Tilla has spent her entire life trying to make her father love her. But every six months, he leaves their family and returns to his true home: the island of Jamaica. When Tilla’s mother tells her she’ll be spending the summer on the island, Tilla dreads the idea of seeing him again, but longs to discover what life in Jamaica has always held for him. In an unexpected turn of events, Tilla is forced to face the storm that unravels in her own life as she learns about the dark secrets that lie beyond the veil of paradise–all in the midst of an impending hurricane.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Have you ever read a book that felt like it was plucked straight from your own memories? That\u2019s how I felt reading Hurricane Summer by Asha Bromfield<\/a>. It\u2019s a coming-of-age story that explores identity, family, and belonging through the lens of a young girl\u2019s summer in Jamaica.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The story follows Tilla and her younger sister as they leave Toronto for a summer in Jamaica. But this isn\u2019t just a carefree vacation. Beneath the vibrant island setting, there\u2019s a storm brewing\u2014both literally and figuratively. Tilla\u2019s complex relationship with her father is at the heart of this book, and Bromfield doesn\u2019t shy away from tackling deep and sometimes uncomfortable themes like gender dynamics and shadeism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n