Minor Characters in Summer's Stories
These are minor characters in the Summer McKinny books.
Celia
Summer's friend. She's in the same class as Daisy.
Crescent
Crescent is Summer's dog, a white dog with brown eyes that is almost a year old. The McKinnys adopted him from Four Paws Animal Shelter; he was named Crescent because he looks like one when he curls up. He's learned basic commands, but doesn't initially respond regularly to "stay" or "drop it." He also initially doesn't get along with cats and bickers with Fettuccine, which Summer overlooks as her bias to thinking that dogs are better than cats.
Crescent is represented as Summer's Dog, Crescent in her collection.
Daisy
Daisy is a girl in Summer's class. She enters the kids' business fair selling handmade cat toys displayed on cat trees.
Daphne
Daphne is an older gray tabby cat. Summer first encounters her at Four Paws Animal Shelter; she finds her much more friendly than Fettuccine. Fiona explains that as an older cat, Daphne isn't getting as much interest as kittens.
At the end of Summer's Journal she is adopted by the McKinnys and dropped off by Olivia; she's used to dogs, so will get along with Crescent (who has since learned to behave around cats).
Mrs. DeClemente
Summer's teacher. She informs Summer about the kids' business fair.
Fettuccine
Fettuccine is Olivia's cat, a white male fluffy cat. She has adopted him a few weeks before the start of Summer's Journal. He's seen as an escape artist by Summer for getting out of his space in Olivia's room to lounge in various places, but Olivia explains he doesn't like being cooped up. He's revealed to have diabetes; Olivia has to give him daily shots.
Fettuccine is represented as Summer's Cat, Fettuccine (though the cat is not owned by her).
Fiona
Fiona is a volunteer at the Four Paws Animal Shelter where Crescent was adopted. She's in college studying to be a veterinarian. While Summer is too young to formally volunteer at the shelter, Fiona has arraigned for Summer to help her out twice a month.
Grandpa and Grandma
Summer's grandparents. They visit on Thanksgiving to bake pies.
Alice Kendrick
A woman who lives a few blocks away from the McKinneys. In Summer Gets to Work she hires Summer to walk and brush her dog Pepper while she recovers from a broken arm.
Ms. Li
The McKinny's neighbor. She has two young sons and a papillon dog, Pixel.
Holly McKinny
Holly McKinny is Summer's older sister. She has dark brown hair and brown eyes. She was born December 21st, 2013 (the first day of winter) making her eighteen months older than Summer and eleven going on twelve at the start of Summer's journal. Her nickname is Mistletoe from Summer. Like Summer, she enjoys baking, but differs in that she likes to paint, swim, and read. Summer also thinks she's a know-it-all for giving advice and doesn't understand why she'd do art over spending time with dogs. When she starts a new art project, she gets deeply into it, which Summer sees as "obsessed." Summer also is angry at her for wanting to be part of Art Club rather than help her walk dogs like she promised.
When Olivia brings over her cat Fettuccine for her five-week stay, Holly gets along with him to Summer's irritation.
Her favorite food is pizza (with olives and mushrooms) and her favorite sweet treat is brownies. Her favorite subject in school is art, her favorite animal is an owl (which she keeps asking for as a pet) and her favorite color is forest green.
Rachel McKinny
Rachel McKinny is Summer and Holly's mother. She has blonde hair like Summer. She's an accountant and Summer says she loves math. In the kitchen she mostly assists such as slicing or mixing.
For the majority of Summer's Journal she is out of town on business.
Mr. McKinny
Mr. McKinny is Summer and Holly's father. He has dark brown hair and brown eyes, and wears glasses like his sister Olivia and daughter Summer. He's a carpenter--Summer says he can build anything--and the primary chef of their family, experimenting with recipes and ingredients from around the world.
He builds Summer's Treat Cart for his daughters' business fair.
Aunt Olivia
Aunt Olivia is Summer's paternal aunt (and her favorite aunt) and Mr. McKinny's younger sister. She owns a store, Makers and Bakers, that specializes in craft supplies and kitchen gadgets, and gave Summer the journal she's writing.
She lives in Baltimore and comes to stay at the McKinny household when one of her parents is out of town, which she calls Extra Epic Sleepovers. She does baking and craft projects with her nieces. Her favorite meal is fettuccine alfredo and lemon cupcakes.
She's afraid of large dogs, but downplays this around Summer by claiming she's merely nervous; when she encounters Thor ( Mr. Rosario's labradoodle) and he puts a paw on her arm to shake she freezes and backs away.
Pixel
Pixel is a papillon dog that belongs to the Li family. Summer starts walking him with Crescent as a business. The McKinnys have taken care of Pixel while the Lis' are on vacation. Pixel is said to be "best friends" with Crescent and runs under him. He also has a penchant for chasing squirrels.
Mr. Rosario
Mr. Rosario is another neighbor of the McKinny's who lives down the street. He has a labradoodle, Thor.
Thor
Thor is Mr. Rosario's labradoodle dog. He loves to shake paws. Summer offers to walk Thor after her first walk with Crescent and Pixel, which results in her overestimating her capabilities.
Thor gets tired on walks and often needs to sit and rest.
Mr. Wylie
Mr. Wylie lives in the house behind the McKinnys. When Summer leaves Crescent at home alone to walk Thor and Pixel (since Holly isn't helping), he calls to complain that Crescent has been barking in the backyard all afternoon.