My Thoughts:
This book about Lou, a Métis young woman living in Canada, is lots of bitter. Readers need to be warned that this may be triggering. There is radical racial violence, sexual violence, and emotional violence. The author has a trigger warning at the beginning that warns us about the trauma coming, including traumas faced by Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit people. The author does this because according to Ferguson, "Your health, happiness, safety, and well-being matter more than reading this book." She even says that if readers are not ready, it is ok to stop reading or even never read this book. As a teacher, I appreciate that last part. Young adults, even middle level readers need to understand that books can be too much of a mirror, a window, even a sliding glass door (Rudine Sims Bishop). Reading, at its best, should be a visceral experience. So if a book just does not grab you, or if a book grabs you too much and starts to push you into dark spaces that you do not want to go into, then abandon the book. According to the author, that is fine, even encouraged. For teachers, it should be ok for our own students to abandon books too. When we force people to read, that is when we lose them. I am just writing this because I know the research. I know the best practices for raising lifelong readers. I appreciate that Ferguson starts the book off in that way.

The problem is, once I started reading, I forgot her advice completely. The voice of Lou, her observations and descriptions, her family, the situation of getting the Ice Cream Shack ready on this, her final summer before college, even Homer, her old dog that surfs on top of the picnic table in the back of her F-150 pulled me in. The niggling warning beep Lou's complex attitude toward her boyfriend does not give me enough warning for the four-alarm fires that are coming in this book. It is graphic and complex. It is a visceral explosion. The bitterness is deep and rotten, but I was already too far in and I forgot to breathe.

Yes, there is sweet. Eventually. And there is an understanding of one's self, eventually. Lou comes to some realizations much later than the reader, but it did make me look up the Ace Umbrella spectrum again. I read all kinds of stories because love is love, however, this one gave me pause. I am rethinking that mantra. I did not understand the difficulty Lou has, however, it was good to read about it. Someone that passes into your own classrooms will need this book.

From the Publisher:
Lou has enough confusion in front of her this summer. She’ll be working in her family’s ice-cream shack with her newly ex-boyfriend—whose kisses never made her feel desire, only discomfort—and her former best friend, King, who is back in their Canadian prairie town after disappearing three years ago without a word.

But when she gets a letter from her biological father—a man she hoped would stay behind bars for the rest of his life—Lou immediately knows that she cannot meet him, no matter how much he insists.

While King’s friendship makes Lou feel safer and warmer than she would have thought possible, when her family’s business comes under threat, she soon realizes that she can’t ignore her father forever.

The Heartdrum imprint centers a wide range of intertribal voices, visions, and stories while welcoming all young readers, with an emphasis on the present and future of Indian Country and on the strength of young Native heroes. In partnership with We Need Diverse Books.


Publication Information:

Author: Jen Ferguson (Métis and White)

Publisher: Heartdrum (May 10, 2022)

Hardcover: 384 pages

Slow cultural story about growing up different in a very white world. I enjoyed the characters and the scenery. The ending felt a little flat after all the build up

I know I told this to you all at NCTE, but this book absolutely blew me away. I've now used it in TWO classes, and both classes loved it. We used it in a young adult literature course and a social movements course, and both sets of students loved reading it. Thanks for publishing this important text.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

I love the framing of this story through the ice cream stand and the types of flavors used; I think the cultural context of the Metis in Canada is relevant and translatable to many of our Native Wababaki tribes in Maine today; I really appreciated the depiction of generational poverty in rural communities and how that affects youth and families differently through race, culture, etc. I think this is a strong story, with strong characters and relevant themes.

A very heavy read with many references to violence and abuse. I wish I had known about that going in. It took me a bit longer to read this because I had to keep putting it down. Aside from those aspects, it was beautifully written and a very important book. This is a moving story that, with proper warnings, I'd suggest to many people.

✨ Book Review ✨

🍦It is always difficult to forget our past. In fact, it is impossible to truly forget it. But we eventually learn to live with it and move on with our life. But what happens when our past keeps knocking on our door and threatens to become our present and future? A past that we want to bury somewhere deep. What do we do then?

🍨Lou is a Metís girl who lives with her mother and uncles. She is working in her family’s ice cream shack for the summer holidays with her best friend, her boyfriend and her ex-boyfriend who is back in town unannounced, something she was totally unprepared for.

🍦From facing old wounds to moving past pain and rekindling some old relationships the summer turns out to be so much more than Lou was ready for.

🍨But amongst all the complications and despite all of it, it's so heartwarming to see Lou navigate through her bond with her mother and uncles and even her friends including the ones she left behind long ago.

🍦The Summer of Bitter and Sweet is a story of discrimination, racism, sexism, injustice, pain, anger, and courage. It’s a story of complicated relationships and some difficult ones. While some relationships come to an end, new ones are formed, and some old ones are reformed. It is a beautiful summer read with perfect icing and warning and a pinch of sweetness and bitterness. While it might not be a light-hearted YA read, it has some beautiful relationships you can look forward to reading.

🍨It is one hell of a debut by Jen Ferguson with required warnings and a sweet note. The author already won me over by her opening note and had me looking forward to the story. And I’m glad, I didn’t put it up for later.

** Thank you to HarperCollins Canada for an advanced e-arc in exchange for my honest opinions.**

NOTE: I cannot speak to the representation in this book. Please read reviews from Indigenous and/or Indigenous reviewers in the LGBTQIA2S+ community.

I have been trying to put my thoughts together since finishing this novel. I had thought the premise sounded so interesting, and when I heard that it was an Indigenous LGBTQIA+ novel set in Canada, I was sold. I absolutely loved getting to hear Jen Ferguson speak at an HCC Frenzy event as well.

There were a few things I really liked about the book:
The exploration of friendship, and how different friendships can look or function differently. Some are easy to continue or go back to, while others take a lot of work. And just the dynamics of friend groups, one-to-one friendships, and how they change over time. I like that the friendships were just as important as family in the novel.
The family relationships. They aren't perfect, they are more realistic than most novels make them seem. Families argue, struggle, but stay close and important.
The depictions of racism, especially anti-Indigenous racism, was dealt with well in the novel. There were the difficult pieces, the difficult conversations, people coming together to support, falling apart because of it, and the persistence of it in a small community. So many people think that racism isn't something that happens in Canada, but it is. And to see it in a novel is a reminder that it is as big of an issue here as it is in other places.
I absolutely loved all of the Canadian references, terms, places. Mentions of Timmies, bunnyhugs, the Royal Tyrrell Museum - all of it! There are so rarely books set in Canada, and I am always so excited when I find ones that talk about places I know, things I recognize immediately. Ordering a double double and vanilla dip at Timmies? Hells yes. My Canadian heart is happy haha.

The two pieces that I struggled with, though, were very large and integral parts to the story - I think that's why I couldn't rate this any higher. It made my enjoyment dampen a bit.
There is so much lying, deceit, anger, secrets. While teenagers have secrets, and I could never speak to the issues and difficulties that Lou has faced, I really struggled with the lies and secrets. They were so prevalent and big, they overtook the story in a way. I understand that part of it was the fallout of keeping secrets, but it seemed like that was thrown out multiple times in the story before things started to get better. And the biggest fallout about secrets happened before this book even takes place, something we are only given hints to.
The bigger one that I struggled with though was the acephobia. It was really hard to read, since it was both internalized and external. I understand that is common and acephobia is so prevalent in today's world, but it was really hard to read it. It's not even discussed in more detail until the very very end of the novel. I wish it had been discussed sooner because it felt almost like a "convenient" wrap-up - and I hate saying that, but things were kind of quickly discussed and worked through VERY quickly at the end, after being a major issue through the whole book.

I think I was just definitely not the audience for this book. And that's okay. I did take a lot away from reading it, but there are others who this book might be better for.

This was a really beautiful book that touched upon a lot of important and difficult topics that I thought were handled very well. The MC doesn't have all of the answers and makes a lot of mistakes, but you really care for her, are rooting for her, and want her to succeed, and because of this, I feel like you don't judge her for these mistakes, and instead understand where she's coming from.

TWs: mentions of sexual harassment and violence, racism, self harm, alcohol, addiction, gaslighting, fire, abortion, rape

This is not an exhaustive list of all the trigger warnings in this book, please see other reviews for things I may not have caught.

Thoughts and Themes: This is one that it took me a little bit to get into and I wonder if I would’ve had a different experience if I had read it instead of listened to it. Once we got to the author’s note and I head more about why the story was written and about some of the choices that were made I enjoyed the story more than when I was reading it.

This book has a lot going on at once which is what made it hard to get into at first but I think that it needed to have everything for the book to wrap up the way that it did. Lou has way too much to deal with for a girl her age but I liked how it all felt real for a teenager. She’s dealing with her dad trying to come back into the picture and take from her, family secrets revealing themselves, and questioning her sexuality.

I have yet to read a book in which the character labels themselves as demisexual on the page. I’ve read books in which it is implied or the character is asexual but never is the term demisexual used which made this book so important to me. I loved that we get to see how Louisa comes to this determination even if it seems to wrap up quickly towards the end of the book. The rest of the book is leading to this decision and we get to see her question her sexuality and wonder if something is wrong with her.

Something else that I found important in this book and that spoke to me both throughout the story and then again when the author spoke about it was the notion of whiteness being safe. Louisa for a while pretends that she is white and has several friends and family members angry at her because of this. This idea of whiteness as safety is something that I understand and also find frustrating. It’s one of those things that yes there is privilege in passing as white but also Louisa is denying her culture and removing herself from the things around her that make up her home.

Characters: Throughout this book you get to meet several characters through their interactions with Louisa. You get to meet her mother, her uncles, several of her friends, her dad, and more.

I really liked several of the characters that you get to meet throughout this book especially King. I liked the relationship between Louisa and King and how he just understood her. I liked how they eased easily back into their friendship and how that gradually changed into a relationship. I really appreciated how everything between them was on Louisa’s terms and how much of a shift that was from her ex.

Something that threw me off with the characters through was Louisa’s relationship with her best friend, Flourence. I really didn’t like the way that this character was treated and how the book seemed to dismiss that she was bipolar. I think that more could have been done with this friendship and also the way that Flourence’s mental health issues were handled. I didn’t like that Louisa seemed to make everything about her even when her best friend needed her.

Writing Style: This book is written in first person through the perspective of the main character, Louisa. I think it is important that the story was told through Louisa’s point of view because we get to see her feelings about each situation as they arise. The story also includes letters from Louisa’s father which are give to her by different people. I think those letters are also important pieces of the story and give you a glimpse into who this man is.

I couldn’t put this book down. I love the way it weaves Lou’s identity as half Métis half white and the lies she’s told. The way that this novel depicts the experiences of indigenous girls in Canada while also showcasing moments of joy and growth was wonderfully done. The characters were all so layered and none felt out of place in the plot. All this to say, I definitely recommend this, especially if you haven’t read many books by indigenous authors (which is sadly the case for many of us). It’s the kind of book that’ll grab you and hold on tight.

This is a really complex story, with a lot going on. Lots of things don’t really get the conclusion that I wanted them to have, on-page — I’m still kind of worried about Lou’s best friend, Florence, who goes off her meds and doesn’t have anyone really reach out to her. There’s also some different opinions about bisexuality on-page, and I think that it’s up to the reader to decide how to interpret them, and use their best judgements about who is ‘right’. I was so invested in Lou’s story, flush with rage and grief and confusion and being a teenager and coming of age and not really liking your boyfriend and growing up. I really enjoyed that at the beginning of each chapter, there was a bit about different flavors of ice cream. This is an intense summer read, but I think it’s ultimately an important summer read. Four stars.

This was a great debut, full of some heavy topics that are relevant to today's teens. Though it addresses topics of injustice, it has a good balance of character growth, self love and friendships. Readers are able to connet with and feel for Lou as she naviagates all that is thrown at her. Good debut and would recommend for high school libraries.

This was quite a read. It's left me with an unexplainable ache in my chest. As soon as I finished, it's like all the emotions from this book flooded me at once.

This story centered a Métis girl named Lou living on the Canadian prairie, working at her family ice cream shop during the summer before college. Not only is she facing upcoming changes typical for this age, but she also has to contend with her biological father's release from jail, her childhood best friend reappearing, the future of her family business at stake and secrets from the past threatening the present.

I will say, Louisa was extremely frustrating.

Her life was built on lies. The thing about lies—even if by omission and even with the intent to protect the people you care about—they always come back! That's just the way of the world. The truth will come out one way or another. And it's often worse when it's revealed later. Yet, we continue to lie thinking we can control it, or contain it. Louisa does this repeatedly. She knows what lies do, and yet she keeps on.

Some parts of this story were very hard to read. Very. I felt uncomfortable and just icky. The author did a great job showing life's bitter and sweet moments. I loved the ice cream descriptions at the start of each chapter embedded with words of wisdom.

The writing style was a bit hard to adjust to, which made it difficult to connect with the story at times.

The young adult books that I'm drawn to are often ones that really sit with you after and leave you in a reflective mood. This book was no exception. I both love and am frustrated by that realization. But in those moments, I appreciate even more authors who take the time to write these stories and who put their everything into the stories they share.

Although I can't speak to the Indigenous and LGBTQIA+ rep in this book, I know this representation is much needed, and I enjoyed seeing it reflected here. This was Jen Ferguson's debut. Her author's note at the end was incredibly moving, and I loved the insight into her own journey of self acceptance and discovery, and how her experiences were mirrored in many ways in Lou's story. I look forward to seeing more from her.

What a powerful book. Lou’s story is one that is not always easy to read, but one that will stick with me for a while. I look forward to recommending it to others.

The Summer of Bitter and Sweet is one of those books that hollowed me out. Lou's story focuses on her unraveling the mystery of her own past. The truths about her absent father. And the ways the secrets of her mother influences her present. I loved Lou's family. They're messy, complex, and flawed. They support each other, tease each other, and lie to each other. Lou's struggles to un-weave their omissions and whispered conversations. I don't want to spoil it for you, but it's definitely one of the main reasons I love this book.

At the same time, the racism she deals with in her town turned my stomach. It made me tear up. The ways that racism takes the form of insults and hate crimes, but also in friends who say nothing. Who associate with the guilty and change nothing. It takes root in insidious comments. In the comments an employee makes, the ways they follow you. And also in the large scale racism the government employs to take children away. It's a fact of Lou's life.

The Summer of Bitter and Sweet, by Jen Ferguson, has a perfect title. Rarely does a title match the text quite so brilliantly. The title, however, is just the beginning of Ferguson’s excellent young adult novel, which will enchant readers of all backgrounds. The book is full of rich character development and multiple stories which center around love and identity.

The protagonist of The Summer of Bitter and Sweet is Lou, a recent high school graduate who is spending the summer working at her uncles’ ice cream shop. The ice cream here is different than what you would typically see in a grocery store, because it’s flavors are based on the native plants in this area of Canada, where many Metis people still live. The book describes the conflicted, and sometimes violent, relationships between white and Native residents. In fact, one of these incidents is the reason why Lou is alive in the first place.

Lou’s parentage is just one way that this book balances both bitter and sweet. Her relationships with friends, her uncles’, and romantic partners all come with both of these elements. This is so intricately woven into the story that it only became apparent after finishing the book. Lou’s understanding of romance is colored by experiences of women in her past as well as her own relationship history. Lou is one of the few asexual or demisexual characters that I have encountered in young adult literature. The story is told in her voice, which could be very empowering to individuals who are feeling similarly.

This is one of the best young adult books that I have read this year. It is a complex, thought-provoking, and rewarding text to engage with as a reader.

THE SUMMER OF BITTER AND SWEET by Jen Ferguson is an outstanding debut! I have already pre-ordered it and look forward to reading it again. On my first read, I was so invested in the characters--especially Lou, King, Lou's uncles and mother--that I read very fast, wanting to know what was going to happen. Then, of course, I was reluctant to let go of the characters.

So much stands out in this book: the relationships between the characters, the portrayal of Lou's Michif community, Lou trying to rebuild after making big mistakes, the "found family" aspects, the racist colonial history that still plays out in present day. I loved Lou growing pride in being Métis; it's not a story I've read before and I look forward to reading more stories like this one.

One of the most nuanced and complex parts of the book is Lou's exploration of her sexuality. My heart broke for her at times because she didn't have the information and/or language she needed to understand that her wants/needs were not the result of generational trauma; they are experienced by many people and should be a reason to celebrate, not feel shame. I'm so thrilled for the teens who will relate to Lou and perhaps find what they need to express their own needs and wants regarding sexuality.

My one disappointment with the book is the portrayal of a character with bipolar disorder. What started out as a richly written character felt into the flat medication / no medication trope regarding mental illness. This author is clearly very capable at developing complex, nuanced characters and I wish that skill and talent had been better applied to this character.

Still, I highly recommend THE SUMMER OF BITTER AND SWEET.

Thank you Harper Collins for an advanced readers copy of The Summer of Bitter and Sweet.
Please look up the trigger warnings for this book, some of them include racism including physical violence, police brutality, and racial slurs. Sexual assault, MMIWG, mental health issues including bipolar disorder, and drug abuse etc.
If I could give this book more then 5 stars I would. This may be my favourite book I’ve read this year, if not one of my top books of all times.
Lou’s story was so incredibly powerful, she’s so full of hurt and pain but with the support of her family and friends she’s able to work through her experiences with an amazing support system.
I loved how the book weaves elements of ice cream and traditional beadwork into the story. It made me feel so connected to these characters and the heart of the story of embracing your community and identity.
At a Harper Collins event they had Jen Ferguson and Kim Stewart, the person who worked on the beadwork for the book. I think it’s so amazing they had someone actually create the beadwork in the story and it just adds this amazing element to the book that just connects the reader to the story.
This was an amazing debut novel and I can’t wait to see what else Jen Ferguson writes!

Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this novel. 3/5 stars.

I like how this is indigenous rep, specifically for the Métis people in Canada. Lou is experiencing the last summer before she goes to college while also working at her family's ice cream shack that has flavors inspired by Métis language (michif) and culture and the land. Lou is also working with her friend, who is Irish (?), Florence, who is also bipolar. Then, her friend from 3 years ago, King, shows up and now she's restoring her friendship with him...while also dealing with a lowkey stalker, generational trauma and abuse, racism, sexism, etc. Lou is also figuring out her own sexuality and identity too.

This novel is not for the faint of heart, and the TW are there...most definitely. I don't think I would classify this as a joyous novel, and to echo other reviews, it left me feeling anxious and like I needed to be looking over my shoulder. It's...intense. A lot of REALLY important themes, but it's intense...and not much of it gets truly resolved by the end.

I do like Lou though. She's very "real" in terms of being a protagonist and dealing with everything thrown her way.