This is a semi-autobiographical recollection of Vera Brosgol's childhood experience going to summer camp...one I can thoroughly appreciate. Growing up, Vera always felt (and often was) left out because of her Russian heritage and for coming from a less affluent family. Her friends can't stop talking about how much they love summer camp, and finally Vera is able to convince her mother to send her and her brother to an American camp for children of Russian heritage, thinking this will be the key to finally finding a group of friends that share her identity. Vera is sorely mistaken, though, and finds she will have to endure torturous weeks of mean girls, outhouses and scary forest sounds, lessons on Russian history, and pranks galore.I hated going to summer camp as a child, so this book really resonated with me. It feels like Brosgol presents herself in a fairly honest light, highlighting her best and worst moments with equal enthusiasm. I was hooked the whole way through, hoping she would find retribution with her tent-mates, wondering if the girls would ever win Capture the Flag, and, of course, pulling for Vera to make it out without a total loss of dignity. This is great for any kid who's ever had a problem fitting in. Due out April 24th.
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