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Reviewed by Inga Buccella for Readers' Favorite
The Long, Lazy Summer by Michele L. Sayre is a story of life and death, told through the eyes of a young boy. Ray’s mother plans to spend what will be her last summer at home with her husband and son. Through physically and emotionally difficult days come special moments of play and discovery, when she explains, through metaphor, that her life is ending. Some of her “down days” are spent in her bed reading books with her son. Some are spent exploring virtual museums on TV. Good days are spent in the garden or at a park, people-watching. But during almost all their shared times, Ray’s mother finds opportunities to teach her son about what will happen at the end of August. The ordinary summer moments shared between Ray and his mother become extraordinary memories he will carry for the rest of his life.
This poignant story captured my heart. My favorite aspect of this book is that the ordinary but special moments shared between mother and child are relatable. One of my favorite scenes was when, on a “good day,” Ray’s mother makes a fort out of sofa cushions, and the two fly paper airplanes into the airports. I think many of us have this memory as either children or parents. Additionally, Michele L. Sayre takes every opportunity to have Ray’s mom teach him about both living and dying. I especially admire the author’s depth when referencing nature. I think using butterflies and flowers to make a point about the difficult topics of death and loss is brilliant. Through this story, children will gently learn that death is a natural part of life. I highly recommend The Long, Lazy Summer for parents or grandparents to read with their children and grandchildren.
