CAMP FRENEMIES

Bea is excited to reunite with her camp friends and cabin mates, Roxy and Virginia, over the summer after seventh grade.

But before long, Bea becomes upset by her friends’ reminders of her previous reliance on her stuffed rabbit, Roger, to face social situations. At 13, Bea and her friends are now Froglings, the oldest kids at Camp Chordata, and they quickly discover that, since the camp is “super understaffed,” this status comes with less supervision and guidance during activities. They and the two other Froglings are also asked to take on additional responsibilities with younger campers, which doesn’t feel fair. Between her disappointment over the way the Froglings are being treated and Virginia’s comments about “the Old Bea,” Bea finds herself regretting coming back. The story moves at a rapid pace while still keeping the characters’ emotions front and center. Readers will relate to Bea’s desire to grow and change without being continually compared to her past self. Montague explores healthy communication and the importance of learning to love yourself at every stage of your life as the friends work through relationship hiccups. Her clean, boldly executed art accentuates the girls’ expressively drawn faces. Bea has curly brown hair and brown skin, Roxy has tan skin and blond hair, and Virginia has dark brown skin and red hair.

An insightful, slice-of-life look at growing up while being true to oneself.