Summer Tunes: A Martha's Vineyard Vacation

Inventively balancing the particular and the near-universal, this warmhearted photoessay documents a family's summer vacation on Martha's Vineyard. The very likable Healys--two parents, two girls, one boy and a dog--have the same interests as most families: they like spending the day at the beach or in a boat. The Healy son, 10-year-old Conor, has cerebral palsy, and is confined to a wheelchair. McMahon (Listen for the Bus) matter-of-factly explains CP in age-appropriate language, and gracefully shows how only a few modifications enable Conor to participate in everyday activities. Conor's older sister, Carrie, wants to be a writer, so she thinks up stories; Conor loves music, and the highlight of his summer is a visit to the Vineyard radio station. McMahon's conversational narrative moves fluidly and often humorously from notes on Vineyard history to lighthearted descriptions of family outings to explorations of darker feelings, such as Conor's anger at the patronizing actions of those who feel sorry for him, or Carrie's occasional resentment of the extra attention Conor receives. Positioned scrapbook-style around the text, Simon's (On the Vineyard) artfully composed photos include postcard-like scenes of the island as well as shots, some very affecting, of this close-knit, supportive family. The only wrong note here is the misleadingly dull, textbook-style jacket. Ages 7-10. (Aug.)