Flamer

 Flamer by Mike Curato, 366 pages.

I read this frequently banned graphic novel for banned books weeks, and have been extremely slow getting around to actually writing about it. Which wasn't a problem, because Byron wrote his review in a timely manner and I completely agree with pretty much everything he said! The graphic novel was sometimes a little crude for me (it seems boy scout camp has a very different atmosphere than girl scout camp), but I overall found it to be an extremely powerful story. I especially found Curato's use of bright pops of fiery color to be very effective. This is a powerful story of feeling othered in adolescence, and I definitely think it could do plenty of young people a lot of good.

The Clover Girls

The Clover Girls by Viola Shipman, 403 pages

When they were teens, Liz, Veronica, Rachel, and Emily met and became inseparable friends at Camp Birchwood. After 30 years, however, the "friends forever" mentality has faded quite a bit, thanks in part to drastically different career paths. However, when Emily sends the other three a letter with devastating news, the former pals return to the now-abandoned camp for one last reunion, in the hopes of bringing them back together again.

Let's face it: this is not a new story. There are dozens of weepy books and movies made with a very similar storyline, made to tug at those heartstrings and have their readers/viewers reminisce about their own childhood friends. Does that make this book any less effective? Nope. It is what it is, and if a weepy tale of friendships past is what you want or need right now, this is the book for you.

To Night Owl From Dogfish

To Night Owl From Dogfish by Holly Goldberg Sloan and Meg Wolitzer, 295 pages

This epistolary novel starts when headstrong 12-year-old Bett Devlin finds out that her dad is sending her to a camp in Michigan, the primary purpose of which is to get to know her fellow 12-year-old Avery Bloom. Why? Because, despite living on opposite coasts, Bett and Avery's dads are dating and are planning on a life together. What starts as an email exchange to thwart their dads' plans gradually turns into emails about Bett and Avery's growing friendship, their separate families, and their eventual dreams of sisterhood. It's a great story, and a perfect new twist on The Parent Trap-style stories of summer camp.

Be Prepared

Be Prepared by Vera Brosgol, 244 pages

As the daughter of Russian immigrant single mom, young Vera had trouble fitting in with her wealthier all-American classmates, all of whom spent their summers experiencing the traditional wonders of sleep-away camp, something she knows her mom won't go for. But when she learns about a Russian Orthodox camp, Vera convinces her mom to send her and her younger brother there for a few weeks over the summer. Turns out, Vera doesn't fit in there too much either. In this semi-autobiographical story, Brosgol presents a fun, funny, and nearly universal story of awkwardness, smelly pit toilets, and fear of creepy-crawly forest creatures. It's fantastic.

Lumberjanes: A Terrible Plan

Lumberjanes vol. 3: A Terrible Plan by Noelle Stevenson and Shannon Watters, art by Carolyn Nowak, 112 pages

The third volume of this girl-power-ed summer-camp series finds our campers with a free day, which can be spent doing whatever they want. While Mal and Molly take the opportunity to go on a picnic date in the woods, Jo, April and Ripley decide to spend their day trying to earn some of the more mundane badges. As can be expected in this series, Mal and Molly's date becomes a supernatural adventure when they decide to track the mysterious bear woman, while the others find that the boring badges are harder to get than they expected.

This series continues to delight. I love it, and I can't wait to share it with my daughter!

Lumberjanes: Friendship to the Max

Lumberjanes vol. 2: Friendship to the Max by Noelle Stevenson and Grace Ellis, art by Brooke Allen,
112 pages

In volume 2, we're back at the most awesome girl-powered summer camp ever, and the Roanoke bunkmates (Mal, Molly, Jo, Ripley, and April) are again finding themselves mixed up in wild adventures with velociraptors, goddesses, truly shocking lightning bugs, and friendship bracelets. This is smart, funny, and a great entrance point for tweens wanting to check out some graphic novels, though it's plenty of fun for adults too.

Lumberjanes: Beware of Kitten Holy

Lumberjanes, vol. 1: Beware of Kitten Holy by Noelle Stevenson and Grace Ellis, art by Brooke Allen and Shannon Watters, 128 pages

Jo, April, Mal, Molly, and Ripley are five campers at Miss Quinzella Thiskwin Penniwuiqul Thistle Crumpet's Camp for Hardcore Lady-Types when they begin encountering supernatural beings (a bear-lady! three-eyed foxes! a giant river monster!). Girl-power-filled adventures ensue. I LOVED this book. It pokes fun at Girl Scouts, but without being mean. It's very girl-powery without being denigrating toward boys. It's smart, it's fun, it's full of adventure. I think it's a great start for kids (especially girls) getting into comics, and I can't wait to share it with my own kids. Also can't wait to read the next volume.

Justin Case: shells, smells, and the horrible flip-flops of doom by Rachel Vail 179 pages 978-1-250-00081-1

This is a sequel to Justin Case:  school, drool, and other daily disasters. Justin is evolving. He no longer is the most introverted worrywart.  As a soon to be 4^th grader, he is shocking his parents by agreeing to go to Camp GoldenBrook instead of Science Camp. Camp GoldenBrook is for normal kids and features the daily bus ride back and forth, lots of sports and lots of changing of clothes for the various sports.  Although he agrees to go to this camp, he experiences lots of angst worrying about camp experiences and the typical camp bully, Cash. Justin perseveres in his quest to graduate from the bottom swimming group and make new friends. The story is told in brief daily segments starting with the first day of summer vacation and ending August 31. Guys will especially enjoy this camp tale.

Revenge of the Horned Bunnies

Dragonbreath: Revenge of the Horned Bunnies by Ursula Vernon  195 pp.

This is another installment of the series about Danny Dragonbreath, his best friend Wendell the iguana, and Christiana the crested lizard. The three classmates are headed off to Camp Jackalope where Danny has a bad reputation because of the previous summer's "Bottle Rocket Incident." Unfortunately for Danny, his annoying younger cousin Spencer is attending the same camp. When Spencer disappears the others set out to find him and in the process discover a plot to steal the jackalopes (part jackrabbit, part antelope) for their valuable antlers. It's up to the kids to save the jackaolopes and stop the thieves. Even though Danny is the one who always finds himself in some sort of problem, with his friends' help things eventually turn out okay.

This is a fun children's series that includes quirky humor, fun characters and story, and the non-didactic incorporation of science in the stories.