. I hope we see this as a Lifetime or Hallmark channel presentation soon.

You might be able to see the ending a mile a way but if you need some breezy reading for a vacation or a day trip to "the shore"(a term that will be clearer when you read the book), "An American Summer" may be a nice way to pass the time.

July 07, 2006

Amazing!

Last summer I came across this book by accident and I decided to read it and now I am so glad I did. An American Summer is the best book I've ever read and the entire time I was reading it I could picture what was happening in my head and I felt like I was there. i would definately recommend this book to anyone who wants a great book to read.
July 01, 2006

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