The Perfect Summer

By Morgan Billingsley, Jackie Lee and Gabrielle Simone

The talented trio that brought you The Perfect Present is back…with summer stories that will brighten your day, warm your heart, and prove that life is one of the greatest teachers there is. In Too Big for Teacups, Gabrielle Simone introduces us to the Fernandez family, who is on their way to Disney for a vacation. Marlena, the oldest, would rather stay home and practice with her dance team. But her parents make her go, and Marlena trudges through a miserable week of what was supposed to be a family bonding experience. In the midst of her complaining, her best friend, Jennifer, helps her learn a valuable life lesson and a new outlook on family time. In Jackie Lee’s A Lesson for Summer, 14-year-old twins, Vanessa and Teresa, had planned their ideal summer vacation. But when their father announces that he’s taking over a new church in a new city, the girls find their summer ruined! Instead of spending their days shopping, talking about boys, and going to the movies, they were going to be moving and volunteering to mentor a bunch of snotty-nosed seven-year-olds. The twins do everything in their power to sabotage their parents’ plans for them. However, in the end, they learn life lessons that truly make this the perfect summer for both of them. Morgan Billingsley is back with twins, Max and Mickey in A Country Summer. And this time, the suburban duo is unplugging from their iPads, Wi-Fi, and Netflix, to spend the summer with their extended family in a small Arkansas town. This was not at all Mickey’s idea of fun. In fact, she hates the boring country and her “classless” relatives. While Max fits right in with his cousins, Mickey soon feels left out and learns a valuable lesson about life - it doesn’t matter what you have…what matters is who you have. These three young writers will inspire and entertain…and leave you with a lesson or two yourself.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brown Girls Publishing
• Release date: Jan 23, 2016
• ISBN: 9781625178701

Morgan Billingsley

Ten-year-old, Gabrielle Simone attends Pulaski Academy College Preparatory School, where her teachers describe her as hardworking and passionate about learning. She is the student council representative for fifth grade, plays both basketball and soccer and has a personality bigger than life. The confident young writer is also the daughter of young adult author Celia Anderson. Having grown up tagging alongside her mom at book signings and lectures, it’s no surprise that she has become interested in the art. Gabrielle says that one day she would like to attend Stanford University in California, but that may change as she grows older. Currently she resides with her mother in Little Rock, Arkansas, enjoys playing dress up, singing and playing with her American Girl Dolls. She lists both her mother and maternal grandmother, whom she affectionately calls FeFe, as the people who have influenced her the most.Eleven-year-old, Jackie Lee is a lover of the letters and the arts. She has starred in three theatrical productions produced by Cherie Garland. She portrayed Crystal in “The Christmas Present,” Glenda, The Good Witch in “The Wiz” and the Ballerina in “One Night with a King.” Jackie’s love of arts also extends to church. She participates in the praise dance ministry at East New Hope Baptist Church. She also utilizes her musical talents in band. Often, Jackie can be found assisting her mother at various literary events. She also enjoys journaling and making sketches in her notebooks. She resides in Virginia with her parents and siblings. You can follow her at http://thecreativelifewithjackielee.blogspot.com.Morgan Billingsley is a twelve-year-old, who loves writing, acting, swimming and volleyball. She enjoys helping out and making people laugh. Everyone who knows her, applauds her nurturing heart. Morgan can often be found assisting her mother, ReShonda Tate Billingsley at book signings. She is active in her school organizations and serves as secretary for her Teen group in Jack and Jill of America, Inc. Follow her on Instagram @c_momo_b.

Book preview

Billingsley

Too Big For Teacups

By

Gabrielle Simone

Old McDonald had a farm!

Marlena’s family had been singing for the last ten miles. Even though she had on her pink Beats that she got for Christmas, they didn’t drown out the sound. How did she get stuck in the truck listening to toddler tune remakes? Oh yeah, Marlena remembered. It began with a family meeting back in January.

Marlena had just gotten home from dance class when her mother called out to her and her siblings.

Everyone to the kitchen, her mother yelled.

Marlena wondered what was going on. The last time her mother called a family meeting it was to announce that, Chloe, her now two-year-old baby sister, was on the way. She hoped that was not the case this time. She had both a brother and a sister and was not interested in any more siblings. She tossed her gym bag down by the door and headed to the kitchen.

How was dance? her dad asked before giving her his usual kiss on the top of her head.

Great. We are learning our first Hip Hop routine. It’s a lot of work.

Work? her brother, Kyle, chimed in. Dance isn’t work.

Oh, yeah? Marlena did her best ballerina turn before making her right foot touch the back of her head.

Let’s see you do that, she said with a grin before she sat down at the table. Kyle took a seat as well. He was a basketball player who couldn’t do that move, no matter how hard he tried.

Well, her mom said, we have made a decision about our summer vacation.

Marlena listened closely. This was a big summer for her dance team. No way could she take a week off. She wanted to stay home.

We are going to Disney, her mom exclaimed. Got the tickets today.

Both Kyle and Chloe were excited. Chloe because she took her cue from Kyle. Kyle, because well, because it didn’t take much to excite Kyle. He was so happy that he ran out of the room.

Marlena was hoping that her mom wasn’t finished. If she had to go on vacation, she wanted to go some place new. Surely her mother wasn’t going to make her miss dance for Disney. She had already been four times and now at age 13, she simply wasn’t interested. There was a time when she believed in the magic of it, but those days were long gone.

Marlena, her mom turned to her, I know you don’t want to miss dance, but we really want to keep the family together.

But I don’t want to go, why can’t I stay with Gammy?

Gammy is going to Aunt Sharon’s.

What about Jennifer’s? Jennifer was her best friend. She knew her mom would say no to that. Jennifer lived with a foster family. Although her mom said they were very nice people, she thought they had enough responsibility.

Not for a week. That’s too long.

Please, Mom? Disney is for little kids. I’m not a baby anymore.

Sorry, Honey. It’s important to your father and I that we take a family vacation — together.

Marlena had tried arguing with her parents before, it only got her grounded. However, she did not want to go to Disney. She and a few girls from her dance team were planning on taking a Hip Hop class this summer. They all wanted to get better at it so they could do a routine in the school talent show.

Marlena folded her arms across her chest. What about dance? She pouted.

It’s only a week, you will be fine, her dad chimed in with a tone that told her it wasn’t open for discussion.

She glanced over at her mom, who was now calling to order a pizza for dinner. Chloe sat in her high chair singing, Let it go and Kyle had returned to the table with an entire list of things he wanted to do at Magic Kingdom.

First, we have to ride Splash Mountain, he said. It was so much fun last summer. Then we have to get in the teacups for our family picture. Remember last year, we looked like the family from the commercial.

Kyle was right, they did take a great picture, but the last thing Marlena wanted to do was ride the teacups. She was a teenager and had simply outgrown them.

I’m too big for teacups, she said, still mad.

Teacups! Chloe shouted. Normally the cute way Chloe repeated the last word everyone said made Marlena laugh, but not today.

See, teacups are for babies.

Baby! Chloe repeated.

Marlena, Honey, her mom said, give it up, you are going, and that’s that.

***

Now Marlena sat in the back seat, texting her friends and praying that the sing-along would end.

Class was so awesome today, Jessica wrote.

I’m totally bummed about not being there.

We learned a dope new step. I’ll show u when u get back. How’s the ride?

It’s torture. I can’t wait until I’m old enough to stay alone. No more family trips for me.

I wish I could go to Disney.

Really? Have you ever been?

Nope. We can’t afford that.

Marlena had not even thought about the fact that some people could not afford to go to Disney. She had been every year for as long as she could remember. Since Chloe was born, it was like they were starting all over. Now, Marlena had a feeling that she would have to spend many more summers there.

Maybe you can come with us next year. I’ll ask my parents.

Cool. That would be fun.

IDK. I’m over Disney.

Well don’t be until you get to take me!

LOL

K. I have to go. TTYL

Laters.

Although Marlena did not want to be ungrateful, she still wished that she was at home dancing. In her opinion, Jessica was the lucky one. This Hip Hop class was only offered one week — this