#BookReview: Cold Summer by Gwen Cole

  Today, he’s a high school dropout with no future.
Tomorrow, he’s a soldier in World War II.

Kale Jackson has spent years trying to control his time-traveling ability but hasn’t had much luck. One day he lives in 1945, fighting in the war as a sharpshooter and helplessly watching soldiers—friends—die. Then the next day, he’s back in the present, where WWII has bled into his modern life in the form of PTSD, straining his relationship with his father and the few friends he has left. Every day it becomes harder to hide his battle wounds, both physical and mental, from the past.

When the ex-girl-next-door, Harper, moves back to town, thoughts of what could be if only he had a normal life begin to haunt him. Harper reminds him of the person he was before the PTSD, which helps anchor him to the present. With practice, maybe Kale could remain in the present permanently and never step foot on a battlefield again. Maybe he can have the normal life he craves.

But then Harper finds Kale’s name in a historical article—and he’s listed as a casualty of the war. Kale knows now that he must learn to control his time-traveling ability to save himself and his chance at a life with Harper. Otherwise, he’ll be killed in a time where he doesn’t belong by a bullet that was never meant for him. 

Gwen Cole grew up in upstate New York and then moved to Virginia where she did not graduate college. Instead she played bass guitar in a hardcore band and later married the lead guitarist. She enjoys large jigsaw puzzles, playing Xbox, and watching movies. Gwen now lives in Richmond with her husband, daughter, and very large dog, but she longs to live in the country again.

I was so excited to read this one.  I love time travel and so I really wanted to love it. But what I found within the first 30% was a slow story with no real emotion.  I didn't connect with any of the characters and I just didnt care what happened to them at all.  The story felt very flat and just lacked the suspense and emotion that I would have liked to see.  

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Posted in: 2 Stars, Edelweiss, Jessica P., Review, Sky Pony Press, Young Adult