Summerlings
In the summer of 1959, Washington D.C. suffers an invasion of spiders, prompting adult paranoia and conspiracy theories about Russian attacks. For Howorth’s eight-year-old narrator, John, and his friends, the infestation is thrilling and gives them an excuse to explore the suburban wilderness outside the capital, trapping spiders and plotting pranks on local bullies.
Howorth has invented the spider plague, but the bittersweet mood of that watershed year is realistically evoked, as fears about Communism, nuclear war, and political unrest distract the grownups from their children’s potentially dangerous activities. John is a careful observer of his complex world, drawn by both curiosity and genuine affection into the relationships of his civil-servant grandparents, the beautiful but mysterious aunt of his best friend, and the multicultural cast of residents and domestic help in his diplomatic neighborhood.
Howorth seems to be inspired by nostalgic fiction like King’s Stand By Me and Kingsolver’s The Poisonwood Bible, both of which share with Summerlings narrators who look back at coming-of-age experiences that marry the comic and tragic. Howorth’s style takes some getting used to; it’s difficult at times to decide whether the stereotypical characters and dialogue she uses to dramatize the boys’ diverse neighborhood are meant to evoke the novel’s mid-20th century bigotry, or are simply sloppy characterization. John’s voice, also, is melodramatic and too worldly-wise for such a young point of view. However, colorful details, a clever blending of social and political intrigue, and plenty of boyish gross-out humor eventually win the reader over.
