THE SAVAGE SUMMER

by Lew ietz ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 16, 1964

ason and Hardy Trask, two cousins in their upper-teens, wise-crack and heel-deal through the summer in their seaside Maine hometown. Mr. Dietz has treated some wonderfully visual comedy scenes in what is essentially a teenage love story. It's the sort of plot that could be transferred whole to the Andy Hardy movies, if they were still being made -- which is to call the book harmless, light entertainment. For comedy there is a 200% American delinquent Indian, fugitive from reform school and unable to find his way through the woods. For that Down ast flavor there is Jason's father, spouting Emerson and losing the old Trask place to the Amborns, who like to restore antiques. For that touch of young love there is Jessica, the Amborn's tomboy niece, abandoned in early childhood by a playboy father. Jason and Hardy arrange it so that father gets daughter and Jason one tip-toe kiss. Stronger than the female centered love story, the dialogue as a stagey sparkle. Not as good as the author's mysteries, Full Fathom Five (1958) or Wilderness River (1961).

Pub Date: July 16, 1964

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Little, Brown

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 1964

Categories: FICTION