The Year the Swallows Came Early
4/5
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About this ebook
Eleanor "Groovy" Robinson loves cooking and plans to go to culinary school just as soon as she's old enough. But even Groovy's thoughtfully—planned menus won't fix the things that start to go wrong the year she turns eleven—suddenly, her father is in jail, her best friend's long-absent mother reappears, and the swallows that make their annual migration to her hometown arrive surprisingly early. As Groovy begins to expect the unexpected, she learns about the importance of forgiveness, understands the complex stories of the people around her, and realizes that even an earthquake can't get in the way of a family that needs to come together.
Kathryn Fitzmaurice's lovely debut novel is distinctively Californian in its flavor. Her rich characters and strong sense of place feel both familiar and fresh at first meeting—and worth revisiting, again and again.
Kathryn Fitzmaurice
Kathryn Fitzmaurice once received a book that was inscribed with the prediction that she might become a famous poet like Emily Dickinson. She became a writer for young readers instead, and her very first novel, The Year the Swallows Came Early, has received many honors and accolades. She lives in Monarch Beach, California, with her husband, sons, and faithful canine writing companion, Holly.
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Reviews for The Year the Swallows Came Early
62 ratings9 reviews
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I loved it. A tale of friendship, anger and forgiveness. The characters are very original and well built. Groovy wants to become a chef, but to do so she needs to pay for cooking school. Her dreams shatter after a single event that changes her life forever. She struggles and comes around surrounded by truthful friends and love. A very sweet way to approach a difficult subject with amazing writing and a rewarding ending. I thought I was watching an animation the all time.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Eleanor, nicknamed Groovy, lives in a California coastal town with her mother who owns a beauty salon and her father who's hopped from job to job. Eleanor's dream is to attend culinary school on the $25,000 her grandmother left her but when her father is arrested, she learns it's because he blew all her money on gambling. Eleanor struggles with this betrayal while her friend Frankie also deals with his mother's two-year absence. Eleanor soon comes to forgive her father, accepting that "people are just who they are." I liked Eleanor's voice and the relationships she has with her mother and friends but ultimately I know I'm not going to remember this book in a month or so.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I really liked the character of Groovy and her story of coming to terms with the betrayal within her own family. What I really had a difficult time with was figuring out the passage of time between scenes and the time of year it was supposed to be. The story was very well told with a good plot. Groovy was a very mature young lady, that despite her hardships and the faults and challenges her parents presented, she loved both of them very much and remained a loyal and faithful daughter. The ending was great filled with forgiveness and love. Good first book Ms. Fritzmaurice.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Excellent characters and a very good story.
All about learning to forgive. - Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Groovy Robinson wants to go to cooking school. She plans and cooks all of their meals. Her father is her biggest fan of her cooking. That is until he is hauled off to jail. Groovy runs and tells her mother. She is shocked to find that her mother is the one who called the police. She is more upset to find out the reason why. How could her father steal from her? Frankie lives with his stepbrother Luis and the run Swallows restaurant. Frankie is bitter because his mother left him with out telling him why. Enter old Mr. Tom. He is a homeless sailor that has a lot to teach these two about forgiveness and moving on. The story was not one of my favorites. The characters were very believable and the situations were believable. It seemed like the story drug on and on. I believe the message is a good one. I believe I would have a little bit of trouble getting my students to read this because it goes so slow.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Beautifully written book with a touching story. Similar titles: Pictures of Hollis Woods, So B. It
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Groovy Robinson is a budding chef who lives in San Juan Capistrano. She knows she wants to go to culinary school when she gets older, and she even has the money to do it, left to her by the aunt she was named for. But everything changes when Groovy’s dad goes to jail – for taking and gambling away her money. Groovy feels shocked, angry and betrayed. Everything in her life comes into question, including her goal to be a chef. She needs to decide how to move on, and whether forgiveness is possible.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Ernest book about a girl who is sorting out her feelings after her mother sends her father to jail because he gambled away her inheritance. Characters are overly wise, good, or quirky. Did not feel real.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Groovy (given name Eleanor) is devastated when her father is arrested right in front of her. What could be worse than that? Her mom called the police on her dad. . . .for stealing Groovy’s $25,000 inheritance and gambling it away! Eleanor’s passion is cooking and the money was to pay for cooking school. Betrayed by her dad, and struggling to come to terms with the fact that the money for school is gone, Groovy has to heal. Despite the best efforts of friends and family, Groovy has to find her own way through this situation. Can she find it in her heart to forgive her dad’s mistakes? How does she deal with the loss of her dream? This would be a great addition to any public or school library for middle school readers. Parents often make mistakes that kids have to deal with. Groovy’s story is a great example of coming to terms with this mistake and finding her own voice in an appropriate manner.