Umbrella Summer

Written by Lisa Graff

Annie is certain her symptoms indicate that she has several diseases or other health problems. She also feels that a person can't be too careful to prevent accidents. She stocks up on Band-Aids and is sure to wear her bicycle helmet wherever she goes (even if she's walking to her best friend's house down the street.) Since her brother died unexpectedly, she spends every minute trying to prevent another tragedy in her family. The grown-ups around her are very worried, but they don't know how to help her. After a misunderstanding with her best friend and acquiring an unlikely new friend, Annie learns how to stop worrying, put down her "umbrella," and begin to enjoy life.


When I first started reading this book I was confused about who Jared was and why his death was such a bid deal to Annie. I also couldn't understand how a 10-year-old could be so preoccupied with health problems. However, the more I read, the more I began to understand Annie's situation. The author does a great job giving the reader a glimpse into the characters' thoughts and emotions. I could hardly put the book down because I wanted to know what happened next. Have you ever been so involved in a book that you lost track of time? What book was it? What made you enjoy the book so much?