Preview
  • The Summer of Bitter and Sweet

  • By: Jen Ferguson
  • Narrated by: Julie Lumsden
  • Length: 10 hrs and 8 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (11 ratings)

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The Summer of Bitter and Sweet

By: Jen Ferguson
Narrated by: Julie Lumsden
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Publisher's summary

In this complex and emotionally resonant novel about a Métis girl living on the Canadian prairies, debut author Jen Ferguson serves up a powerful story about rage, secrets, and all the spectrums that make up a person—and the sweetness that can still live alongside the bitterest truth. A William C. Morris Award Honor Book and a Stonewall Award Honor Book!

Lou has enough confusion in front of her this summer. She’ll be working in her family’s ice-cream shack with her newly ex-boyfriend—whose kisses never made her feel desire, only discomfort—and her former best friend, King, who is back in their Canadian prairie town after disappearing three years ago without a word.

But when she gets a letter from her biological father—a man she hoped would stay behind bars for the rest of his life—Lou immediately knows that she cannot meet him, no matter how much he insists.

While King’s friendship makes Lou feel safer and warmer than she would have thought possible, when her family’s business comes under threat, she soon realizes that she can’t ignore her father forever.

The Heartdrum imprint centers a wide range of intertribal voices, visions, and stories while welcoming all young readers, with an emphasis on the present and future of Indian Country and on the strength of young Native heroes. In partnership with We Need Diverse Books.

©2022 Jen Ferguson (P)2022 HarperCollins Publishers
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What listeners say about The Summer of Bitter and Sweet

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    4 out of 5 stars
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One if the best YA books of 2022

Thoughtful nuanced only flaw was two of the characters seemed underdeveloped. Still a great listen.

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Beautiful Book I Will Be Thinking About For a Long Time

Wow, what a beautiful book. Lou spends the summer working at her family’s ice cream shack with her former best friend, King, who left a few years before without an explanation. When she receives a letter from her father she discovers that he’s out of prison and determined to be a part of her life, even though Lou wants nothing to do with him. The author navigates the difficult topics of rape, abuse and racism with honesty and heart, in a poignant narrative that will stay with readers long after they read the last page. It was impossible not to root for Lou, and King may be the best human being on the planet—how can you not to fall in love with him? I highly recommend this beautiful and moving debut—this is one I will be thinking about for a long time.

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