The Distant Summer

by Sarah Patterson

Book Overview

147 pages - 8.5 X 5.75 inches - " In that distant summer of 1943, Kathie had not yet turned 17. From the safety and comfort of her parents' home in a small English country town, the war..." This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0671222570
• ISBN13: 9780671222574
• Release Date: June 1976
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Length: 153 Pages
• Weight: 0.84 lbs.

Customer Reviews

A must have

I read this book when I was in my early teens (decades ago!). One of my all time favorites. Gave it to my oldest when she was about the same age, then my youngest, then her friends read it and wanted copies. This is, I think, the only book this author wrote, and did so in her teens. An absolute must have, and I’ve gifted it many times over to others.

A Keeper

I, like some of the other readers, read this book for the first time while in high school. Every time I am in a mood for a good book, this one is close by. I think that I have read this book couple of dozen times in the last ten years. Would recommend this book to anyone looking to escape for a few hours.

All Time Favorite Book!

I can't remember when I first read this book...it must have been in high school, but the love story between young Kate and her flyer Johnny struck a cord with me that has forever remained. This is a great story of a young girl's first love during a time of war (WWII in England) and it touches on so many aspects of her life - from her schooling to her family and friends and of course, Johnny, that I would recommend it to any teenage girl to read! Or any woman for that matter who wants to return to a time when a girl's first love is the most important thing to her!As reported in a previous review, Sarah Patterson, the author of this book, who was seventeen at the time it was published, is NOT the same Sarah Patterson who can be found on the web listed as an actress who appeared in the movie THE COMPANY OF WOLVES (79). The author Sarah Patterson was born in 1959 (verified through the Library of Congress Catalog of Publication Data - LC Number 76372791) Yes, she is the daughter of famed novelist Jack Higgins and obviously inherited her father's talent for writing.I haven't been able to find any more information on the author or if she wrote any other books, but I would love to!

A Distant Summer..........the innocence of young love.

I first read this book when it was published in a Reader's Digest Condensed book, I myself was about 16. My sister shared this book with me and it has become a yearly read ever since. I have read this book more than 100 times since then. Between my sister and myself we read the book so much it caused the binding to break and that selection to separate from the the book. It wasn't until I was in college, when I recommended it to a young man in the Air Force that I actually read the uncondensed version of the book. He enjoyed it so much he purchased a copy for me, as my sister and I shared the other copy for several years. Now has come the time to share this book with my own daughter. She recently saw the movie Pearl Harbor and remarked how she enjoyed the story, of course I thought of A Distant Summer. This is a story you will want to read several times, and pass on to your daughters.

This book will stay with you forever!

I read this book almost 20 years ago and loved it. I've kept my copy and have enjoyed re-reading it many times over the past years.This is the story of a 16 year old girl who finds love with a rear gunner during WWII. He won't allow himself to trust, to love. He knows he's a dead man walking and she should have her whole life ahead of him. She's a little self centered (who isn't at 16?). Through love and patience Kate grows up and teaches Johnny that his life is worth living and she is worth the risk of love.This is a beautiful story infused with information about the RAF, the war, England's war effort.These are star crossed lovers, haunted by the external forces keeping them apart.If you get a hold of this book, read, enjoy. Kate's story will become part of you and Johnny's pain will stir your soul.A definate keeper!