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One Summer in the Old Town by Randy Cribbs OCRS, Inc.
book review by Mihir Shaw
"P.S. Remember that summer? Sean leaned back and looked out his window again, smiling. That summer. How could he ever forget?"
When Sean first came to the historic town of St. Augustine, there was little sign that he would find lifelong friends. In fact, Matt and Jenny perceived Mrs. Kirks New-Yorker nephew to be the new bully in town, replacing the incumbent Riley, the infamous middle school bully. One day, while the trio is at the beach, Riley goes too far, stealing Sean's swimming trunks while in the ocean. They decide that someone needs to teach him a lesson. Using the menacing yet lazyand yellow-eyed Walter, the cat, the group crafts a plan to lure Riley and his friends to the cemetery via a dare. What happens next is exhilarating, and an event that Riley is sure to remember the next time he tries to feast on sixth graders.
More than anything else, readers, particularly those with an attachment or familiarity with the area, will relish the beautiful descriptions of St. Augustine, Florida, and the characters dense knowledge of its history. Samuel, the best friend of Matt's grandfather, Honeyman, is essentially a tour guide and is doing an exceptional job of guiding Matt in the same direction.
This story is perfect for any age group, and is certainly one that will take the audience for a stroll down memory lane. Cribbs does an excellent job of integrating a subtle romance between Matt and Jenny, amidst a brewing bond of friendship between all three. Instead of the typical animosity prevalent between two friends who are fighting for the same girl, the author portrays Sean's character as understanding and loyal. The plot builds up to a grand kingfish tournament, for which the boys toil for two long weeks, earning their entry fee for the contest. Can Matt, Sean, grandpa Honeyman, and company somehow win the kingfish tournament and the grand prize, the magnificent KINGFISHER boat?