And she was crying and crying for a girl....
A friend picked this up for me because the song of the same name has been my favourite for many years. The song, Charlotte Sometimes, by The Cure was written based on the book.
This sweet story was so well written and an enjoyable read. Reviewer: Seth A. Riley "some guy in WI"

...a death that though of natural causes, might not have occurred had the sacrifice that ends this book not been chosen. At this final point the main character poignantly becomes Emily, who waited thru half the twentieth century to see Charlotte again.
This story was the basis for the Cure song of the same name, with its dense, atmospheric video telling the story of two teenaged girls stuck in the same school in different eras. I admit I had no idea of the novel's existence during the time I loved the Cure song so much I named my dog "Charlotte Sometimes" in tribute, but wish I had. I think this novel may have gone out of print for a time, especially on the American side of the Atlantic, because I don't remember hearing about it until just a few years ago. I'm informed the ending to the version I'm reviewing was changed from the original in an "updating" and I've been on the lookout for a copy of the earlier edition. I have no idea why it was tampered with or what is different but hope I like it as well as this later one. Reviewer:Ellie Reasoner

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In Summer Birds, the first book about the Makepeace sisters, Charlotte and Emma find a boy on the road who teaches them to fly, and then teaches the rest of the village children.
..unlike in the other novels, what happens isn't explained as cathartic; that is, in the others, it's prefectly clear the Makepeace sisters' experiences are ways of healing and protecting themselves from their parents' death. Thus this novel isn't as 'deep' as the others. What I liked most about The Summer Birds, as well as the other books in the trilogy, is that I relate so well to Charlotte...
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If you haven't read The Summer Birds, I don't particularly suggest you read Emma in WinterI don't care if amazon.com thinks this book is for grammar school kids! I promise you it's not-- I'm sixteen and nearly out of school and I recently read it and fell in love.
until you have. The characters are easier to understand that way, and the dreams always involve the flying the children learned during the summer term. Overall, this book is excellent, just like all of Penelope Farmer's work. It isn't my favorite novel from her, but I can't really think of any other author who could even hold a candle to her stories. ..