Whether you want to relive some fun (or not-so-fun!) camp memories or, like me, you never went to camp and want to experience it vicariously, these graphic novels will provide all of the adventures with none of the sunburn, bugs, and daunting physical activities. Perfect reading for the nerd on the go!
As the Crow Flies by Melanie GillmanCharlie doesn’t fit in with her fellow campers at any level: they’re white and she’s Black; they’re devoted to upholding Christian traditions, and she isn’t; they’re straight, and she’s queer. Or at least it seems that way. It might not be that all of them are straight. |
Be Prepared by Vera BrosgolVera wants nothing more than to fit in with her well-heeled classmates. But instead of getting to go to one of their fun camps, she and her brother get sent to Russian summer camp instead. Will she finally find a place where she belongs? |
Camp Spirit by Axelle LenoirThe last thing Elodie wants to do is spend the last summer before college as a camp counselor. But hey, maybe things won’t be as bad as she thought — or perhaps they’ll be worse, thanks to the supernatural something invading her mind. |
Chiggers by Hope LarsonAbby has always loved hanging out with her friends at summer camp. But things are different this year, as everyone seems to be growing up too fast for her to keep up with. Can she learn to accept change and make new friends? |
Doom’s Day Camp by Joshua HaukeJust because the apocalypse came and went is no reason to cancel summer camp. Though Doom, an ordinary boy left in charge of a camp of super-powered kids, sure wishes it were! Once you finish and fall in love with this comic, check out the sequel Doom’s Day Camp: The Story Eater. |
Flamer by Mike CuratoThis award-winning, oft-banned graphic novel follows Aiden, a young teen who is resisting coming to terms with the fact that he is gay. One fateful summer at camp will change everything. |
Gamerville by Johnnie ChristmasMax’s only goal is to prove he’s the best video gamer of all time. He’s less than thrilled when his parents send him to a special camp where electronics are banned and face-to-face communication is the order of the day. What’s an ambitious gamer to do? |
Miss Camper by Kat Fajardo (Out July 1)In this follow-up to the delightful Miss Quinces, Sue finally gets to go to summer camp! Unfortunately, so do her sisters, and conflicting schedules mean she can’t spend time with her friends as planned. Will camp ever live up to Sue’s expectations? |
Love a good camp story? Read your way into this look at summer camp in YA fiction and summer camp horror novels that might have you sleeping with the lights on.
The following comes to you from the Editorial Desk.
It’s Pride Month, and while we celebrate queer literature here all year long, we go especially rainbow bold in June. This week, we’re excited to take a look at the favorite queer books of beloved queer authors.
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It’s Pride month, which is the perfect excuse to buy and read a bunch of queer books. One method I really enjoy for finding new books is to take the recommendations of my favorite authors. Carmen Maria Machado hasn’t led me astray yet. Unfortunately, I don’t have these authors on speed dial, but luckily, they usually have shared their recommendations publicly.
Below I’ve put together queer book recommendations from 11 beloved queer authors. Some are from interviews where they discussed their favorite books, and others are book blurbs. Both the authors’ works and the books they recommend cover a wide spectrum of genres and formats, including graphic novels, literary fiction, poetry, biographies, horror, sci-fi, YA fantasy, and more, so there’s something for every kind of reader.
Akwaeke Emezi recommends…
Vagabonds! by Eloghosa Osunde“Some of the most spectacular writing I’ve ever encountered in my life… Vagabonds! brought me to tears because it gave me a world in which my country could be home again.” |
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