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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc and finished copy from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Camp QUILTBAG
Author: Nicole Melleby & A.J. Sass
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Diversity: Lesbian MC, Non-binary Jewish MC who uses neopronouns, POC characters, Black Lesbian character, Jewish gay character, Black Trans Pansexual character with Autism, Trans character, Character who doesn’t use pronouns, Gender Fluid character
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, queer, LGBT, contemporary, camp book
Publication Date: March 21, 2023
Genre: MG Contemporary
Age Relevance: 12+ (homophobia, body dysphoria, religion, bullying, deadnaming)
Explanation of Above: There is some homophobia mentioned in the book, along with a deadnaming event mentioned but not shown. There is some discussion about body dysphoria. There is some small mentions of bullying. Judaism is shown and mentioned in the book, including some insight into practices and celebrations/customs and there are some mentions of Catholicism as well.
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
Pages: 352
Synopsis: Twelve-year-old Abigail (she/her/hers) is so excited to spend her summer at Camp QUILTBAG, an inclusive retreat for queer and trans kids. She can’t wait to find a community where she can be herself—and, she hopes, admit her crush on Laura Dern to kids who will understand.
Thirteen-year-old Kai (e/em/eir) is not as excited. E just wants to hang out with eir best friend and eir parkour team. And e definitely does not want to think about the incident that left eir arm in a sling—the incident that also made Kai’s parents determined to send em somewhere e can feel like emself.
After a bit of a rocky start at camp, Abigail and Kai make a pact to help each other find their footing, all while navigating crushes, their queer identities, and a competition pitting cabin against cabin.
Review: I really liked this book overall! I thought the concept of a queer camp for young children is amazing and I loved how much diversity there was in this book. The book is about two characters who are either outted or come out during the school year and, because they’re having a hard time at school with that, they are sent to a Queer Camp to help them get friends and make good memories. The course of the events see these two main characters make a pact to help each other during a competition and the turn of events that happens by the end of the camp season. The book had a main character that uses neopornouns and I loved seeing and exploring that in this book. The book did well with the duel POV and the voices felt distinct. The gender inclusivity and understanding in this book really made it a special read and one I’ll frequently recommend from now one.
The only issue I had with the book is that it was a little hard to get into in the beginning and there was A LOT of characters to remember, but I loved it regardless.
Verdict: I highly recommend this one!
Book: Camp QUILTBAG
Author: Nicole Melleby & A.J. Sass
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Diversity: Lesbian MC, Non-binary Jewish MC who uses neopronouns, POC characters, Black Lesbian character, Jewish gay character, Black Trans Pansexual character with Autism, Trans character, Character who doesn’t use pronouns, Gender Fluid character
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, queer, LGBT, contemporary, camp book
Publication Date: March 21, 2023
Genre: MG Contemporary
Age Relevance: 12+ (homophobia, body dysphoria, religion, bullying, deadnaming)
Explanation of Above: There is some homophobia mentioned in the book, along with a deadnaming event mentioned but not shown. There is some discussion about body dysphoria. There is some small mentions of bullying. Judaism is shown and mentioned in the book, including some insight into practices and celebrations/customs and there are some mentions of Catholicism as well.
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
Pages: 352
Synopsis: Twelve-year-old Abigail (she/her/hers) is so excited to spend her summer at Camp QUILTBAG, an inclusive retreat for queer and trans kids. She can’t wait to find a community where she can be herself—and, she hopes, admit her crush on Laura Dern to kids who will understand.
Thirteen-year-old Kai (e/em/eir) is not as excited. E just wants to hang out with eir best friend and eir parkour team. And e definitely does not want to think about the incident that left eir arm in a sling—the incident that also made Kai’s parents determined to send em somewhere e can feel like emself.
After a bit of a rocky start at camp, Abigail and Kai make a pact to help each other find their footing, all while navigating crushes, their queer identities, and a competition pitting cabin against cabin.
Review: I really liked this book overall! I thought the concept of a queer camp for young children is amazing and I loved how much diversity there was in this book. The book is about two characters who are either outted or come out during the school year and, because they’re having a hard time at school with that, they are sent to a Queer Camp to help them get friends and make good memories. The course of the events see these two main characters make a pact to help each other during a competition and the turn of events that happens by the end of the camp season. The book had a main character that uses neopornouns and I loved seeing and exploring that in this book. The book did well with the duel POV and the voices felt distinct. The gender inclusivity and understanding in this book really made it a special read and one I’ll frequently recommend from now one.
The only issue I had with the book is that it was a little hard to get into in the beginning and there was A LOT of characters to remember, but I loved it regardless.
Verdict: I highly recommend this one!
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Middle grades are hard. Being queer in middle grades can be torture. The kids in this story are looking for friendship and acceptance and go searching for it at Camp QUILTBAG. The characters in this story are a bit superficial as an adult reader, and things come too easy for them, but as a educator who shares stories with kids this age, I totally get that kids would love this. They will look to the characters to figure out how to talk about the wor feelings and have compassion and empathy for others. I highly recommend this book.
Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an unbiased review.
Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an unbiased review.