Bittersweet, funny, and heartbreaking in turns, as we join Vera on her journey to make friends and survive summer camp. One of my favorite reads of the year so far. ( )

The picture on the cover is what grabbed my attention -- plus I have been looking for graphic novels to place on my selected reading lists. I didn't finish it -- I got too bogged down in the story. However, this would make an interesting classroom selection if you were studying Russian-Americans because it includes a lot about their culture, food, language, etc. ( )

I enjoyed Anya’s Ghost a whole lot more, but I can appreciate the author’s personal story in this book and how it will resonate with people who share her experiences, both as an immigrant and as an unhappy camper. The artwork is top notch, and I thought the color scheme was an interesting choice. ( )

A cute story about how summer camp kind of sucks, which jibes with my experiences. I'm unimpressed by the artwork; the limited color palette was a weird choice.

Irrelevant side note: given this is autobiographical, the idea of a military-themed summer camp for children of Russian descent in the US is unsettling and good fodder for a conspiracy story about long-term infiltration. ( )

Recommended Ages: Gr. 5-8

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there's a joke in there (about the middle) about breasts

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