The Summer I Dared by Barbara Delinsky

Reviewed by Vicki Carver


How does a person who experiences a serious accident and survives  reconcile why he or she has been spared while others have perished? This issue is addressed in Barbara Delinksy’s newest novel, The Summer I Dared.

Julia Bechtel is a New Yorker traveling to the island of Big Sawyer, Maine to spend two weeks with her Aunt Zoe. On the boat ride from the mainland to the island a reckless speed boat driver crashes into the  ferry and kills nine people. There are three survivors in the crash:  Julia Bechtel, Noah Prine and Kim Colella.

Julia has lived an affluent lifestyle for the past twenty years married to Monte, a successful business man. However, there are serious “cracks” in her marriage due to Monte’s numerous affairs and general lack of  interest in his wife. The only link they share is with their twenty-year-old daughter, Molly.

Noah is divorced and in his early forties. He is a dedicated lobsterman.  Noah’s father has died in the ferry boat crash. Also, Noah is struggling to improve his relationship with his estranged seventeen-year-old son, Ian. 

Kim is twenty-one and has made some major mistakes in her life so far.  She has participated in a “get-rich-fast” scheme which has ultimately led to the ferry boat crash. Kim is unable to speak after the accident  and is considered a suspect by the police in being a part of an scheme  involving illegal aliens.

Julia attempts to reach out to Noah and Kim in an effort to come to terms with their survival. She has always been a nurturer but begins to question her loyalty to her husband. As time passes, Julia develops a  strong bond with Noah and also helps Kim to regain her speech and face her past. Julia eventually realizes that she is not the same person that she was before the accident. She must confront situations in a new way
and make some painful but necessary decisions.

The Summer I Dared has a wealth of information about lobster fishing and life on a remote island. The story of Julia, Noah and Kim is integrated with their former lives, surviving a life threatening event and living
on a remote but beautiful island. The characters all redefine their priorities and become people worth reading about.