The Summer Experiment Hardcover – Picture Book, April 1, 2014

I was debating even reading this book....knowing it was for the much younger audience. So I knew Cathie Pelletier's writing was great and took to reading. I believe the story is a good one for any age. Being from Allagash myself - the woods, the sayings and the bugs were very familiar. The story was fun along with a bit of sadness over Roberta's grandfather. Loved the close friendship of the two girls. Now on to Cathie's next book.

Outstanding character development. You will love the protagonist. Written with excellent description of place as well. Enjoyed it immensely.

A fun story about aliens,family,friends and Northern Most Maine. Will keep you reading and wondering if a true experience or "just a dream". Dreams do come true. Friends and family are forever. " Enjoy"

I was afraid this story might be too simplistic for my taste, because it was told from a young kid's point of view. But I was pleased to discover that the story contained enough intrigueing material to keep my interest.Although, I must admit, the story was, indeed, somewhat simplistic, the 12-year-old main character was very intelligent. And the events that transpired were interesting enough, especially the abduction. The abduction was very well done, and it was very easy to suspend disbelief. It didn't feel ridiculous at all. And it raised some very interesting ideas.In any case, being from Northern Maine myself, I enjoyed the elements associated with Northern Maine- namely the woods, the trails, the caves and even the bugs.This was a nice little story. And it left me wanting more.

I have read everything Cathie Pelletier has written, so why not read this. Kept me interested even though it was written for a young age. Sent it to my grand daughter and she loved it also.

Love Cathie Pelletier. Always a great read and the characters become like family.

Funny, wonderful story of a family durng the summer months. The children think they see a flying saucer and the fun and fear is felt throughout the story.

When I think of engaging, authentic young girl narrators my mind automatically turns to Scout from "To Kill A Mockingbird". Today we have a wonderful choice of modern Scouts, each with a little bit of an individual hook. Some have a touch of snark, some are a bit geeky, some are poetic or romantic. Some young girl narrators have some teen angst going on or some family drama. Occasionally there's a touch of magic in their stories.Here, Roberta is that character and she is the book and her voice is the story. The actual plot involves Roberta and her best pal trying to win a state science fair by communicating with, or even better getting abducted by, aliens. There have been UFO-ish sightings recently and Roberta's hometown of Allagash, Maine has a documented history of rumored abductions. For the purpose of this book that's pretty much all of the plot you need. As masters like Richard Peck, ("A Long Way From Chicago", "A Year Down Yonder"), have shown, you don't need a plot, you may not even want a plot, to create a classic.But what you do need is a character. Roberta is not a real middle grader. Important as it may be to her, I don't want to read a real middle grade girl's blog. I want a Scout filtered through the adult perceptions and sensitivities of Harper Lee. I'm happy with a Roberta framed and filled out by Cathie Pelletier, who has created a bright, articulate, observant, funny, deadpan, vulnerable and authentic sounding heroine, (although she is too knowing and slightly world weary to be "realistic"). There is no twenty-first century snark and no pop culture references. Perhaps it is that and the rather gentle way the story unfolds that has led many to describe the book as vaguely old-fashioned. I think of it more as calm, bemused and generous, built with simple and direct, but still accomplished, craft. But "old-fashioned" is O.K. also.The book is loaded, almost overloaded, with elegant little grace notes and observations with a bit of a twist. There are dozens of lines that just cause one to pause for a moment, and that may be the best aspect of the book. It also seems like it would offer a real reward to an adventurous middle grade reader new to "literary" fiction.Pelletier was born in Allagash, Maine. Over the last 28 years she has written five well received adult novels based in Mattagash, Maine, a not so fictional stand-in for Allagash. This is her first middle grade book and I guess she just decided to put it in Allagash and leave it there. It is a Northern Maine book through and through. Allagash is certainly the next most important presence after Roberta. It's not "Bert & I" Maine, but a more authentic and more sophisticated and affecting version of Maine. I was happy to spend some time there with Roberta. You might care to visit as well.Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book in exchange for a candid review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.