Review Detail

Reader reviewed by Hillary

When Sam's best friend gets her first boyfriend, going off to summer
camp is the only way to escape being the third wheel. So she applies to
be a counselor-in-training at Whispering Pines camp. But this isn't
going to be all s'mores and sleepovers. Not only is Ashley, the most
popular girl at camp, out to get her but Cole, another CIT, keeps
teasing her about her crush on the hot and unattainable counselor,
Hunter. But at least she has her bunk. They all become quick friends
and form a secret group called the Sleepaway Girls to make the summer
more memorable.

This book was pretty much the summer camp
experience I have never had. The book was filled with familiar brands,
such as American Eagle and Puma, which helped to make the characters
more relatable. Also, references to the Jonas Brothers and Disney
channel movies made me laugh. Although it did seem to be kind of
similar to the Lindsey Lohan Parent Trap movie in many ways, the great
friends and Sam's great personality made it bearable, and even
enjoyable. Also, this seemed like a much more relatable and updated
version of it, but more focused on the camp experience. I think it will
really appeal to teen girls.

Jen Calonita's writing made it feel
as if I were experiencing the brutal heat and the rush of sneaking out
late at night. I feel like it was a real place from the way that it was
described. I am going to miss Sam and her new friends. It was something
I could really get caught up in. When everything started to happen, I
found myself staying up late a night just to finish it. I didn't want
to stop, and I do not believe I could have if I wanted to. Now, Im
dying to read Jen Calonitas other books. It is something I would
recommend to all my friends as a nice summery book to read. Girls
twelve years old and up would love it. Some things about it were a
little predictable, but overall it was a great story that any girl
could enjoy!