Book Response

       In the book "The summer I turned pretty" by Jenny Han, a story about a girl named Belly unfolds. Belly is a sweet girl who is considered the 'cute little sister' of her family and close family friends. Her unrelated brothers who she has been close with for the longest time (Conrad and Jeremiah) treat her like she needs caring for and that its there job to protect her. Thats about the exact opposite of what Belly wants when she feels as though she's finally ready to grow up. When this cute boy named Cam talks to her at a party one of her friends dragged her to she gets excited and sees how much of Cousins Beach she's been missing out every year. She realizes while she has been sitting home playing cards with her mother and Susannah, Conrad and Jeremiah's mother there have been real things happening. Belly is very afraid of change but I think she's finally come to a realization that change can be good and sometimes it's whats necessary in life to have fun.

       For example when Belly talks about how she never should've brought her friend Taylor to Cousins Beach because it changed everything. She's afraid of things not staying the same and being just the slightest bit different. When Taylor came the boys seemed very interested in her which made Belly mad because she envied Taylor. By the end of Taylor's visit regardless of the good and bad times she was so happy for everything to be back to normal. Quickly another change occurred which made Belly upset understandably. Her brother had to head back from Cousins Beach which was the first summer without him which made her feel uneasy. Belly also finds out this one year Mr. Fisher isn't coming up because a chance of divorce between Susannah and him. Belly becomes so surprised and sad that now it'll be different. Belly spent most of her time in the safety of swimming in her own pool. going to the beach with her family and staying in the house I think Cam although helped her make changes and step out of her comfort zone which now that she's doing she loves.

      In conclusion, Belly learned the lesson change is good and happens for a reason. Cam really helped her with that considering after they met they spent most of there time doing all sorts of different things together. Belly got to experience Cousins beach full on for once and even though some elements were missing like Mr. Fisher not being able to come down, Steven leaving early and bringing Taylor up for a short while. Cousins beach had many memories this time around and even though not everything was the same she had a great time. Belly realized that at the end of the book which was a change she had to make.