Books with title The Summer of the Swans

It began as a dream of California sea and surf, when Kippy left for the teen vacation of a lifetime to spend the summer with her aunt on Malibu Beach. When her arrival fatefully leads her to a management job with the new popular band ROUX, she gets much more than fun in the sun. Her new job leaves her tangled in the tragic memories that linger throughout the majestic castle home of the lead singer, Cole. Kippy gets involved in a series of dangerous, ghostly twists that even the tough Missouri girl may not be able to escape!

"Maybe that's one of the reasons people get dogs, to kind of close up the empty places inside them." Eleven-year-old William never needed a friend more than now. After his parents' separation, his father's new engagement, and his grandfather's dying without any warning -- adopting big, beautiful Riley is the first thing in a long time that has made him feel better. That is, until Riley innocently chases a horse. Local law states that any animal that chases livestock must be put to sleep. Suddenly William stands to lose another thing close to him. Together with his "totally unsurpassed" friend Grace, William begins a campaign to reverse the county commissioners' decision. But with a community divided on the issue, and the bully Ellis Porter trying to stop them at every turn, will they be able to save Riley's life?

Howie Peterson is a boy with ADD. One day, he is caught outside in a tornado. His father is a storm-chaser and agrees to let Howie go on a storm-chasing trip with him and the neighbors, the Sharps, provided he takes the pills that were just prescribed to him by his doctor. Howie quickly learns to respect the powerful force of nature that is a tornado. The trip is filled with highs and lows, with moments of sheer terror thrown in. He quickly learns what it means to be mentally ill. But will he survive The Summer of Storms?

Twelve-year-old May is living in a desolate situation with only her grandmother, who is depressed about the absence of May’s mother, and her father, who works long hours and is almost never around. Due to her circumstance and her resentment over having to live in a low-income neighborhood, May often finds herself picking fights and getting into trouble. But when May is caught graffiti-ing her least favorite teacher’s classroom, she is faced with a choice: expulsion or one-on-one summer school with the teacher she most detests. Begrudgingly, May chooses summer school and ultimately learns that her teacher has a secret past - and might just hold the key to answers no one else will give May about her mother.

A high-speed school musical, an internet scandal, an abusive meat-headed roommate and a pair of shoes that cause more trouble than they're worth ... could this be Starrphyre Jones' perfect summer All Starrphyre wants is one date with his dream girl, Candace McAllister. Or at least a meaningful conversation. But how can he get her to notice him when she's the leading lady of every other high-school guys' fantasies For sensitive-meets-dorky Starrphyre, starting a band seems like the natural solution, but when your bandmates have the combined musical ability of a gang of armless monkeys, you really need a backup plan. From the outrageously talented author and cartoonist Dave Hackett comes a laugh-aloud, heartfelt and vivacious novel.