Summer on the Short Bus by Bethany Crandell

Title: Summer on the Short Bus
Author: Bethany Crandell
Publisher: Running Press
Release: April 1, 2014
Review: 4.5 Stars

Characters: Cricket, Quinn (AKA Zac Efron), Rainbow, Fantine, Claire, Meredith

I kinda hate Cricket at first. Heck, I really hate her. She's mean, rude, and all around ignorant, but Cricket learns. It's one of the greatest character transformations I've ever seen. Quinn is so-so. At times I want to stab him, especially during the middle of the story, but he's pretty cute. Claire and Meredith are wonderful representations of special needs children. I've worked with children like them before, and I absolutely love them. Fantine also grows on you.

First Impressions: 5/5

I've been wanting to read this book for ages. Even before it came out. And the book did not disappoint. The book started off strong and was super fun.

Writing: 4/5 The writing quality was good, but missed a little something.
Plot: 4/5 The plot was also a little slow at first, but the witty banter made up for it.
World Building: 5/5 I can really see Crandell's world in my head. The camp is all laid out and seems really cool!
Characters: 5/5 These are some of the most diverse characters I have ever seen and I loved every minute they were on screen.

I really loved this book, and was a really cool follow-up after reading Speak!

Synopsis:

Cricket Montgomery was born with a golden spoon in her mouth (though Tiffany platinum would have been preferred) and the narcissistic notion that the world revolves around her. After a botched party attempt at the country-club lands her in hot water with her rarely-present father, it's bye-bye relaxing Hawaiian vacation, hello attitude-adjustment as a summer camp counselor.

As if being left for dead in Western Michigan with limited cell coverage isn't punishment enough, Cricket's horror increases when she realizes she's working at a camp for disabled teens. Thankfully there's one bright spot in handicapped hell; fellow counselor and Zac Efron lookalike Quinn, who Cricket falls head over heels for. Unfortunately for Cricket, Quinn is the one person who offers her the brutal truth about the kind of person she really is--and not even a platinum spoon can make 'self-centered, bitch' taste good.

As wheelchairs, lazy eyes, and slurred speech begin to threaten her sanity, Cricket finds herself relying on the unlikely friendships she makes with the campers, and the strange connection the camp's director seems to have to her forgotten past.

You Can Find it At:

Barnes & Noble

Powell's

Indiebound

Indigo

Author Bio:

I wish I had some mysterious secret to reveal about myself in hopes that you'd find me interesting...but I don't. When it comes to me, what you see is what you get. And what you get is an irreverent, sarcastic and emotional girl who writes stories about characters with these same traits.

I live in San Diego with my husband, two kiddos, and a chocolate lab who has no regard for personal space. I'm slightly obsessed with John Hughes and the wonderful collection of films he left behind, and I'm confident that Jake Ryan will be showing up on my doorstep any day now...

I firmly believe that prayer solves problems, and that laughter is the best medicine. Along with avocados. Avocados make the world a better place.

I'm represented by Rachael Dugas of Talcott Notch Literary Agency.

You Can Find Her At:

Website

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