- Books
- Middle Grade Fiction & Indies
- Middle Grade Fiction
- The Callahan Cousins: Summer Begins
The Callahan Cousins: Summer Begins
Author(s)
Publisher
Genre(s)
Age Range
10+
ISBN
0316736902
Buy This Book
Editor reviews
2 reviews
A nice, sweet story about 4 cousins
(Updated: June 11, 2026)
Overall rating
5.0
Plot
5.0
Characters
N/A
Writing Style
N/A
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
This is such a refreshing book! While I enjoy a good, gossipy read as much as the next person, sometimes its just really nice to read something, well, nice. The Callahan Cousins: Summer Begins by Elizabeth Doyle Carey is set in todays world (the girls listen to IPods, for instance), but really could have been set in just about any time. This isnt a story about wealth or backstabbing or anything like that its a story about family, tradition, and growing up.
Hillary and her three cousins Neeve, Phoebe, and Kate, have come to Gull Island to spend the summer with their grandmother. Its a family tradition that all twelve-year-olds in the family go through. No parents & fun with their cousins. Hillary has something weighing her down, however. Her parents are on the verge of a divorce and she feels like she needs to prove that shes just as much of a Callahan as the rest of the family.
She has a plan to revive an old tradition that their fathers participated in planting the flag. Competing with the spiteful Sloan Bicket (a girl their own age from another family on the island), the cousins work to get their family flag planted on a small island off of Gull Island. They have a lot to accomplish research, learning how to sail, creating a flag, making new friends, avoiding Sloan...
I recommend this book for anyone looking for a good old-fashioned (but still up-to-date) read. The girls are spunky and interesting and good role models as well.
Be sure to enter the contest to win a copy of the book, sponsored by TimeWarner Bookmark.
Hillary and her three cousins Neeve, Phoebe, and Kate, have come to Gull Island to spend the summer with their grandmother. Its a family tradition that all twelve-year-olds in the family go through. No parents & fun with their cousins. Hillary has something weighing her down, however. Her parents are on the verge of a divorce and she feels like she needs to prove that shes just as much of a Callahan as the rest of the family.
She has a plan to revive an old tradition that their fathers participated in planting the flag. Competing with the spiteful Sloan Bicket (a girl their own age from another family on the island), the cousins work to get their family flag planted on a small island off of Gull Island. They have a lot to accomplish research, learning how to sail, creating a flag, making new friends, avoiding Sloan...
I recommend this book for anyone looking for a good old-fashioned (but still up-to-date) read. The girls are spunky and interesting and good role models as well.
Be sure to enter the contest to win a copy of the book, sponsored by TimeWarner Bookmark.
User reviews
3 reviews
Overall rating
4.3
Plot
4.3(3)
Characters
N/A(0)
Writing Style
N/A(0)
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A(0)
Already have an account? Log in now or Create an account
A cute begining
(Updated: June 11, 2026)
Overall rating
4.0
Plot
4.0
Characters
N/A
Writing Style
N/A
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
Reader reviewed by Lavendermc
This book, the first of a small series, involves four cousins; Hillary, Neeve, Phoebe and Kate. The twelve-year old cousins are invited, as is custom, to their grandmother's house on Gull Island in New England. The girls set off to befriend fellow islanders, friends and foe alike.
This book deals with a lot of different issues and themes: rivalry, friendship and family. Hillary's parents are going through a divorce that's affecting her harshly and makes her question her place in the Callahan family. In order to remedy to that, she decides to bring back an old family 'competition': the planting of a flag portraying the family's proud name to make her dad proud and feel like part of the family again. Her fellow cousins, with the simple intentions of making Hillary feel better after her parent's troubles, follow her lead. This opens up a whole new set of adventures for the girls.
Something I particularly found cute was the insertion of a book-nut; Phoebe. I could definitely relate to her. ;)
Both fun and light-hearted, this book is very interesting and gives it's readers a beautiful view of island life and Irish traditions. I recommend to anyone between the ages of 6 to 14. Older teens and adults would probably get a little bored by the good-natured banter of twelve-year-olds.
This book, the first of a small series, involves four cousins; Hillary, Neeve, Phoebe and Kate. The twelve-year old cousins are invited, as is custom, to their grandmother's house on Gull Island in New England. The girls set off to befriend fellow islanders, friends and foe alike.
This book deals with a lot of different issues and themes: rivalry, friendship and family. Hillary's parents are going through a divorce that's affecting her harshly and makes her question her place in the Callahan family. In order to remedy to that, she decides to bring back an old family 'competition': the planting of a flag portraying the family's proud name to make her dad proud and feel like part of the family again. Her fellow cousins, with the simple intentions of making Hillary feel better after her parent's troubles, follow her lead. This opens up a whole new set of adventures for the girls.
Something I particularly found cute was the insertion of a book-nut; Phoebe. I could definitely relate to her. ;)
Both fun and light-hearted, this book is very interesting and gives it's readers a beautiful view of island life and Irish traditions. I recommend to anyone between the ages of 6 to 14. Older teens and adults would probably get a little bored by the good-natured banter of twelve-year-olds.
G
Guest
The BEST book ever
(Updated: June 11, 2026)
Overall rating
5.0
Plot
5.0
Characters
N/A
Writing Style
N/A
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
Reader reviewed by hope
HI! I'm Hope, Cici Corcoran's daughter! Thank you so much for the book it was one of the best books that I have ever read! I loved the part when they went out and they got scared because they thought there was a shark when it was really just a dolphin. You are such a great wrighter. At school I have to dress up as a character from my favorite book and I'm going to be a character from your book. I can't wait to read The Callahan cousins #2! Try to get a hold of my mom I would love to talk to you in person!
HI! I'm Hope, Cici Corcoran's daughter! Thank you so much for the book it was one of the best books that I have ever read! I loved the part when they went out and they got scared because they thought there was a shark when it was really just a dolphin. You are such a great wrighter. At school I have to dress up as a character from my favorite book and I'm going to be a character from your book. I can't wait to read The Callahan cousins #2! Try to get a hold of my mom I would love to talk to you in person!
G
Guest
unbreakable bond of cousins
(Updated: June 11, 2026)
Overall rating
4.0
Plot
4.0
Characters
N/A
Writing Style
N/A
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
Reader reviewed by Riney
The Callahan Cousins: Summer begins, is the first in a four part series about four cousins who are staying with their grandmother on an island in the Atlantic for the summer.
This particular book focuses on Hilary, who's parents are going through a divorce, therefore making her feel less of a Callahan. In order to prove her Callahan-ness, she decides on a summer adventure that her father and her uncles (fathers of her cousins) did as children.
This is a very refreshing and fun book to read about family ties and bonds. It's great for middle school readers, and younger. However, for older readers, it's a bit predictable and at times, the thigns that happen seem very unrealistic. Still, fun book to read!
The Callahan Cousins: Summer begins, is the first in a four part series about four cousins who are staying with their grandmother on an island in the Atlantic for the summer.
This particular book focuses on Hilary, who's parents are going through a divorce, therefore making her feel less of a Callahan. In order to prove her Callahan-ness, she decides on a summer adventure that her father and her uncles (fathers of her cousins) did as children.
This is a very refreshing and fun book to read about family ties and bonds. It's great for middle school readers, and younger. However, for older readers, it's a bit predictable and at times, the thigns that happen seem very unrealistic. Still, fun book to read!
G
Guest
Latest Additions
GET A YABC BUTTON!
We have all sorts of YABC buttons for your website. Grab one here and link to YABC!