Reviews of Bristol Bay Summer

 

 

"Books about the real Alaska are few and far between. Bristol Bay Summer, the newest addition to the canon, is the real thing. Through the eyes of Alaskan newcomer Zoey Morley, we fall in love with the power and beauty of Bristol Bay and its people. Annie Boochever’s prose is as fierce and elemental as the land itself; her story takes readers to the edge of the cliff and back again."

—Debby Dahl Edwardson, author of My Name is Not Easy (National Book Award Finalist, A Junior Library Guild Selection; Best Children's Books of 2011, Washington Post) and Blessing's Bead (ALA/YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults 2011. Booklist Top 10 First Novels for Youth: 2010)

 

"Having spent 23 delightful Bristol Bay summers myself, I’m thrilled that Annie Boochever has written a book that so perfectly captures both the coming of age of a young adult in this uniquely Alaskan setting, but more importantly, provides insights into the profound rich cultural heritage of this fishery. Bristol Bay Summer is a must-read for anyone—young and old alike—wishing to better understand the critical importance of the Bristol Bay salmon fishery to both feeding the world AND feeding the soul!”

—Sue Aspelund, Executive Director Regional Seafood Development Association and long-time setnet operator on the Naknek River

 

"When Zoey's parents divorce, her dad disappears, and her mom uproots her—twice. She feels angry and alone. Through the hard work of living in a wild part of Alaska, she comes to rely on strengths she never knew she had. She learns compassion for those around her, coming to understand that their lives are at least as difficult as her own. This is a powerful story of a girl becoming a woman, a story of land and sea and artistry."

—Peggy Shumaker, Alaska State Writer Laureate 2010-2012