My Summer of Pink and Green (Pink and Green Series #2)

by Lisa Greenwald

Overview

  At the end of My Life in Pink & Green, Lucy Desberg had just won the grant that would save her family’s pharmacy—and turn it into a modern eco-spa. Now it’s summer, and the work has begun in earnest. Lucy figures that with the spa opening and her sister, Claudia, home, she’ll have a great summer. But her sister brings a new boyfriend, and their investor brings his extremely irritating daughter, Bevin. Plus there’s a new spa coordinator in charge of the plans, and so Lucy finds herself at loose ends. What’s a girl to do? A makeover, of course. But this time Lucy’s makeover skills might not smooth over the cracks in her happy family . . .

Praise for My Summer of Pink & Green
"Through Lucy’s perseverance and entrepreneurial spirit, Greenwald reminds readers that dreams are worth pursuing."
—Kirkus Reviews

"Lucy charms readers once again with her positive attitude and dedication to beauty, make-up, and environmental well-being."
—School Library Journal

Award:
Spring 2013 Kids' Indie Next List

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781419704130
Publisher:	Amulet Books
Publication date:	03/19/2013
Series:	Beautiful Creatures #02.5 , #2
Pages:	272
Product dimensions:	5.60(w) x 8.30(h) x 1.10(d)
Lexile:	740L (what's this?)
Age Range:	10 - 14 Years

About the Author

Lisa Greenwald is the author of Reel Life Starring Us, Sweet Treats & Secret Crushes, and My Life in Pink & Green. She works in the library at the Birch Wathen Lenox School in Manhattan and is a graduate of the New School’s MFA program in writing for children. She lives in Brooklyn. Visit her online at lisagreenwald.com.

Editorial Reviews

Lucy's dream of turning her family's small town pharmacy into an eco-spa is coming true, but that dream isn't turning out like she thought. First her sister comes home from college, but brings her new boyfriend with her. Then Anais, the spa consultant hired to help with the opening, disregards all of Lucy's advice and puts her on the sidelines like a little kid. The final straw comes when Lucy is charged with befriending Bean, an investor's awkward daughter and a poor substitute for Lucy's best friend. Left out and alone, Lucy decides to take on some projects of her own, Bean's makeover being the first one. Turns out, Lucy might be the one who needs an attitude makeover. Lucy is a fabulous modern heroine. She is smart, courageous and fallible. She likes boys, but is not driven to find a boyfriend, and has a clear vision of what she wants to be even if she has no idea how to get there. Readers will be able to relate to the protagonist and her problems - what teenager hasn't felt pushed to the side rather than valued? Plus, although the book is a fairly easy read, it still maintains a depth of story that will appeal to many different levels of readers. This novel is the sequel to My Life in Pink and Green. While technically it is a stand-alone story, readers who have read the first book will have a better understanding of why certain characters act in certain ways. The ages of the characters and the style of writing make this a better book for upper elementary or middle school, but partnered with the original, it makes for an excellent choice for that age. Reviewer: Heather Robertson Mason

Children's Literature - Heather Robertson Mason

On the heels of her well-received book, My Life In Pink And Green (Amulet, 2009), Greenwald continues the story in My Summer Of Pink And Green. The pink and green refers the spa that protagonist thirteen-year-old Lucy Desberg works so hard to get funded throughout the first book in order save her family's pharmacy. In this sequel, with the grant money for the eco-friendly spa in place, Lucy anticipates the excitement of the spa's opening during her summer vacation. Things do not turn out as she expected, though: Her sister Claudia returns home for the summer with a house guest, Bean, her boyfriend. Lucy is also forced to make friends with the daughter of the spa's investor while nearly breaking ties with her close friends. Worst of all, Lucy feels like her efforts to get the spa running are being ignored. My Summer Of Pink And Green is a relaxing, quick-paced read. It is a coming-of-age story in which Lucy finds out about herself through her relationships with others. The story is written in first-person allowing readers to relate to Lucy's feelings. Each chapter begins with Lucy's tip for a great summer or for becoming a better person, giving the book a diary-like feel. While clearly marketed toward female pre-teens, Greenwald does a good job of writing in a straightforward way without becoming "girly." Young girls will enjoy this story filled with a strong protagonist, likeable characters, and themes of friendship. Reviewer: Ursula Adams

VOYA - Ursula Adams

Gr 5–8—In this sequel to My Life in Pink & Green (Abrams, 2009), Lucy charms readers once again with her positive attitude and dedication to beauty, make-up, and environmental well-being. The Desberg family pharmacy is about to add an eco-spa with the help of a grant that Lucy won. Looking forward to a great summer, the 13-year-old must deal with a few disappointments and surprises. Her sister brings her boyfriend home to spend the summer, her grandma hires a professional spa coordinator instead of Lucy, and her family's investor brings his immature, socially awkward daughter to spend time at the spa. At the same time, Lucy experiences the ups and downs that come with first boyfriends and a best friend who seems to enjoy spending time with her boyfriend more than with her. Greenwald's depiction of the early teenage years is spot-on, and her use of "tips to have a great summer" at the beginning of each chapter is uplifting and affirmative. The plot connects all story lines nicely as a stand-alone or when paired with the first book. Recommend this book to girls looking for a modern story in which the characters are realistically portrayed.—D. Maria LaRocco, Cuyahoga Public Library, Strongsville, OH

School Library Journal

In this sequel to My Life in Pink & Green (2009), 13-year-old Lucy returns, industrious, resourceful and determined to succeed. Instrumental in devising a plan to preserve her family's business with the creation of an eco-spa, Lucy is proud of her accomplishments. With development of the spa underway at their family pharmacy, Lucy is eager to immerse herself in the preparations. However, Lucy's schemes for summer quickly go awry. Greenwald explores the myriad challenges in Lucy's life with a discerning understanding of pre-adolescence, addressing universal themes that will resonate with readers. One of the many quandaries Lucy faces is her conflicting emotions surrounding her evolving relationship with buddy Yamir. Also, although Lucy proposed the eco-spa concept, the adults in her family have taken over the operation of the project. Despite these obstacles, Lucy diligently persists in her endeavors--surreptitiously attending a meeting designed to help owners of small businesses and continuing to seek out opportunities for the spa. Ultimately, when the opening-day plans are in jeopardy, it is Lucy's clever ingenuity that resolves the dilemma. Through Lucy's perseverance and entrepreneurial spirit, Greenwald reminds readers that dreams are worth pursuing. (Fiction. 10-14)

Kirkus Reviews