Jones, Kimberly K. 1957–

Personal

Born 1957.

Addresses

Home—VT. E-mail—[email protected].

Career

Writer.

Writings

Sand Dollar Summer (middle-grade novel), Margaret K. McElderry Books (New York, NY), 2006.

Contributor to periodicals.

Sidelights

Kimberly K. Jones wrote her debut novel, Sand Dollar Summer, for middle-grade readers. In reviewing the book for CelebrityCafé.com, Lesley Williams wrote: "Reminiscent of Judy Blume's works where female characters face tough situations, Kimberly K. Jones has written a promising debut novel."

Sand Dollar Summer is the story of twelve-year-old Annalise, who with her mute, five-year-old brother, Free, and single mother, moves to her mother's childhood home on Fiddle Island, Maine, so that she can recover from an automobile accident. Lise resents the move and is lonely and fearful of the powerful ocean. She also does not approve when her mother renews an old friendship with an islander named Michael. When Lise is befriended by Ben, an elderly Native-American man who lives in the last house on the beach, she finds someone to whom she can reveal her concerns and fears. Lise is nearly killed while trying to save Ben's life when Hurricane Fern hits the island, an event that also changes Free's life forever. "Like the ocean's dual beauty and danger, Lise realizes certain life situations are beyond [her] control," noted a Kirkus Reviews contributor. "Jones gets right to the heart of the matter in this captivating and touching first novel," concluded Terrie Dorio in School Library Journal.

Biographical and Critical Sources

PERIODICALS

Booklist, May 15, 2006, Hazel Rochman, review of Sand Dollar Summer, p. 46.

Kirkus Reviews, May 15, 2006, review of Sand Dollar Summer, p. 518.

School Library Journal, June, 2006, Terrie Dorio, review of Sand Dollar Summer, p. 160.

ONLINE

CelebrityCafé.com,http://www.thecelebritycafe.com/ (February 14, 2007), Lesley Williams, review of Sand Dollar Summer.

Kimberly K. Jones Home Page,http://www.kimberlykjones.com (February 14, 2007).