Reading Metrics
Description
Learning to sail almost makes up for being separated from the other Girlz at Camp Galilee in Maine, but Lily is homesick, feels like an outsider in her cabin, and makes a choice that causes Suzy to declare she'll never speak to Lily again. Book #12
Quick Summary
If you're looking for a middle-grade book that really gets what it's like to feel like you don't quite belong, this one hits the mark. Lily's dealing with being away at church camp, missing her friends, and somehow making things worse with her cabinmate Suzy but the sailing subplot gives the story a fun, active energy that keeps it from getting too heavy. It's got that perfect mix of real friendship drama and outdoor adventure that makes kids actually want to keep reading, and there's something reassuring about seeing a character mess up and have to figure out how to fix it. I'd say this works really well for kids who like camp stories or anyone who's ever felt on the outs with a best friend. Parents will appreciate that it handles homesickness and conflict resolution without being preachy just a honest, relatable story about trying to do better. If your kid enjoyed things like "The Great Mouse Detective" (wait, that's a movie) if they liked other camp friendship books, they'd probably dig this one too.