Addys Summer Place Book

by Connie Rose Porter

Book Overview

In 1866, eleven-year-old Addy and her family gather in Cape Island, later known as Cape May, New Jersey, where she encounters an impoverished white girl who treats her badly. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1584856971
• ISBN13: 9781584856979
• Release Date: January 2003
• Publisher: American Girl Publishing Inc
• Length: 38 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 4.5" x 5.9"
• Age Range: 7 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 2 to 7

Customer Reviews

Love these AG short stories

History, a great story and an authentic historical craft! Not only that, but just the right size for girl-sized hands. A+++++++ Cannot be beat!

Addy's Summer Place

"Dragging her screaming brother behind her, the girl turned and gave Addy a burning, hateful glare. 'Don't you step out of your place with me, colored girl!' the girl spat. 'You better go back to where you belong.'" (Porter, 18) Benevolence. Just what is the meaning of benevolence, anyway? According to Merriman-Webster dictionary, it means "disposition to do good: an act of kindness." Doing good to others is just one of the significant lessons Addy learns in the book "Addy's Summer Place," written by Mrs. Connie Porter. But this story has an even stronger message, one in which only one word can succeed in describing. Set in the summer of 1864, Addy, Momma, and baby Esther travel from Philadelphia to Cape Island, New Jersey, to visit Papa for the Fourth of July. While attempting to act like a proper young lady, Addy finds it difficult to do so when a wave of changes and decisions comes her way. The foremost change comes to reality however, when she is exposed to the life of one poverty-stricken, white family. When Addy has the opportunity to show an act of kindness to the poor family, despite nasty remarks against her, will she do so? Or will she decide her fancy dresses and spiral curls are far more important than the lives of others? One could learn valuable life lessons from reading "Addy's Summer Place," which is set during a time period when Americans are bewildered trying to discover their own "place," in what is a cruel, negative time for so many.

Highly recommended

This is another in the American Girls Short Stories series about Addy Walker, a ten-year-old African-American girl living in the America of 1865. Addy gets a surprise when the railway company her father works for gives her family passes so that they can visit him in Cape Island, New Jersey. The experience begins to sour, though, as Addy finds herself confronted on every side by racism. When a little white girl pours abuse on Addy, she wishes her ill from the bottom of her heart, but later she sees the other girl's impoverished life, and begins to feel different.The final chapter of this book has an interesting look at Cape Island (later Cape May), New Jersey, and some fun and easy directions for making your own vanilla ice cream! As with all of Connie Porter's Addy books, this one is great! The author successful shows the pain and hurt of racism, but succeeds in turning it into an upbeat and hopeful story. My twelve-year-old daughter loves her Addy doll, and loves this book. We both recommend the book to you very highly!