The Chocolate Box Girls: Summer's Dream Award-winning by Cathy Cassidy (author)

Author/Illustrator

Cathy Cassidy

Cathy Cassidy’s stirring teen novels have a huge following. Their optimism, realism and empathy explain their popularity, especially with girls, and are perfect for fans of Jacqueline Wilson.

More about Cathy: “I was born in 1962 in Coventry (scarily ancient, I know!). I wrote my first picture book for my little brother when I was eight or nine. I loved making comics, too – pages and pages of picture stories, features and competitions. I’d sell my homemade comic to a friend for 5p, then claim it back and sell it again to someone else,they didn’t have photocopiers back then!

I went to Art College in Liverpool, then got a job as fiction editor on the fab and legendary Jackie magazine. Later, I married my boyfriend Liam, went back to college and trained to be an art teacher. I taught in a Coventry secondary school for a few years, which I loved, then moved to Scotland with Liam to start a family.

My kids are 13 and 14 years old now, and the four of us live in a cottage in the Galloway hills with sheep and cows for neighbours. As well as writing books, I am the agony aunt on Shout magazine and sometimes teach art in the local primary schools, which is great fun and keeps me sane. (Well, maybe!)

I’ve been veggie for 30 years, and was vegan for 8 of them – a chocolate-eating vegan, like Storm! I love old clothes, old toys, cars, books. We have three cats, two rabbits and a mad, hairy lurcher called Kelpie (the model for Leggit in my book Dizzy).

I love my family, I love living in the middle of nowhere and I love my work. Of all my jobs, writing has to be the best – it’s the perfect excuse to daydream, after all!”

Reviews

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What kids think

1. CrazyBookGirl
   on 30 April 2019

   This book is amazing – it will make you laugh cry and smile! I would recommend it for age 10+ but if you are younger – have a go! Xx Cathy Cassidy never fails to impress me!

2. bimbo12334
   on 15 December 2014

   This book was amazing me and my sister both love it its definitely 5/5

3. tomgates27
   on 17 March 2014

   this was the first cathy cassidy book i had read and i loved it

   5 out of 5

4. loobyloulou123
   on 9 March 2014

   This book is absolutely amazing you have so got to read it! NOW

   5 out of 5

5. Rumaitha12
   on 5 March 2014

   I personally think that this is a fabulous book explaining the life of summer. J think this is the second best book in the series. I recommend it.

6. xoluchix
   on 30 August 2013

   HI just got it from the libary yesterday gonna read it

   JUST READ IT AND IT IS AMAZING. loved it

7. lillycutety874
   on 8 March 2013

   I really like this book

8. natashakrywald
   on 8 March 2013

   very good

9. supercoolcharm
   on 8 March 2013

   A lovely story!! It is one of the best book!

   5 out of 5

10. AgentTigerlily132
    on 8 March 2013

    Cathay is a really good author! x

11. bouncybunny
    on 7 March 2013

    A really good book about a giel who always wanted to dance she tries too hard and nearly reck her chance to do her dream I really good book or 10+ or older

12. ellie-melay27
    on 6 March 2013

    i liked this book, i could not put it down i recommend it for about 10- 14 yr olds xx

13. sunnyrainbow123
    on 5 March 2013

    SUMMER AHS ALWAYS DREAMED OF DANCING AND WHEN SHE FINALLY GETS THE CHANCE SHE TRIES TOO HARD AND STARTS TO FEEL APART FROM HER FRIENDS AND FAMILY…...

    RATE:9/10 RECOMMEND:9+

14. Zoyaangel
    on 5 March 2013

    This book is so cool

15. inge22
    on 5 March 2013

    Brilliant, loved it! The fab thrid!

    5 out of 5

16. lap312i
    on 5 March 2013

    this book is really interesting

17. stupendousteen
    on 5 March 2013

    great book. a Must read

    5 out of 5

18. Magicme11
    on 4 March 2013

    Summer and Sky are totally cool.Summer is my favourite.I like how Cathy Cassidy tells the story.One of my fave books ever.

    5 out of 5

19. chloewhite33
    on 4 March 2013

    This book is so cool! Summer has to get her place in the dance school so she practially starves herself so she is ‘the right shape’

20. totalbookworm
    on 2 March 2013

    Extraordinary Book. It explains the concept of ambition really well. How you “can want something so badly that it hurts.” As soon as I read the first line, I knew I am going to love it. Until then, I thought that no writer can write books that really move me apart from ‘My Sister Jodie’ by Jacqueline Wilson, but this book certainly did. Maybe because I have big ambitions myself, so I can really relate to it, but whatever it is Summer really did inspire me.

    5 out of 5

21. xxChocolateBoxGirlxx
    on 2 March 2013

    I absolutely love this book. This is the third book in the Chocolate Box Girls series by Cathy Cassidy and its my favourite.Summer has big dreams and her biggest dream of all is to attend The Royal Ballet school in London.Summer has the chance to achieve but she has to work really hard.But then she works too hard and things start spiraling out of control. I would recommend this book to any girl who loves Cathy Cassidy <3

22. lemonade123
    on 15 December 2012

    I love this book so much as i am into ballet and its really inspiring!

    5 out of 5

23. sweet-cupcake32
    on 10 November 2012

    This book was absolutely gorgeous! It just has to be the best by Cathy Cassidy!

    Summer tries her best to get into The Royal Ballet School. She’s on a diet, practices extra hard and, well, she gets anorexia. 100% guarantee, you’ll love this book!!! Read the book to find out more…

    5 out of 5

24. lyddie3x
    on 8 November 2012

    I absolutely love all the Chocolate Box Girls books so far :) Can’t wait for the next one!!!!

    5 out of 5

25. suchie
    on 6 November 2012

    this is the best book ever !!!!!!! havnt actualy read it yet but really wanting to

    5 out of 5

26. ClockworkDragon
    on 18 October 2012

    I thought this was a brilliant book, very well written and about quite a sensitive subject. The author handles it perfectly! Would definitely recommend.

    5 out of 5

27. Jennicom
    on 14 October 2012

    I loved this book so much! It is truly amazing.

    5 out of 5

28. cuitiepie
    on 3 September 2012

    it sounds very good and i would like to read it

    5 out of 5

29. Cupcakekid11
    on 2 September 2012

    I loved this book – It’s my favourite of the chocolate box girls series!

    5 out of 5

30. Missteffi101
    on 29 August 2012

    This book is really good I love it!

    5 out of 5

31. madistar23
    on 29 August 2012

    I love this series. Cathy Cassidy is now loved even more by her new fans that have read the Chocolate Box Girls’ Series.

32. Ollymursrocksdotcom
    on 25 August 2012

    2 words, Imaginitive and amazing. Thanks for another amazing story!

    5 out of 5

33. kkitt-kkatt
    on 23 August 2012

    so good. it also teaches girls about what can happen if your eating habits get out of control. full of knowledge and a great read