Review: Impressive, interesting and enjoyable
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 11 14, 2013
In the small town of San Aplastar there's a standing tradition, a coming-of age type of event if you will, that teens from 13-18 years of age are expected take a part in. The teens and most adults that have grown up in the little beach town are forever affected by this event. You see, at "The Assignment" a select teens are 'labeled' according to an specific trait. It ranges from "The Queen Bee" to the "Heartthrob" all the way through to "The Outcast". The teen that has been assigned the particular trait has to act it out and must treat each assignee accordingly until the Friday before Labor Day.Chloe is not planning to participate this year, especially after what happened the year before. But due to actions beyond her control she is registered and assigned the title of "The Crush". Having recently met Casper, a newcomer to the town, she just wants to enjoy her summer like a normal teenager. But that is not to be. What ensues is a series of events, confessions and betrayals that just may prove how dangerous "The Assignment" really is.The town name of San Aplastar fits perfectly for this story. Aplastar in Spanish means to smash, squash, or to crush. And that is exactly what "The Assignment" leads to. It crushes any chance for the teens of the town to lead a normal life, for they'll be judge according to their assigned trait.C.M. Stunich is a new-to-me author and she impressed me with this story. It was original, full of angst and unexpected twists and turns. She managed to bring to the page all the teen angst expected when cliques are formed and secrets fester while still keeping it real, different and entertaining. I enjoyed the anticipation of of finding out which character was getting which trait and how they acted it out. It was surreal and over-the-top but, oh so enjoyable.Although there were a lot of characters and at times it was overwhelming to keep up with them, I enjoyed what they each brought to the story. Casper was sweet, caring and protective. As a newcomer, he couldn't understand why this event took place or why any one would willingly participate. His experience was harrowing even if he didn't participate in it. His sister, a lovely girl with a strong character and an even stronger heart, was the one who suffered the most, but her attitude was refreshing and I could completely understand why she decided to participate.Chloe was also a great character to get to know. Smart, honest to a fault and determined to get to the bottom of what was happening, she kept the story afloat when at times I thought it was bound to go under. I liked that she stood for what she believed in and that she wasn't easily swayed. Her developing romance with Casper was sweet and I was happy to see her making the right decisions when it came to him.I can't say anymore without giving too much away, but I will say that Crushing Summer was not like anything I had read before. This was a wonderful story complete with a great concept and a complex cast of characters. So if you're in the mood for an angsty young adult read with an interesting mystery and a little bit of romance this is the story for you.