Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
This witty, well-paced graphic novel follows the interpersonal trials and tribulations of three cabinmates at sleepaway camp: curly-haired sixth grader Bea, whose parents hope sending her to Camp Chordata will help expand her social circle beyond her collection of stuffed animals; redhead Virginia, who wears a perma-frown, balks at Bea's eccentricities, and mourns the loss of potential friendship with the girls on her school's soccer team after not making the cut; and cheerful Roxy, who sports blond braids and acts as the group's peacemaker--until she grows tired of Bea and Virginia's bickering. Mean-spirited pranks and capsized canoes derail the girls' attempts to foster friendship, events that Montague (The Winter Frost) captures via simple line drawings and flat, saturated color palettes. Bea's homebound plushies appear as her conscience and take on the role of an omniscient Greek chorus in thought balloons, providing commentary on the protagonists' hardships ("Why is someone crying every night?" one stuffed animal asks. "Must be a camp thing," another replies) and injecting whimsy and humor throughout (on Bea's crush: "Is he... the most beautiful person in the entire world and all of Saturn's moons?"). Characters are depicted as having varying skin tones. Ages 8--12. Agent: Wendi Gu, HG Literary. (May)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 3--6--Three girls, Beatrice, Roxy, and Virginia, with very different personalities find friendship and self-discovery at summer camp in this endearing graphic novel. As each girl works through her own challenges, including a crush, parents' divorce, and the anguish of not making the school soccer team, emotionally driven and interpersonal conflict boils to the surface. When Roxy, the peacemaking member of the trio goes missing, Beatrice and Virginia must put aside their differences and work together to save the day. Illustrations are minimal yet expressive, as flat colors and straightforward page layouts make for an invitingly uncluttered reading experience. Dialogue flows naturally and characters are fully realized, demonstrating vulnerability and growth. The cast is depicted with a variety of skin tones. The summer camp setting will feel familiar to readers who have experienced it, sure to elicit giggles about esoteric camp rules, traditions, and a doggedly cheerful camp counselor. Young readers will relate to the challenging friendship dynamics, and older readers will pick up this story with a sense of nostalgia. Although the book ends with a satisfying conclusion, readers will surely hope for a sequel. Back matter includes a tutorial on how to draw one of the protagonist's stuffed animals, offering a fun bonus for aspiring artists. VERDICT A well-developed friendship story with strong middle grade appeal and a lot of heart, this title will be a welcome addition to any graphic novel collection.--Allison Tran
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Rising seventh grader Beatrice prefers to spend time in her room talking to her stuffed animals, especially her favorite one, a rabbit named Roger. So, when Bea's father tells her he's signed her up for a weeklong summer camp, that's the last thing she wants to do. After her dad promises that if she agrees to go just this once, she'll never have to go back, she reluctantly agrees. When Bea arrives at Camp Chordata, she meets her "nest mates," Virginia and Roxy. Virginia notices Bea holding Roger and snidely asks, "Aren't we a little old to carry around stuffed animals?" She adds, "Youwillbe judged for carrying that around." Unfortunately, Virginia is proven to be right, but a cute boy stands up for her. Over the course of the week, the girls struggle with learning to be friends as each battles personal problems. The narrative moves quickly, but Montague delves effectively into a range of topics such as jealousy, bullying, insecurity, and divorce. The story offers readers a thoughtful perspective on how you never know exactly what someone might be dealing with based on outward appearances. All three girls have brown skin; Bea has curly brown hair, Virginia (whose skin tone is darkest) has red hair, and Roxy (whose skin is slightly lighter) is blond. The clean, simply drawn panels and warm pastel colors effectively evoke the outdoor summer setting. An emotionally intelligent preteen summer camp adventure. (drawing guide)(Graphic fiction. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
