Summer Camp Middle Grade

(2) 4-6 Victor Espada and his three daughters stay for a week with Miguel, his sister Juanita, Mami, and Tía Lola. Victor, who helped Tía Lola with immigration problems, has become more than just a friend to Mami. Children of divorce will be inspired by this loving and respectful new family configuration, and they'll wish they had a Tía Lola to shepherd the process.

Reviewer: Robin L. Smith | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2011

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Dan Santat. Frederick Fredrickson is bullied, even by his so-called friends. After a boating dare goes awry, Frederick washes ashore at a disciplinary camp for boys, where he is mistaken for a notorious-bully camper as a hurricane approaches. Frederick is a sympathetic protagonist for this story of bullying and boyhood; mild crude humor, camp shenanigans, and a lion encounter add to the entertainment. Includes occasional black-and-white illustrations by Santat.

Reviewer: Renée Wheeler

(3) 4-6 During two weeks at Camp Rockaway, drummer Melly processes her parents' just-announced divorce, her changing best-friendship, and her first crush on a girl. Meanwhile, she and her bandmates learn how to listen to and support one another. This summer-camp crushmance is filled with realistic characters, witty dialogue, and frequent music references. Hand to tween readers who loved Pérez's The First Rule of Punk.

Reviewer: Amy Seto Forrester

(2) 4-6 Abby longs to leave the troubles of fifth grade behind for a typical overnight summer camp experience. Instead, her teacher, noticing Abby's social troubles and unhappiness at school, finagles her a place at Camp Famous, where celebrity kids go to escape the pressure of the public eye. Finding herself among royalty, pop stars, children of social media influencers, science prodigies, and even Oliver--a classmate from school who, it turns out, does reporting for national news outlets--Abby feels self-conscious about being "regular" and pretends to be a best-selling author. Meanwhile, the famous kids all like Abby immediately--and she could develop close friendships were she not hindered by the false identity she has created. The atmosphere is idyllic: likable counselors in cozy cabins, a lake, evening campfires, loads of activity choices and free time blocks, and a tightknit group of campers with complicated lives and a desire for real connection. Abby's first-person narration, alternating with journal entries in her green fuzzy notebook, builds as the summer of her dreams unfolds, until her secret comes out, upending everything. This enjoyable story of finding self-acceptance through a summer escape is ideal for veteran campers as well as for those who daydream about the experience--and the new friends they might make there.

Reviewer: Julie Roach | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2022

(2) 4-6 The lives of two twelve-year-olds intersect for a brief time, with long-lasting positive effects. In suburban Boston, Izzy is struggling with her former best friend's defection to the mean girl crowd. In New Hampshire, Wren is preparing for an upcoming figure skating competition. They meet when Izzy's parents decide to make a little extra money by renting out their home for school vacation week (they'll camp out in the apartment over the garage) and Wren's family moves in so they can be near Wren's little sister as she undergoes a life-saving operation. The situation is awkward for both girls, made even more so as they attend the same theater camp, Wren plotting nonstop to find some ice to practice on. Tension builds and an enduring friendship forms as a desperate Wren goes skating on an unsafe pond and Izzy pulls her out of the freezing water (shades of Little Women, the play the theater-camp crew is rehearsing) and as the two girls join forces to upend a social trap the mean girls set for Wren. Blecher (Out of Place, rev. 7/19) creates two authentic tween characters in quiet, artistic Izzy and tough, determined Wren. The family situations are believably portrayed, and the prose, though restrained, nonetheless gets right to the heart of things. "It was an opening, a crack in the door. Izzy could kick the door open and ask her mom what she meant, or leave it closed. Izzy chose closed."

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2021

(1) 4-6 Color by Alec Longstreth. Brosgol's fictionalized graphic memoir captures the ups and downs of Russian American preteen Vera's stint at a Russian Orthodox summer camp. She struggles with strict rules, lack of modern conveniences, and drama involving her older tentmates. The tone is accessible, vulnerable, and hilariously kid-centric. A monochromatic army-green palette reinforces the natural setting in the smartly paced panels, and a cliffhanger ending hints at a possible sequel.

Reviewer: Elisa Gall | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2018

(2) 4-6 Hal, called Cartboy, is excited about summer sleep-away camp. Unfortunately, his Revolutionary War re-enactor father has a special camp in mind: Camp Jamestown. Considering Hal's idea of summer vacation (sleeping until noon, eating doughnuts, playing RavenCave), it's hard to imagine a less welcome idea. Hal's fans will enjoy his cynical commentary, his humorous black-and-white sketches and timelines, and the photos sprinkled throughout.

Reviewer: Robin L. Smith | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2014

(2) 4-6 The crew from the Cove (So Done, rev. 7/18; Dough Boys, rev. 7/19) is back, and best friends Rasheeda "Sheeda" Tate and Monique "Mo" Jenkins are the featured duo this go-round. Having declared it "the Lonely Summer," Sheeda is sad to lose Mo to a prestigious three-week ballet camp; her only options for a social life are the church acquaintances her strict aunt keeps shoving her toward or bossy, opinionated neighborhood friend Tai. A third option suddenly becomes available when Mo's older brother makes it known he'd like to be more than friends. Meanwhile, Mo, although aware that her brother is trying to run some "weak game" with her best friend, has other concerns. Without having a "typical" ballet body, and as one of the only Black dancers at camp, she faces additional scrutiny in order to prove she's worthy of both the intensive summer training and an invitation to join the ballet school year-round. Empathetic to the ambiguities of Black girlhood, and to adolescence in general, Chase moves effortlessly between Sheeda and Mo's alternating chapters, as they go forward with a better understanding of themselves and each other. Readers will root for Sheeda and Mo's friendship from beginning to end. While the full dynamics of various characters and relationships are made clearer in the previous two books, this novel is a solid standalone.

Reviewer: Eboni Njoku | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2021

(3) 4-6 Best friends Izzy and Mackenzie are in separate cabins at their new summer camp, which strains their relationship. Narrator Izzy tells a lie to the popular clique to help her cabin's prank war against the boys. This novel has well-drawn characters and a vivid setting, and over-the-top pranks add humor and action. Izzy demonstrates considerable growth and remains a likable character despite her many bad decisions.

Reviewer: Renée Wheeler

(2) 4-6 This sequel to Stella Díaz Has Something to Say (rev. 5/18) finds Stella wanting to do something big: save the oceans. After a family vacation to Mexico, Stella (less shy than she used to be, but still a little nervous) attends summer camp at Shedd Aquarium and finds new friends among her "fellow sea-creature enthusiasts." Although old friends Jenny and Stanley (and teenage brother Nick) have interests of their own, and her mother is muy ocupada at work, Stella eventually manages to bring everyone on board with her new environmental group--the Sea Musketeers. The group gets off to a great start under Stella's leadership, and a more self-confident Stella is optimistic about making a big difference and starting a new school year. The character's concerns about her Spanish-language skills and her conscientious efforts to connect to family and friends in both languages ring true, although some of the text's Spanish words and phrases (in italics, with occasional small typos) may not feel natural to Spanish speakers. Cheerful black-and-white illustrations are scattered throughout, and an author's note includes tips and recommended resources for learning more about ocean conservation.

Reviewer: Anamaría Anderson | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2020

(3) 4-6 Secret Cookie Club series. Fans of The Secret Cookie Club are sure to enjoy the second installment in this series about four diverse, strongly bonded friends as they return for another sweet summer-camp adventure at the Moonlight Ranch. This time, the girls are determined to make Flowerpot Cabin win Top Cabin and to play matchmaker for counselor Hannah, who's broken up with her boyfriend.

Reviewer: Aimee Chevrette Bear

(3) 4-6 Secret Hero Society series. Illustrated by Dustin Nguyen. Young Clark Kent and friends Diana and Bruce head to summer camp, but the place is eerie, and the disappearance of several campers causes concern. Plus, their gadgets keep getting confiscated, and the camp staff is acting increasingly weird. Comic panels mix with Clark's journal entries and other page designs (camp fliers, incident reports, etc.) to chronicle the future heroes' second engaging mystery.

Reviewer: Lauren Causey

(2) 4-6 Graff returns to the magical world introduced in A Tangle of Knots, where citizens are either Talented (possessing extraordinary abilities) or Fair. Children with Singular Talents attend Camp Atropos. Remarkable they are, but perfect they're not, with campers showing off and using their gifts to substitute for real interaction. Each character struggles with truth, familial love, and acceptance as Talents are lost and found in this affecting novel.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2016

(3) 4-6 Taking a fall for her twin, good girl Olivia lands at a "positive redirection" camp, where she and rebellious fellow camper Ruby must catalog antiques in a creepy historic mansion. Strange happenings turn the frenemies into ghost-hunting friends. The perceptive and funny dialogue--along with the idea that being frightened can be fun--should resonate with readers navigating the often scary realities of growing up.

Reviewer: Mariko Turk

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by William Clarke. This antic tour of an Australian sixth grade is fully guided and liberally illustrated by narrator and budding writer Mark. He and his friends have taken in newcomer Jonah, who's fearless in facing down bullies and the teacher terror. At the school's summer camp, they learn about wombats, wattle-and-daub building, and the degrees to which one sturdy kid and one troubled teacher can drive each other crazy. The book has a contagious humor that translates well.

Reviewer: Roger Sutton | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2000

(2) 4-6 The Australian author of Don't Pat the Wombat! tells another memorable camp story as a close-knit group of friends and neighbors decide to "go bush" for the Christmas holidays. The multiple dramas that then start to unfold are as intrusive to the narrative as they are to the happy vacationers, but the sheer fun of their adventure, conveyed by young Henni in her journal-style narrative, spills joyfully over to the reader.

Reviewer: Lauren Adams | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2001

(3) 4-6 The sequel to Ethan Marcus Stands Up finds seventh-grade siblings Ethan and Erin attending an elite technology camp during a school break. Perfectionist Erin and laidback Ethan clash repeatedly as they work on dueling projects until they finally realize that their respective talents complement each other. Strong characterization and multiple narrators heighten the suspense, and the lesson about avoiding snap judgments is both subtle and effective.

Reviewer: Renée Wheeler

(2) 4-6 Eleven-year-old Jack's life is turned upside down when his not-quite-right mother disappears during their Maine camping trip. He sets off on a series of desperate misadventures, not realizing that the whole state of Maine is searching for him. Jacobson has great success putting readers inside Jack's not-always-thinking-things-through mind. The happy yet realistic ending leaves him "light-headed with hope."

Reviewer: Dean Schneider | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2011

(2) 4-6 Classmates Chloe and Maddie, both twelve, used to be best friends. Now they decidedly aren't, and they're dismayed to find themselves in the same bunk at a drama camp. Scenes of the summer (and a production of Wicked) alternate with flashbacks to the previous school year (and The Music Man), gradually revealing the embarrassing secrets each has about the other and the incident that caused the rift. The dynamic between Chloe, a professional child actor (but, lately, not child star), and Maddie, a self-described "chubby Jewish girl with thick glasses and a tendency to fall over at the worst possible moments" (she has dyspraxia), has settled into patterns that leave both feeling frustrated. They're each figuring things out about themselves, and what seems a simple case of an unbalanced friendship reveals itself to be more complex as the two eventually speak honestly about issues that have long festered between them. The book doesn't reach for tidy resolutions, but there's lighthearted fun to be had along the way, including some creativity with golem stories in a screenwriting elective and (spoiler alert) a sweet queer romantic subplot for one of the girls.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2023

(2) 4-6 Theater camp is not how introverted twelve-year-old Maren Sands had planned to spend her summer. Nevertheless, she finds herself following in her sister Hadley's path at Camp Goodman. Maren generally avoids the stage, but she gains attention on the first day by finding the camp director's missing phone. This leads to her involvement in a mystery that dates back to the camp's 1960s founding. Maren follows clues, all connected to Twelfth Night, which seem to be leading her to a diamond ring allegedly hidden at the camp in its early days. Along the way, she processes feelings about Hadley's diagnosed depression and her parents' preoccupation with it. Interwoven are episodes from the life of Charlotte "Charlie" Goodman, sister of the camp's founder, who grew up in Hollywood and (supposedly) died while directing her first film. Key does a good job of bringing in such topics as the 1940s Hearings Against Accused Communists in Hollywood and related "Lavender Scare" without letting history overwhelm the storytelling (back matter provides more detail); and of allowing the book's themes of gender and sexuality to develop organically. (Having the closing day of camp coincide with the Supreme Court's decision legalizing same-sex marriage is a nice touch.) The book's primary villains, a classic mean girl and a menacing corporate executive, are more types than characters, but many others, particularly Maren; her nonbinary bunkmate, Theo; and her movement instructor, Eartha, are more satisfyingly developed.

Reviewer: Sarah Rettger | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2022

(4) 4-6 Just Jake series. Illustrated by Victor Rivas Villa. It's summer break, and Jake is relaxing and earning money through innovative online sales when his father decides they will attend a survival camp hosted by a celebrity. His sister and the bratty quadruplets she babysits tag along. None of this is believable, but Jake is likable, the action is funny, and mixed-media illustrations and photographs add dashes of additional humor.

Reviewer: Pam Yosca

(2) 4-6 Fifth-grader Pearl (Ten Rules for Living with My Sister) writes an essay about her summer vacation: Dad loses his job, Pearl and big-sis Lexie head to Camp Merrimac, the family embarks on a "staycation," and the sisters earn their own money. Martin cuts her characters' sweetness with a good dose of sass in this reflective look at the financially strained family's adventures.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2012

(3) 4-6 Emerson's body uncontrollably floats in the air at random. He dreads spending the summer at Camp Outlier for RISK kids ("Recurring Incidents of the Strange Kind"), but it turns out to be a life-changing time of adventure and camaraderie among kids who time travel, become partially invisible, etc. Typical camp pranks combine with deeper issues of identity, destiny, and friendship in this compelling story.

Reviewer: Renée Wheeler

(2) 4-6 In alternating chapters, three middle-school narrators tell their stories. Ally is devastated to be leaving the campground her family runs. Bree is equally horrified that her family is taking it over. Jack is surprised to be leading a group of "eclipse chasers" at the camp. Author Mass succeeds in making the eclipse a truly moving experience, for her protagonists and her readers.

Reviewer: Jennifer M. Brabander | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2008

(2) 4-6 Melleby and Sass bring together the middle school–aged protagonists they each created for the 2021 short-story anthology This Is Our Rainbow (co-edited by Melleby and Katherine Locke) in this novel set at a camp for LGBTQ+ youth. Melleby's Abigail (she/her/hers), all but ostracized by her friends since she admitted to a crush on one of their mothers, begs her parents to send her to the camp. Sass's Kai (e/em/eir) attends under protest: eir parents sign em up after a bullying incident. The two newbies form sometimes-bumpy relationships with each other and with the more seasoned campers in a safe but not necessarily awkwardness-free space. There's a heightened awareness (even more than in other settings) that anyone might be romantically interested in anyone else--or might not. There's also, realistically, a wide range of knowledge about and comfort with queer identities among the kids: one of them launches a campaign for a more inclusive camp name ("there's no letter in the QUILTBAG acronym for pansexual kids, plus a lot of others"), while Kai tries to remember what pansexual means. Intersectionality in the differences between campers adds another dimension, especially in the area of religion: Abigail attends Catholic school; Kai is "kind of" Jewish and tentatively learns more about Judaism from another camper. This engaging, gently affirming novel should be valuable to young readers exploring their own identities or curious about those of others.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2023

(2) 4-6 Twelve-year-old Javari Harris "felt like I had landed on an alien world" upon arrival at STEM camp in Horsewhip Hollow, West Virginia. He's "a thousand miles from home" (Bushwick, Brooklyn) and facing two weeks at Appalachian Ridge Christian College. Gifted at math, he's one of the few Black students at the camp and has already experienced a racist encounter on day one. When he befriends Cricket, a local Black boy ("light-skinned, kinda gold, with brown freckles on his face and hazel-colored eyes"), Javari is introduced to a community of Black people--Affrilachians--who have lived in the mountains for generations. Moore (The Stars Beneath Our Feet, rev. 11/17) packs his narrative with themes of racism, wealth and privilege, environmental degradation, opioid addiction, homelessness, and cancer, and he carries it all off with well-rounded characters, lively dialogue and action, and often beautiful sensory prose: "A hundred, no thousands, of tiny yellow and orange lights were winking on and off... It was like being planted in the middle of a silent fireworks show."

Reviewer: Dean Schneider | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2022

(2) 4-6 Maggie knows the summer after fifth grade will be amazing because she's finally going to the performing arts camp of her dreams...until her parents send her to weight loss camp instead. While enduring inedible food and exhausting workouts, Maggie befriends her bunk mates -- Kit, an excitable Girl Scout; and Evelyn, a posh British girl--and tries out for the camp production of The Music Man, for which she scores the title role. But the camp's owner, the glamorous influencer Sylvia, seems determined to suck as much fun from camp as possible, and some of her ideas are downright creepy, like forcing the underage campers to donate blood. When campers start disappearing, Maggie realizes it's up to her to uncover Sylvia's secrets. For starters, what is she doing with all the blood? The characters' quirkiness makes them engaging and memorable, especially Kit with her great enthusiasm for all things outdoors. Humor is woven throughout, from Maggie's frequent sass to a scene of vampires on a Zoom call. The central focus is on Maggie's journey to overcome her personal fears, but the diet culture–obsessed vampires also allow for some moments of biting satire.

Reviewer: Bodie Shanis | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2023

(2) 4-6 The summer before tenth grade, Alice is working as an assistant counselor at a camp for disadvantaged children. She and her friends struggle with how to handle cabin rivalries and racial disputes among their young charges, and Alice is also not-so-patiently looking forward to her father's marriage in July. This fifteenth entry in the series features more of Alice's honest views on boys, sex, friendships, and family.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2003

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Marek Jagucki. Mark, the supervillain older brother from O'Hara's My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish series, costars with his vampire kitten, Fang, in this spinoff about his adventures at Evil Scientist Summer Camp. Engaging black-and-white vignettes depict the budding scientists in all their sinister glory--complete with angry eyebrows and pristine lab coats--as a humorous, fast-paced narrative captures camp activities both familiar (competitions) and unconventional (evil-henchmen training).

Reviewer: Lana Barnes

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Molly Brooks. Color by Bex Glendining and Elise Schuenke. Rising sixth graders Katie and Kacey, both homeschooled during the year, head to summer camp. Though Katie loves being with her best friend, she frets about feeling homesick. She's also self-conscious about being "different," with her red hair, freckles, and crooked teeth. At camp, she makes a confident new friend who "cusses" ("Backstreet Boys suck"), and Kacey seethes with jealousy and drifts away. Back home, Katie begins engaging in compulsive behaviors in an effort to "pus­­h the buzzing thoughts [depicted as a bee that won't leave her alone] away." Katie's father, who eventually guides her to a professional, helps her understand that "our thoughts aren't us. They're just our thoughts." This sensitive, deeply felt graphic novel, divided into four seasons of the year, is one that will resonate with many readers, particularly those living with OCD. The story also captures in detail a realistic homeschooling experience, including stereotypes about it: "I didn't feel like the weirdo homeschooled kid when Kacey and I hung out." Katie ultimately finds joy in theater, undergoes a scary lingual frenectomy, and learns that "maybe I could have best friends and good friends. I didn't have to choose." Best of all, she learns that many people are hounded by worries, with Brooks depicting various creatures nagging others as Katie's bee nags her. Both author and illustrator share their own childhood OCD experiences in appended notes, with Ormsbee explaining that the story is a fictionalized version of her own youth.

Reviewer: Julie Danielson | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2022

(2) 4-6 Tessa, thirteen, is spending the summer in a small town in Wyoming, staying with her aunt, uncle, and cousins and going to art camp. Right from the get-go she is thrown into an eerie situation in which elements from a campfire ghost story she once invented to amuse her friend Colette seem to be playing out in the real world. The mystery and tragedy of Colette's recent death in an accident; Tessa's struggles with anxiety; middle-grade staples such as the mean girl and the sullen, more sophisticated cousin; and the sheer shivery fun of an urban legend commingle in a highly readable, convincing, and gripping narrative. This is a companion volume to Tornado Brain (rev. 9/20), a novel told from the point of view of Tessa's twin sister, Frankie (who reappears here). Together the tales create a rich stereo effect as we combine Frankie's take on the world--that of a young woman on the autism spectrum--with Tessa's somewhat more typical but still particular and detailed perspective. However, the story also works effectively as a standalone ­narrative, as author Patrick is adept at neatly filling in backstory. Crisp dialogue, subtle characterization, a sprinkling of romance, liberal handfuls of humor, and clever mystery plotting add up to a very satisfying read.

Reviewer: Sarah Ellis | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2021

(2) 4-6 After his grandmother's fall derails the family's summer plans, eleven-year-old Ware's parents sign him up for the town's summer rec program. Ware, who loves medieval history and knights and chivalry, would just as soon spend his days alone; but then he meets a girl named Jolene outside the half-demolished church by the community center. Although she's prickly and independent (and way tougher than he is), Ware realizes that she could use a friend. As her backstory slowly reveals, Jolene has lived with her abusive, alcoholic aunt since her mother abandoned her as a toddler. Now, with the church land on which Jolene's income-producing garden sits about to be sold to developers, Ware comes up with an offbeat plan. With Jolene's help, and the promise of assistance from a city counselor's daughter (herself concerned with the proposed development's detrimental effect on bird migration), he begins to dig a moat around what's left of the church. Along the way, he confronts his parents about secrets they've kept and an overheard comment ("Why can't we have a normal kid?") while blossoming into his identity as an artist. The occasional disbelief-suspension required by Pennypacker's story line is grounded by her characters' multidimensionality and by Jolene's wry outlook--"I keep forgetting! We're in Magic Fairness Land!...Oh, no, darn. Still here in the real world."

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2020

(2) 4-6 Setting this tale in the present, Philbrick (Who Killed Darius Drake?) roots his survival story in details of Maine's Great Fire of 1947. When a wall of fire prevents twelve-year-old Sam and another camper from evacuating Camp Wabanaski, they go on the run, desperately seeking safety. Sam's brisk first-person narrative folds in his father's death in Afghanistan and his mother's opioid addiction. Back matter includes extensive wildfire information and survival tips.

Reviewer: Dean Schneider | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2019

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Serena Malyon. Having lost both parents to an apartment fire when she was little, Addy steers clear of fire as much as possible, and spends much of her time making maps of her Bronx neighborhood that note all the ways to "no matter what: Escape. Survive." When her grandmother signs her up for a wilderness adventure program in California for "Black city kids," Addy desperately wishes she could escape that, too--a summer in the forests of California with five strangers doesn't sound particularly interesting or safe. She is almost immediately proven wrong: her interactions with wilderness camp owner Leo establish Addy as "a kid who didn't know they belonged in the wild." Under Leo's tutelage, Addy adapts to the forest, learns about climate change's impact on the environment, and begins to flourish in her mapmaking skills. While the other kids in her group also become acclimated to the wildernesss, Addy is unique in her understanding of the world around her--and when a forest fire threatens their very lives, it is that understanding that offers a chance at survival. Although the quick pacing doesn't lend itself as well to the full development of secondary characters, the novel's lyrical tone and first-person narration bring home Addy's love of nature as well as her urgency to protect it. Rhodes's contribution brings welcome diversity to the wilderness adventure genre; an afterword provides additional information on climate change, forest fires, and minorities' access to wilderness/national parks.

Reviewer: Eboni Njoku | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2021

(2) 4-6 Thirteen-year-old genius Emmett Charles is well aware he's "smart smart and not people smart," but with his impeccable academic record and older brother Luke's ­protection, Emmett could not care less. When Luke receives a scholarship to an art school in Maine for the upcoming school year, Emmett throws his energy into thinking of amazing summer plans for the two of them and a few ideas about how to convince Luke to stay. Those plans are altered when Luke is hired as a counselor at the historically Black (and slightly bougie) Camp DuBois. Emmett's resourcefulness leads him to send a last-minute application to DuBois, which is accepted. To his surprise, Luke is less than excited, and Emmett is left to fend for himself. While he makes friends relatively quickly, for the first time Emmett is no longer a standout--nearly everyone at the camp is gifted, and they know way more about Black history/excellence than he does (who was Marcus Garvey again?). It's now up to Emmett to learn who he is outside of being the genius kid brother of Luke--which requires a new kind of intelligence altogether. Fully realized characters are cleverly introduced in Emmett's first-person narrative, along with Black history references dispersed throughout. Fans of Jerry Craft will enjoy this exceptionally witty offering, based on the 2019 movie Boy Genius.

Reviewer: Eboni Njoku | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2021

(2) 4-6 Heroes of Olympus series. Camp Half-Blood has three new arrivals: Piper, daughter of Aphrodite; Leo, son of Hephaestus; and Jason, son of Zeus. With the Titan war over, a new threat has emerged: a prophesied clash with Gaea's youngest children, the giants, who are returning to overthrow the Olympians. As with his Percy Jackson series, Riordan is completely in control of pacing and tone.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2011

(2) 4-6 Heroes of Olympus series. In this action-packed Lost Hero sequel, Percy Jackson arrives at Camp Jupiter, the camp for half-blood children of the Roman gods, unable to remember his past and pursued by two gorgons who won't stay dead when he kills them. As always, Riordan gives his heroes the last word, supplying them with sardonic quips in the face of unassailable odds.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2012

(2) 4-6 This story is based on a stranger-than-fiction episode in which the author's Boy Scout cousin survived a tsunami. Even-tempered narrator Dylan and "bad boy" Louie discover much about themselves as they help the other Scouts, but nature is the main character here. Salisbury's visual writing creates vivid scenes of water receding, giant waves advancing, and fissure edges sharp as glass.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2007

(2) 4-6 Soon-to-be sixth grader Tasha lashes out at her neighbor and grandmother-figure Cap'n Jackie before leaving for summer camp, but she returns to find Cap'n Jackie in a rehabilitation center, nearly catatonic, after breaking her hip. Schmatz lays intricate character groundwork for her small cast. Readers will find an emotional punch; a nuanced, character-driven plot that doesn't stray from a middle-grade perspective; and a thoughtful exploration of grief and pain.

Reviewer: Anastasia M. Collins | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2018

(2) 4-6 As this believable epistolary (via email) novel begins, twelve-year-olds Bett and Avery are strangers (and adversaries) thrown together at sleep-away summer camp by their bi-coastally dating fathers. The girls gradually become friends--even as their dads are breaking up. Parent Trap–type shenanigans ensue, but the story's main focus is the strength of chosen family. The warmth of the characters' interactions, including the girls' witty banter, is emotionally satisfying.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2019

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Brooklyn Allen. This third novel based on the popular Lumberjanes comics finds the girls preparing for a theatrical festival at their summer camp for "Hardcore Lady-Types." But song-loving Ripley is distracted by a rescue mission related to a mysterious egg she found. Monochromatic red illustrations, snappy feminist-focused dialogue, fantasy elements, and colorful characters keep the plot rocketing forward. As usual, friendship and individuality are important overarching themes.

Reviewer: Renée Wheeler

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Jake Tashjian. In twelve-year-old Derek's mind, summer means liberation--until his parents send him to Learning Camp. With a strong, humorous voice, Derek outlines his trials and tribulations. Attempts to solve a mystery divert readers from any hint of didacticism as Derek learns to build on his strengths. Cartoon drawings by the author's teenaged son re-create Derek's illustrated vocabulary lists and make the book approachable.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2010

(2) 4-6 Ryan Hart series. Illustrated by Nina Mata. Ryan Hart (Ways to Make Sunshine, rev. 3/20) is back, now a rising fifth grader and ready for summer adventures. Despite obstacles--her father works nights, her mother is pregnant and can't do as much with her, older brother Ray is as annoying as ever--she still manages to have fun. She continues to bring her own style and wit to each day, whether tackling her library's summer reading challenge or mediating a family argument (the solution involving an excessive amount of pickle juice). As she prepares for her first time at an overnight camp, Ryan, who is Black, is apprehensive about being reunited with Red, a white acquaintance who once made fun of her hair. Her grandmother encourages Ryan to "be a rose"--use her voice to protect her beauty, without being unkind; when she is tested, it will take her grandmother's words and the story of the Good Samaritan for her to remember who she is. An expert at creating complex characters, Watson ensures that no one will be two-dimensional. While Ryan is an optimist, she also expresses concern over the family's finances, the health of her unborn sister, and poverty in her community; big brother Ray has his times of generosity; and even Red gets a moment of revelation. With each chapter serving as its own short story, this second installment about Ryan is every bit as enjoyable as the first.

Reviewer: Eboni Njoku | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2021

(2) 4-6 Gabe realizes his cool stepbrother-to-be, Zack, won't be impressed by Gabe's enrollment in "Nerd Camp." As the six weeks of camp go along, Gabe creates a chart of "Things I Can Tell Zack" and "Things I Can't Tell Zack." Weissman gets the small details just right, and the relationships--and Gabe's stories--come to a satisfying and reasonably realistic conclusion.

Reviewer: Susan Dove Lempke | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2011