The First Last Day

Gr 4–6—Saying goodbye to summer is not easy for 12-year-old Haleigh Adams. She is not looking forward to her future. Thoughts of moving to a new town, meeting new friends, and losing old ones make her uptight. She treasures the languid days at the Jersey shore making sci-fi movies with her best friend, Kevin. Their last day together is one she would like never to end. In this delightful and observant tale, Haleigh gets her wish. A set of old paints strangely end up in her backpack, and she uses them to create a painting of their last summer day together. The paints have a magical effect: every day Haleigh wakes up, it's the last day of summer. This satisfying tale moves at a leisurely pace. Readers get to know the fine-tuned cast of characters and enjoy them as much as Haleigh does. While the end of that last summer day is always bittersweet, Haleigh finds comfort in the sameness. Readers will feel for Haleigh as she sees her situation from the viewpoint of everyone affected. The mystery of the magic paints pleasantly resolves itself. The writing is realistic and easygoing. The character development rings true as Haleigh slowly discovers that she can handle whatever life brings.