CrossReads Book Spotlight
Summer Up!
by Tom Leihbacher
The last day of school had finally arrived and summer break was on. With it came the promise of two and a half months of sun-drenched, fun-filled freedom.There were summer camps, summer trips, summer sports, summer foods, and summer nights to look forward to–to say nothing of summer afternoons hanging out at the town pool or the teenage art of sleeping in.But not every day was all fun and games for Charlie Riverton and his friends. During that memorable summer of ’75, they faced a protracted battle for turf rights in their own backyards.It wasn’t easy, and they took their lumps along the way. But they stuck together and stood up for themselves.With helpful guidance from a heavenly friend, their shoulders grew a little broader and an unforgettable new chapter was written into Briarcliff Manor folklore.Come join Charlie, Sky, and the whole cast from A Gift Most Rare on a summer-long, fun-filled, coming of age adventure. Summer Up! is a God-honoring fun-ride set in Smalltown, USA, during the summer of 1975. It’s a wonderful sequel to A Gift Most Rare and comes with a timely message and a wholesome spiritual uplift. –Kevin Sorbo, Actor, Director, ProducerTom Leihbacher has done it again. Picking up where A Gift Most Rare left off, he wove a fun, coming of age summer tale that mixes The Wonderful World of Disney with a dose of Home Alone and a dash of Field of Dreams. –Martha Higgins FergusonI didn’t think Tom could best himself with this tale of lively young buys during a sun kissed summer, but he did! – Karen Smith, Historian, Briarcliff Mano