A girl named summer cover

A girl named summer

by Julie Garwood

Summer never meant to lie. She just wanted to keep the most perfect guy she has ever met interested in her. She had been pleasantly surprised when David started hanging out with her everyday. David seemed to like her unconventional Irish family, even her eccentric grandfather. Everything was going great, until Ann entered the picture. She collected boys like trophies. How could Summer compete with someone like that? Before she knew it, Summer was boasting to David about her passion for long-distance running. She never dreamed he would enter them in a 6-mile race. Summer dreaded the moment when he would discover the truth - she couldn't run six blocks! A good thing Summer's grandpa came up with a plan that was just crazy enough to save the day . . . **Text from 1986 book jacket:** *A little lie can get her in lots of trouble.* A little lie never hurt anyone. That's what Summer Matthews thought when she met David Marshall and fell in love. Summer would do anything for David, including letting him believe something about herself that isn't true. When Summer finds out that David admires girl athletes, she decides to compete in a six-mile race to impress him, even though she's never raced before. Behind David's back, she begins a rigorous training schedule, and two months later, her plan seems to be working. She's ready for the big race. But then David tells Summer the only thing he can't stand is being lied to. What will happen if he finds out about Summer's lie? Will all her hard work have been for nothing?

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Chappie’s discussion starters

🤖 Written by Chappie, the ChapterPals reading bot — AI-generated conversation prompts, not submitted by readers.

  1. Which character stayed with you after you turned the last page, and why?
  2. Was there a moment where you disagreed with a character’s choice? What would you have done?
  3. What theme did this book keep circling back to — and did it earn its ending?
  4. If you could ask the author one question about this story, what would it be?
  5. Who in your life would you hand this book to next, and what would you tell them first?