This book was about a whole lot more than I was expecting, but I think something was lost in execution. Maybe I just didn’t click with the main character like I wanted to?

Also, being a attendant of Woodstock ‘99, I was hoping for a main part of this book to be at the original Woodstock, and that just wasn’t the case. It was more of an afterthought.

I did like the idea of a boy dealing with the potential of being drafted (my dad was one of those boys, and was in fact drafted). The feeling of the era came through, but I just felt like something was missing to bring all the different aspects together.

My sole purpose of wanting to read this book was the Woodstock element. As an attendant of Woodstock '99, I have all sorts of nostalgia for all the Woodstock festivals. But this book isn't really about that. Sure, he goes to Woodstock at one point in the book-- but it's such an afterthought and a blip on the radar that I wouldn't have even included it in the synopsis.

This book is really about a dude who likes to do drugs and worry about things. And he has plenty to worry about!! He's right on the cusp of being drafted to serve in the Army during the height of the Vietnam War. With boys dying by the thousands, it's a valid fear for him to have. But I didn't really think the getting high part was helping with his dilemma. But hey, to each his own... I'd probably get high too if I thought I was about to go die in the jungle.

Lucas as a character just didn't do it for me. He wasn't really likable, he wasn't good at anything or motivated to better himself-- and he was more than a little self-centered. He sort of reminded me of Holden Caulfield (who I severely disliked) because he would think of doing all these grand things, but never follow through.

What I really liked: I was super surprised to go on this draft journey with Lucas. My own father was drafted during this time (he didn't end up in Vietnam, but went through all the fears and realities of being drafted, trained, and assigned), so I really enjoyed reading about what it was like for Lucas. I also found the information that Lucas got from his buddy that was serving over there to be so disturbing and heart-wrenching. I wasn't prepared for this book to have such sad/serious moments.

This book went deeper than I was expecting, but there still seemed to be something missing. Was it the fact that I didn't connect with the main character?? Was it the meandering plot that went through a lot of mundane moments to get to the point of the story?? I'm not 100% sure, but there seemed to be something lacking for me.

OVERALL: Meh. At times I liked it, but other times I was totally bored. I didn't love the main character, but I was interested in his overall plight. I kind of just wished this whole book was set at Woodstock and about something completely different.

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Summer of ’69 was an interesting book, it is young adult historical fiction of sorts and it just wasn’t really my style of book.

The book follows Lucas, a teen who is trying to spend his summer like any normal teen, going to shows, hanging with friends, and just relaxing; but it is the summer of ’69 and the threat of being shipped off to fight in a war he does not believe in is getting to him.

As far as characters go, Lucas goes through a lot in this book. His girlfriend breaks up with him via snail mail letter, not even a phone call, for another guy, he gets his draft letter and his ‘sorry no thank you’ letters from universities, and now he is trying to cope with it all. On top of all that his parents have some weird separation in the same household things going on too and his life is in shambles. The characters were realistic, and their growth was well thought out, but the overall story just fell flat for me.

While there were some climaxes in the plot, they were short and throughout the story, which meant that there wasn’t a big build up anywhere for the readers (me) to look forward to as something to spur reading. I found the story overall interesting but the motivation to keep reading it was lacking and it was not really my jam.

I think if you like a male point of view and the hippy vibe that this book pulls, this might be one for you, but it is more of a monologue than a plot driven book. ( )

Literary Merit: Okay
Characterization: Okay
Grade Level: High School
Recommended: No

In this semi-autobiographical account of the summer of '69, Strasser delves into relationships, drugs, and Woodstock. With his girlfriend away, protagonist Lucas decided to take his microbus and friends to Woodstock, do drugs, and mellow out. On the way, he avoids the draft and tries to keep from cheating on his girlfriend with a "free-loving" girl named Tinsley. Other issues pop up, from his parents divorce to learning about his friend's struggles in 'Nam.

This is a trippy recount of the summer of 1969 that involves many drugs. The narration also follows an unusual dual-perspective from the same character, which is confusing at times. Secondary purchase for larger collections. ( )

The late 1960s were undeniably a period of social change on many levels, although the pace of change was not the same in all parts of the country. Todd Strasser’s experiences growing up in New York were the basis for his novel Summer of ’69 and include many of the major issues of the time. His family was clearly affected by traditional role expectations for husbands and wives with the added pressures of dealing with a special needs child in an era before there was much, if any, understanding of or support for such children.

In a note on the cover, Strasser says of that summer, “For me, it was three months of drugs, rock ‘n’ roll, risk, and adventure. But beneath that groovy surface, it was a period of gnawing emotional pain, confusion, and even danger.” Drugs and good rock ‘n’ roll would have been much easier to experience in New York than in other areas. Risk, pain, and confusion however were and are not uncommon in the struggle to grow up. A common concern for all young men of that era, regardless of where they lived, was the draft and what to do about it; the truly life-and-death potential for how they answered that question is probably inconceivable to anyone who has grown up with an all-volunteer military.

Some reviewers have taken issue with Lucas’ immaturity and his attitudes toward the young women in his life. To me those things contributed to the novel’s authenticity. His attitudes were typical of the times (and better than some I encountered) and, after 40+ years working with high school students, I can state with confidence that immaturity among American males in their late teens remains the all too common.

I really enjoyed Summer of ’69 and I appreciate receiving the ARC through LibraryThing’s Early Reviewers program. I would like to see it offer a little more context for the YA audience - maybe an expanded comment at the beginning or some suggested sources for more information. It would also be a good choice for our local book club that describes itself as being for readers “who are a little less "Y" and a bit more "A". ( )

I so enjoyed this book! I love that it told the story of a group of friends during the late '60's that didn't center on stereotypical hippy, war protestor of the Viet Nam era. Yes, it did talk about the war and how the young people were looked at as "hippies" but that was descriptive. It is a coming of age story following a young man as he comes to terms with life after high school. Facing parents that are not a couple but still live in the same house. Facing his future when he didn't properly prepare while in high school - will he be drafted? enlist? be one of the lucky ones who doesn't have to face either? He attends concerts with his buddies and they are described as they were (I was at similar concerts during this time period and they weren't all glamorous and cool as shown in so many modern re-tellings).
Perhaps I see some of my life in the book. I felt comfortable and a part of the telling. It made me happy. I recommend this book. Highly! ( )