∎ Download Free Nantucket Blue Leila Howland Books

Nantucket Blue Leila Howland Books

Download As PDF : Nantucket Blue Leila Howland Books

Nantucket Blue Leila Howland Books

I am a high school English teacher, and I purchased this book for two reasons: it looked like a perfect summer read (for me, for teens, for anyone), and its protagonist sounded like someone my students could relate to and admire. Nantucket Blue met these expectations, and exceeded them on a few counts. It did in fact prove to be a perfect summer read, not because it is particularly light (and it is certainly craftily written... no mindless indulgence here), but because it vividly captures the essence of a seaside summer. Leila Howland describes a Nantucket beach with, "a leafy path where a few people had left their bikes leaning unlocked against an old twisty-wood fence, and others had shed their flip-flops mid-walk, one in front of the other, staggered like footprints." If I had read this in the dead of winter, I would have loved the story just the same, but I would have ached for the salt, sand and sun of July.

I didn't expect to connect to the narrator as much as I did. After all, Cricket is an athletic teen with a fun name. I'm a klutzy thirtysomething with one of the "most common names from 1978". However, Howland gives us a richly developed contemporary teen... not a stereotype, and not an adult's take on "kids these days". Howland, herself a high school teacher, brought to life a character who fits in to today's world. I've taught many books about teens, and my students often comment that the authors are out of touch, and that the young characters are caricatures. This is not the case with Cricket. I can see and hear her; I can imagine her sitting in my classroom. And though she is today's teen, she has timeless traits that will resonate with adult readers. She's got a strong moral compass, and a slew of very real insecurities that make her even more relatable. Of her best friend, Cricket says, "It was Jules who made me cool. I'd been just a middle-of-the-pack girl before Jules. It was she who told me I was pretty, who convinced me to grow out my hair and cut my bangs and taught me about plucking my eyebrows and what a big difference the right pair of jeans could make." I found myself nodding and picturing my high school best friend as I read this passage. I'm eager to share this book with my students, because Cricket describes her family drama, friendships, and young love in the most human terms. However, I would feel completely comfortable reading this book aloud to my students (or my grandmother) because Howland manages to rouse emotions without going over the top with the cheap tricks that make English teachers (and grandmas) blush.

The minor characters, along with the setting details, rounded out this book, making it much more than a story. As Emily Dickinson, the poet whom Cricket must study during her summer, wrote: "There is no frigate like a book." I encourage you to break out your boat shoes and hop on board Nantucket Blue.


Tags : Amazon.com: Nantucket Blue (9781423160519): Leila Howland: Books,Leila Howland,Nantucket Blue,Disney-Hyperion,1423160517,Family - Parents,Romance - General,Social Themes - Friendship,Best friends;Juvenile fiction.,Dating (Social customs);Juvenile fiction.,Interpersonal relations in adolescence;Juvenile fiction.,Best friends,Children's Books - Young Adult Fiction,Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9),Dating (Social customs),Fiction-Romance,Interpersonal relations in adolescence,JUVENILE,Juvenile Fiction,Juvenile Fiction Family Parents,Juvenile Fiction Love & Romance,Juvenile Fiction Social Issues Friendship,Juvenile Fiction Social Themes Friendship,Juvenile Grades 7-9 Ages 12-14,Love & Romance,Massachusetts,Social Issues - Friendship,TEEN'S FICTION ROMANCE,United States,YOUNG ADULT FICTION,YOUNG ADULT FICTION Family Parents,YOUNG ADULT FICTION Romance General,YOUNG ADULT FICTION Social Themes Friendship

Nantucket Blue Leila Howland Books Reviews

Concise and put together well. Loved the added mini-subplots thrown in that all seemed to be connected, like the writer and his story or Cricket unknowingly finding her mom's diary. Actually wished the author went a little deeper with the H and her mom issues, but just the surface was scratched. But the mini-subs didnt take away from the main story which keeps the reader turning the page. Realistic dialogue and best friend/girl issues. Great summer read.
I found that Nantucket Blue had wonderful charm. The main character was a sweetheart and Nantucket was described as such a beautiful place. I wanted to pack my bags and head there immediately. I don't like to write too much and spoil the story for others, but I will say the one thing I found lacking was the romance. Sure it was there but I found that we really didn't get to know the love interest. That in turn left me feeling unconnected to their portion of the book. All in all.. I did enjoy it but I wouldn't call it a favorite and didn't find myself thinking about the story once it ended.
Follow Cricket to Nantucket for the summer. It's not at all like she planned it to be, but in learning to roll withe punches, it might even be BETTER! I especially liked her coming to terms with the loss of a friendship, because while teenage relationships are intense, they are not always eternal or enduring. The book left me with hope for the characters to find their own way I'm the world, both together and apart.
I really enjoyed this book, and when I found out that there is the sequel "Nantucked Red" I was even more excited because I hate, when good books end- so I loved the fact that I could just keep reading and stay in the story for a little longer. The only sad part is that I got the "blue" one for 1.99 for my , but the next one is 9.99 and I can't afford books for that kind of money. Hopefully the "red" book will go on sale eventually and I will buy it )
Nantucket Blue is filled with grief and tragedy, happy surprises, quirky new friends, magical kisses, and hard lessons learned. It's a heartwarming coming-of-age tale with an endearing protagonist.
I'm a sucker for summer/beach themed young adult books and when my library got this in when it was first published I immediately rented it. I recently bought and reread it and loved it just as much as the first time. It was refreshing and original from other young adult books I've read and I loved the characters and the friendships/relationships displayed. I'm excited to read the sequel once it's delivered.
This book felt like the perfect amount of heartbreak and love. It embodied the feeling of every teenage girl losing a best friend and finding true love. I would 100% recommend it.
I am a high school English teacher, and I purchased this book for two reasons it looked like a perfect summer read (for me, for teens, for anyone), and its protagonist sounded like someone my students could relate to and admire. Nantucket Blue met these expectations, and exceeded them on a few counts. It did in fact prove to be a perfect summer read, not because it is particularly light (and it is certainly craftily written... no mindless indulgence here), but because it vividly captures the essence of a seaside summer. Leila Howland describes a Nantucket beach with, "a leafy path where a few people had left their bikes leaning unlocked against an old twisty-wood fence, and others had shed their flip-flops mid-walk, one in front of the other, staggered like footprints." If I had read this in the dead of winter, I would have loved the story just the same, but I would have ached for the salt, sand and sun of July.

I didn't expect to connect to the narrator as much as I did. After all, Cricket is an athletic teen with a fun name. I'm a klutzy thirtysomething with one of the "most common names from 1978". However, Howland gives us a richly developed contemporary teen... not a stereotype, and not an adult's take on "kids these days". Howland, herself a high school teacher, brought to life a character who fits in to today's world. I've taught many books about teens, and my students often comment that the authors are out of touch, and that the young characters are caricatures. This is not the case with Cricket. I can see and hear her; I can imagine her sitting in my classroom. And though she is today's teen, she has timeless traits that will resonate with adult readers. She's got a strong moral compass, and a slew of very real insecurities that make her even more relatable. Of her best friend, Cricket says, "It was Jules who made me cool. I'd been just a middle-of-the-pack girl before Jules. It was she who told me I was pretty, who convinced me to grow out my hair and cut my bangs and taught me about plucking my eyebrows and what a big difference the right pair of jeans could make." I found myself nodding and picturing my high school best friend as I read this passage. I'm eager to share this book with my students, because Cricket describes her family drama, friendships, and young love in the most human terms. However, I would feel completely comfortable reading this book aloud to my students (or my grandmother) because Howland manages to rouse emotions without going over the top with the cheap tricks that make English teachers (and grandmas) blush.

The minor characters, along with the setting details, rounded out this book, making it much more than a story. As Emily Dickinson, the poet whom Cricket must study during her summer, wrote "There is no frigate like a book." I encourage you to break out your boat shoes and hop on board Nantucket Blue.