There are certainly a lot of things going on in this book and it all happens in just one summer. There are back stories for some of the characters, as well. Most of the characters are teenagers doing what teenagers do. It all comes crashing down in the end when racial tensions, environmental concerns and a plot for revenge meet head on.

A pretty good story that I found interesting and entertaining. The whole story seems to be crashing towards a pretty bad ending for the characters. The author gives you a hint that someone gets shot. My intuitions kept going back and forth as to who this character would be. Definitely a sad ending.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press for approving my request and to Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

The fact is, I'm not a fan of bugs. I recognize they're all God's creatures, I know that some bugs actually help the environment, and the demise of certain bugs can spell peril for our world, but that doesn't change the simple fact that (most) bugs creep me out. And don't even get me started if I see/feel one crawling on me.

I probably should have considered this when I decided to read Julia Fierro's The Gypsy Moth Summer, which takes place in the summer of 1992, when gypsy moths invade Avalon Island, off the coast of Long Island. So many times in the book these bugs were crawling on people, landing in inopportune places, swarms of them were making noise, and I cringed the whole time. The preface of each chapter even had information and drawings of the caterpillars and moths. I can't stop itching...

Okay, moving on now. The Gypsy Moth Summer is about a community under siege from natural and unnatural, human and insect causes. Avalon Island is ground zero in the battle between the haves and the have-nots—the perfectly manicured, coiffed, and bred citizens of East Avalon versus the tougher, working class residents of West Avalon, which also is home to the island's main source of income, Grudder Aviation, birthplace of planes and bombers that fueled the nation's victories when at war. But suddenly, Avalon residents are getting sick with unexplained cancers, and people are wondering: is Grudder to blame?

When prodigal daughter Leslie returns to Avalon with her African-American husband and biracial children in tow, it turns the island upside down. While the more progressive residents are thrilled at Leslie's happiness, even her devil-may-care attitude, the welcoming, accepting spirit isn't shared by everyone on the island. And while the resident group of teen mean girls from East Avalon have nothing but disdain, one of them, Maddie, whose family background straddles both sides of the island, finds herself falling head over heels for Brooks, Leslie's son. But there are many not content to let that happiness be.

I felt many times while reading this that Fierro was trying to capture the spirit of Liane Moriarty's Big Little Lies, with a little bit of Mean Girls thrown in. All of the elements were there—those living with privilege and those without, secrets, scandals, mysteries—but it didn't quite capture either the suspense or the camp of Moriarty's book.

Fierro is undoubtedly a talented storyteller, and she did a terrific job evoking the imagery of the island as well as the different personalities which made up the cast of characters. But I felt in trying to create drama, she threw everything she could into the plot—disease, racism, abuse, animal cruelty, sex, even class warfare. Between all of that and the shifting narration, it became a little confusing at times.

I've seen a lot of great reviews of this book, so if the elements of the plot appeal to you, I'd encourage you to read it. You certainly won't be disappointed by Fierro's writing ability—as long as you can stomach the bugs.

NetGalley and St. Martin's Press provided me an advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making this available!

This novel is very dense in every way. The air is clogged with Gypsy Moths, which is repeatedly described in great detail throughout the book. But the plague of the Gypsy Moths is just one of the many serious issues facing the characters in this book. Touching on racism, corporate corruption, class issues, young love and environmental health, the book might have been stronger focusing on just a couple of these issues. The prose itself lends to the heavy feel of the novel. And, the light sounding title and sunny cover give the impression of a different book altogether.

The Gypsy Moth Summer is an ambitious novel about racial and class relations in the 1990s. The author over reaches taking away the emotional impact of the tragedy that befalls these characters.
Prodigal daughter Leslie Day Marshall returns to the rich, white island of Avalon after her parent's death. Her arrival is shaken by the fact she brings here Africa American husband and mixed race children with them. While gypsy moths take over the island, the island residents must deal with death, first love, graffiti and see their world change forever.
The book it at it's best when it is recalling it's '90s nostalgia. Just the mentioned of particular perfumes and songs, takes the reader back to their experiences during time. These moments are when the writer commands some clarity.
But the book is bogged down by too much descriptions: endless descriptions of the moths, descriptions of every building and outfit, and descriptions of the past that over take the story of the present. This compounded by the fact that there are too many character's perspectives, each one adding more philosophy and ghosts while not able to explain importance the current narrative. Even after completion, I am still unsure what some of the characters and their actions had anything to do with the actual plot.
A great underlying story, this novel is bogged down by too much narrative that doesn't tie into the story and doesn't leave the reader time (or clarity) to properly deal wit the climatic finale.

I found this to be a very strange story. I didn't become attached to any of the characters, they all felt rather two dimensional to me. Everyone was so unhappy. I found this book depressing...all the way to the end.

“He’d wanted to hate Avalon, to feel the same disgust he’d reserved for her parents, who lived as if Jules were dead and her children never born.”

The islanders can hear the feeding mouths of the voracious gypsy moth caterpillars that have invaded Avalon Island. Their bodies, and excrement covering their clothing, the grounds, and the people are left to wonder if the insects will eat every bit of vegetation on the island, leaving nothing behind but skeleton trees and dead plants? Or is it more likely the people themselves will devour each other with their racism and superiority?

When Lesile Day Marshall, daughter of one of the most prominent family’s who own a home known as ‘The Castle’ returns to the island with her husband Jules, an African American botanist and their bi-racial children the people are turned upside down. Everyone is curious, and not all are open or accepting of their marriage. The bigotry on the island is both loud and quiet, despite the resentment Jules feels, the island’s native species of plants has him mesmerized. He and Lesile may well be King and Queen of the castle now, and to hell with the darlings of Avalon. Their son, Brooks has fallen hard for Maddie Pencott LaRosa, whose stuck between two worlds from birth. Her mother, daughter to the Colonel that fathered Grudder Aviation and his wife Veronica, married a man from the working class side of the island. Maddie’s father has held tight to the grit of his origins, Veronica and the Colonel have kept their distance from their disgraced daughter and her family but as the Colonel begins to lose his mind, Veronica seems to find her own. With the arrival of Jules, Veronica’s true self seems to be splitting out of her body, much like the caterpillars covering and devouring the island. She has always been just like the women of island and yet by falling in love with her granddaughter, her clouded perception of the world is clearing. Watching as Maddie has trysts with Brooks, their forbidden love allows Veronica to long for life again, despite the sickness inside of her. She finds herself charmed, and drawn to Jules and his passion for plants. That he is witness to her husband’s vulnerability bonds the two, but is it dangerous for Jules and his family to let down their guard, giving the islanders benefit of the doubt?

Graffti covers war memorials alerting people that ‘Grudder Kills’, and the cancer that it spreads is evident in the sickness that tears through the island’s residents, including young Penny, Maddie’s friend. Too, something is causing barren wombs in women. This is a military island, Grudder is an aviation company that for generations has been feeding the war effort. The island is an Eden for the wealthy whites and a hell for the workers that support their riches. There is animosity beneath the surface, everything has come to a head as Veronica’s husband, The Colonel is losing his mind to dementia and truly is no longer fit to run their company. She takes fate into her hands, with the strict, controlling man now as confused and lost as a weepy child Veronica feels a strength she never knew existed inside of her. It’s not too late to set things right for her family, before exiting the earth. A pity she has just now begun to live, no longer under the watchful controlling eye of her husband.

Brooks is a city boy and hasn’t even seen so much stardust. He is street wise and yet has a tender gentleness that the rough boys Maddie dates lack, as fed by pornographic treatment of women as they are. Their forbidden love must be hidden from her father, and she even fears telling her friends. Lesile, Brooks mother, encourages her son to bring the aggressive kids they first encountered to their grounds to party. Jules is less enthusiastic about the arrangement, and knows because of his skin color that they must remain far more distrustful and vigilant yet just what will happen when he lets his guard down? Maddie’s brother Dom is confused sexually, has been bullied to the point of breaking and wants to prove himself worthy of the family name. As his grandfather says “Sometimes, you’re the mouth. Sometimes, you’re the meal.” With that on his mind, he will become the protector of his family, but what does it mean for Maddie and Brooks love affair?

There are a lot of characters in this story, and not all of them are likable. The author has sent a plague of moths unto the people, who are already plagued by their narrow minds and greed. People are plotting, and one character that has ‘lost his marbles’ is polluting an already confused mind with his own poisonous nature. Is it a surprise when he has already polluted the island and it’s residents with toxins from his company? They are hungry, brutal, drugged out, sexed up, vengeful, manipulative… I can’t think of anything Fierro’s characters aren’t struggling through. Family strife, racism, disease, dementia… did I mention racism. It is as smeared throughout the novel as the caterpillars guts. Who knew a lawn jockey statue could so disturb? Well, who didn’t? There is a lot of stereo-typical behavior, but one has to ask how does something become stereo-typical? It’s a hell of a story, and a part of me thinks the racism serves its purpose and another part of me thinks it was laid on a bit too thick. No one can write about racism with a light pen, and Fierro doesn’t.

With the arrival of Lesile and her family, everything ugly about the people of Avalon grows into a beast. Lesile has her own agenda and Jules can’t resist his wife’s desires and needs but it may cost his family more than he ever imagined. As far as character’s go, his relationship and conversations with his son were moments I enjoyed. He adores his wife, and their passion is fiery. He is an intelligent, loving family man but should he have so much faith in Leslie, rather than wonder at her reasons for returning to the very place she turned her back on? Veronica and Maddie’s growing bond reveals who Veronica should have been, before wealth and society’s expectations corrupted her. How she feels about men, after being with the Colonel for so long is a hell of a reason to be so bitter now, ” I’m sorry, my dad’s always telling me to think before I speak.” “Yes, “Veronica said. That sounds just like the kind of advice men like to give women. Especially young women.” Don’t say or think anything important, edit yourself, keep yourself in check, be a good little lady- that sort of sexism is rampant in all social classes. Is there a lick of hope for any of these seemingly doomed characters? Will anyone escape being eaten? I think this novel is engaging, but at the same time it is a tough read. Times are ugly, that it’s set in the 90’s doesn’t make the bigotry any easier to take. Was it really this bad? I don’t know, open your eyes today and ask that same question.

Publication Date: June 6, 2017

St. Martin’s Press

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1975404351

Julia Fierro wrote a wonderfully complicated story of love, hate, upper, lower society and the bigotry of blacks and whites.
While at times at the very end it was disturbing, it was perfect in life's messy imperfection.
I can't say I truly enjoyed reading all of it, but there were parts I enjoyed.

Fierro's GYPSY MOTH SUMMER is a beautiful exploration of racism, nationalism and class. Set in a small eastern seaside town whose industry revolves around the manufacturing of aircraft for the defense department, the story of one poignant and tragic summer is told through the eyes of a moneyed matriarch, her teenaged granddaughter, and the African American husband of a prodigal daughter returning to the town with a hidden agenda. Each voice rings true and Fierro's grasp of language will want to make you slow down and savor every word even as you want to push forward to find out what comes next. Excellent book.

”Before that summer of ’92, when the gypsy moths swarmed Avalon Island and Leslie Day Marshall, golden-headed prodigal daughter, returned with her black husband and brown children to claim her seat as First Lady, the island’s crimes were minor.”

The fictional Avalon Island, an islet off the coast of Long Island, is home to Grudder Aviation, where virtually all of those who call Avalon Island home are employed. It looms overhead of all on the island, like an ever-watchful parent, knowing your every move. Within Grudder, there are those known by their military rank, the executives, and then there are the factory workers. They all know, though, that the money that pays for those mansions in East Avalon, or the tiny homes in the less wealthy neighborhood, West Avalon all centers around Grudder Aviation.

”Grudder was the islanders’ fraternity, tribe, and church – every islander had heard tales of F6F Wildcat airman swearing they had more faith in Grudder than in God.”

And then the graffiti began appearing in the spring: “GRUDDER IS CANCER. GRUDDER KILLS.”
And now the gypsy moth caterpillars are everywhere, they hang from the trees, dropping in shoes and hair, under feet. The sound of their devouring the trees is the background hum they can’t escape. Nature’s composition for the Summer of ’92 - an annoying, never-ending sound that gets under everyone’s skin.

It is this summer when Leslie Day Marshall returns to Avalon with her husband, Jules, who graduated with honors from the Harvard School of Design, ”Landscaping architecture”, and their two children, Brooks and Eva. A return to a life of privilege to live in “The Castle,” or at least in the guest cottage on the property until the necessary repairs can be made. The return brings out some questionable behavior / comments in a neighborhood not used to the idea of mixed-race marriages or the children born of those marriages.

Summer, time for teens to spread their wings outside of the prying eyes of adults, celebrations, and falling in love. Young love, with all the emotional upheavals, add in some drugs, and some abuse, all along with a cacophony of sounds brought by the ever growing population of gypsy moths. Tensions rise, connections fray. Gaps that were barely noticeable before that summer are now glaring. Some relationships benefit by this, become more understanding, and others become more explosive.

Prejudice and trust – or lack of trust between the races, between the generations, between those that seemingly have everything and those who struggle to have enough. As the summer goes on, as the tensions rise, the aura leads some to draw closer and some to push others away. They are all so busy wrapped up in this fight that has somehow turned into a competition where what is right is forgotten and the answer is simply to win. At all costs. Sometimes, in the most unexpected places or people, somehow, someone recognizes a truth, and become equally determined that some of the past must be left behind for the future to hold any promise.


Pub Date: 6 Jun 2017

Many thanks for the ARC provided by St. Martin's Press

Little bits of big issues, sex, bigotry, pollution, drugs and the character portrayals make for a great story. The people are upper class and lower class and some with no class at all. Picture an island populated with WASPs, some living in mansions and some living in the mansion’s caretaker’s cottage. Most of the characters are high school kids, some from uptown and some from the other side of the tracks. The antics remind me of my own high school days, although drugs were mostly unheard of then with booze being the recreational forbidden fruit. The story spins along with inserted bits of info about Gypsy moths whilst the adult characters go about their business of underhanded treachery, backstabbing, envious of each other and mostly living in the past striving towards dementia. The younger adults go about their fun times filled with booze, bongs and other mind altering paraphernalia while testing the limits of newly found and overly energized hormones. When a new family shows up on the island most adults see a white woman (and previous childhood resident) married to a black man with two children. The younger folks just take the black people in stride and continue with their fun times and even when a white girl starts dating the black boy it’s mostly the adults who raise their eyebrows, except for the girl’s father, who raises his fists. The town history and future center around the lone factory turning out war planes and if you were not one of the factory executives you really did not count. The factory also quietly turned out pollutants, poisoning the water. Trichlorethylene is some nasty stuff, banned in this country many years back. All in all, this a well woven tale about anywhere, any town and any group of the younger generation living amongst the older generation. It is a great and enjoyable book and the insertion of the gypsy moth facts add a dose of fun and facts. Nice job by the author.

It’s the summer of 1992 on Avalon Island, an enclave for both the wealthy and the middle class workers who staff Gredder Aviation Factory. The Gypsy moth infestation is causing havoc as caterpillars spill from trees onto everyone and everything. Leslie Day Marshall has arrived back on the island to take up residence in her family estate The Castle, and she’s brought her husband, an African-American and their bi-racial children with her. Their arrival has caused a stir in the island, with some people openly disapproving of their marriage. Maddie doesn’t care about any of that, she’s fallen head over heels in love with Leslie’s son, Brooks, and folks have plenty to say about that too. Of even greater concern, are the number of cancer diagnoses and deaths on the island. Some people believe it’s because of Gredder Aviation, but can the islanders turn their back on its main source of income? And if they keep quiet, what is the cost? A look at small town racism and economic uncertainty at the end of the twentieth century