Kate has always been the good girl. Too good, according to some people at school—although they have no idea the guilty secret she carries. But this summer, everything is different…
This summer she’s a counselor at Cumberland Creek summer camp, and she wants to put the past behind her. This summer Matt is back as a counselor too. He’s the first guy she ever kissed, and he’s gone from a geeky songwriter who loved The Hardy Boys to a buff lifeguard who loves to flirt – with her.
Kate used to think the world was black and white, right and wrong. Turns out, life isn’t that easy…
(In the picture above: the shirt is from my camp, the clipboard is from my camp but decorated by one of my campers, the pillow my parents bought me on visiting day eleven years ago.)
As someone who has gone to the same sleep-away camp for ten consecutive summers, five as a camper and then five as a staff member, and has experienced the sleep away camp magic, this book was one that made me feel warm and fuzzy. There was one summer that sticks out more than others in my mind, and that had me questioning who I am and my beliefs too.
For those of you who haven’t been to camp, let me try to explain it. It’s the most magical place ever. You place twelve kids in a bunk together, which two 18-22 year olds in charge of them. The two 18-22 year olds started out as strangers, rather it be at this same camp or even two week ago, slowly become each others person. They spend nights staying up late laughing, crying, venting, watching silly video, telling stories. Everything. I have met my ride or die best friends at camp, I have fallen in love at camp, I grew more than I every thought while being at camp.
Then we have the twelve kids, they all came into this bunk on that first day as strangers. They know NOTHING about the kid next to them, and then twenty minutes later they are all laughing and talking as if they have known each other forever. They build connections with their counselors that are out of this world. My campers are my babies, I have been through so much with them. You do NOT mess with someones campers, its like a sibling bond but almost more intense. From dealing with a sick parent, a parent coming home from jail, a divorce, unexpected move, eating disorders and so much more. I have taught them things and they have taught me so much. (I could go on for DAYS all about how much I love camp.)
Sorry, back to our regular programming.
I loved this book so much because I can relate Kate in so many ways. My faith is so important to me, and I always wonder how people who say they believe do things that we were always taught in school aren’t so good.
Kate is an artist whose faith means the world to her. She returns back to her summer camp as the art director during the summer before her freshman year to college. She meets new friends, falls in love and make some enemies too. This all while trying to make sense of her faith and her friendships.
I always try to explain camp to those who have never been and this book is a good way of showing it. It’s kids falling in love for the first time, making new friends, pushing the limits, trying new things. It’s counselors falling in love, making new friends, bonding with their campers, breaking the rules, doing crazy stuff and so much more.
I love how much Kate developed in this book. She starts off being not so willing to see things from others people perspectives and slowly becomes more open-minded, befriending people she thought she had to stay far away from in order to protect her faith.
Let’s talk about Matt. He’s perfect. He’s a very hunky lifeguard (lifeguards are the source of all summer relationship troubles, I mean have you ever watched High School Musical 2? Gabriella is not nice to Troy!) He’s caring, has a heart of gold, his family is the best, he’s a frat guy and funny. He shows his worth when Kate tells him she wants to wait for marriage.
I loved this book so much for so many different reasons. It’s in a sleep-away camp, it deals with questioning your faith, waiting for marriage, and friendship.
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