This One Summer

The emergence of adolescence and accompanying loss of innocence is the primary theme in This One Summer. Protagonist Rose and deuteragonist Windy are 12 and 10 years old, and thus approaching their teenage years. They’ve met every summer at Awago Beach since they were young, and the beach has become a symbol of their bond as well as their childhoods. However, this summer is different from summers past, as Rose and Windy are eager to discuss sexuality and the sexual lives of the teenagers at the beach. Rose’s innocence further gives way to experience as she slowly learns of her mother’s trauma.

Rose and Windy’s conversations about sexuality are frequent and represent their curiosity about growing up and perceptions of womanhood. Windy approaches the subject from a lighter perspective, often joking about the size of her or other girls’ breasts, or the way bathing suits are like underwear. Still, Windy becomes uncomfortable when she is directly exposed to the conversations between Awago’s teenagers, such as when they yell, “BLOW JOB…. It’s oral sex, kids!” (61), and dislikes Rose’s frequent talk of