Submitted by Hahaha me, Age 11 from Maine
Rating: 
Even though Lise’s family has no father, her mother makes up for it all. She always gets what she wants when she wants it. Lise feels comfortable in her family of one brother, one mother and a slobbery dog, Babe. Until her pushy mom gets in a car crash—and decides to lug the family up to Fiddle Beach, Maine, where she grew up, to spend the summer. Lise hates the ocean, hates how her life is falling apart and REALLY hates how her mom is falling apart too. How is she supposed to survive?
I have to say I LOVE this book mostly because it takes place in Maine, my home state. I thought Lise was a complete wimp to think the water is cold (no, it’s not), and how she chooses to eat hamburgers over lobster just because she didn’t want the lobsters to die! I was laughing at her, but at the same time on her side. Sand Dollar Summer is short and funny, but serious at the same time. I think the best part of the book is that there is no other book with the same theme. Think about it—there are SO many books about a kid moving to another town or state, or about a kid who needs to win the little league baseball championships. How many books have a car crash, a brother how doesn’t speak, the beach and lobsters in it all together? One. So read it!
