The First Last Day (Simon & Schuster/Aladdin, 2016) by Dorian Cirrone is an interesting take on the idea of not wanting summer to end. Who hasn’t wanted that as a kid? Plus, there’s a do over aspect. It’s also a good read about friendship and choices.
Twelve-year-old Haleigh and Kevin have had a great time this summer at the Jersey shore. Tomorrow his mom is coming to get Kevin to take him home and Haleigh has to go home and get ready for another new school. When Haleigh finds a mysterious set of paints in her backpack and paints a picture of their last day, she wakes up to their last day again. And again, and again. What will she do about the time loop?
This book reminds me of the movie Groundhog’s Day, except I can’t remember why the time loop happened in the movie. And this story brings up some interesting issues that the movie didn’t. The book has been translated into Finnish and has won a 2017 Florida Book Awards Gold Medal.
Dorian writes for kids and teens. Read about all her books here. And you really should read the longer version of her bio here–I bet it will make you smile.