Book Review: Summer on the Short Bus by Bethany Crandell

Summer on the Short Bus

By Bethany Crandell

Release Date: April 1, 2014

Source: Publisher

Summary: Spoiled, Versace-clad Cricket Montgomery has seventeen years of pampering under her belt. So when her father decides to ship her off to a summer camp for disabled teens to help her learn some accountability, Cricket resigns herself to three weeks of handicapped hell. 

Her sentence takes a bearable turn as she discovers the humor and likeability of the campers and grows close to fellow counselors. Now, if she can just convince a certain Zac Efron look-alike with amazing blue eyes that she finally realizes there's life after Gucci, this summer could turn out to be the best she's ever had.

Summer on the Short Bus is a very non-P.C., contemporary YA with a lot of attitude, tons of laughs, and a little life lesson along the way.

Review: I was intrigued with this book as soon as I saw the cover and read the summary. I was interested to see what Cricket could find at the camp and how she could change from the shallow, spoiled teen she was into someone who thought of others for once. 

Cricket Montgomery has been used to getting away with anything and everything when it comes to her father. But when she finally pushes his patience over the edge, Crickets dad sends her off to Camp I Can to work as a summer counselor. Little does Cricket know, the camp is for disabled teens, which freaks Cricket out. Once Cricket spends more time with the kids and the campers, though, Cricket realizes that her summer might not be so bad after all. 

From the beginning, it's clear that Cricket is a spoiled brat. And since the book is from her point of view, she's super annoying with how shallow she is and how materialistic she lives her life. As I read on, though, and Cricket went to the camp, I knew that Cricket was that outrageously annoying for a purpose, because it shows how different she really can be if she stops and looks outside of herself for once. 

The story was cute and it was definitely a growing experience for Cricket. I loved the campers and the camp counselors and the romance wasn't too bad either! I kind of wish that the romance wasn't so cliche, though, and that Cricket ended up with Aiden, another person from the camp, instead of who she actually ended up with. It would have been a nice twist that wasn't so predictable. Other than that, the story was fun and it was nice watching Cricket change and learn to appreciated people for who they are. 

Overall, this was a quick read that just warms your heart. The characters were lovable and the story was the perfect summer read. So if you want a book you can fly through while laying out on a warm, summer day, you should check out Summer on the Short Bus.