Summer at Squee

by Andrea Wang

From Newbery Honor–winning author Andrea Wang, a new middle grade novel about a Chinese American tween who attends a Boston-based Chinese cultural overnight camp—and the many ways it transforms her.

Phoenny Fang plans to have the best summer ever. She’s returning to Summertime Chinese Culture, Wellness, and Enrichment Experience (SCCWEE for short and “Squee” to campers in the know), and this year she’s a senior camper. That means she, her best friend, Lyrica Chu, and her whole bunk (known as the Squad) will have the most influence. It almost doesn’t matter that her brother is a CIT (counselor-in-training) and that her mom and auntie are the camp directors. Time spent at Squee is glorious, free, and sacred.

On the day she arrives, though, Phoenny learns that the Squad has been split up. There’s an influx of campers this year, and the new girls have been mixed with the returning campers. Phoenny is determined to be welcoming and to share all the things she loves about camp with the new campers—who doesn’t love spending hours talking about and engaging in cultural activities? But she quickly learns how out of touch she is with others’ experiences, particularly of the campers who are adoptees. The same things that make her feel connected to her culture and community make some of the other campers feel excluded.

Summer at Squee turns out to be even more transformative than Phoenny could’ve imagined, with new friendships, her first crush, an epic fashion show, and a bigger love for and understanding of her community.

Genres: Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Adoption, Contemporary, Romance, Asian American, Aapi

320 pages, Hardcover

First published March 5, 2024

About the author

Andrea Wang is the award-winning author of Watercress (Caldecott Medal, Newbery Honor, APALA Award, Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor, JLG Gold Standard Selection, seven starred reviews), The Nian Monster (APALA Honor), Magic Ramen (Freeman Book Award Honor). Her debut middle grade novel, The Many Meanings of Meilan, was reviewed by the New York Times, has two starred reviews, and is also a JLG Gold Standard Selection. Her work explores culture, creative thinking, and identity. She is also the author of seven nonfiction titles for the library and school market. Andrea holds an M.S. in Environmental Science and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing for Young People. She lives in the Denver area with her family.

Reviews

[Ms. B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this title; this is a review of an uncorrected e-proof.
Summer camp story about Phoenny (aka Phee) who enjoys attending a Chinese cultural camp each summer for two weeks. She looks forward to spending time with the 'squad', a group of girls who have grown close from the time they spend together at camp. But this year is different, the squad has been broken up because there are 5 new girls in their age group attending. Plus Harrison, one of the CITs (Counselor in Training) might like her. Will Phoenny be able to connect with the new girls? What if the other girls in the squad abandon her to spend time with the new girls? Is Harrison to good to be true? Find out the answers to all these questions in this story that also includes camp traditions like variety shows, arts & crafts, and campfires.
If you're curious about Chinese culture or would like to learn a few Mandarin words/phrases, this is the book for you. Or if you're looking for a story set at a summer camp, give this one a try.

[Emilia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was good!! I though a lot of the story elements were great. The adoptee side of it was really interesting and how that makes them feel different about their heritage. (The C.I.T and camper romance thing was a bit cringy but not terrible.) It’s not a very action packed book, but definitely a fun and enjoyable read.

[Stephanie Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Eliott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group for letting me read an ARC of this book through NetGalley!

Summer at Squee
Overall Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ (3/5) or 6.28/10 overall

Characters - 6
Since this book had a large cast, many of the characters felt more one-note and less relatable as a result. However, having so many characters made it more interesting to see the different experiences that they had and how people can reflect on and embrace their Chinese heritage in various ways.

Atmosphere - 7
The atmosphere in this book was fine. I think it could have been enhanced if the pacing was better, but you have that trade off of the more rushed feel at the end coinciding with the nerves and panic that Phee felt as she raced to put together the final Showcase event.

Writing - 6
The writing in this book was decent. I don't have much to say about it otherwise because nothing particularly amazing or terrible stood out to me.

Plot - 6
I have a few gripes with the plot (see final thoughts below), but mainly this had a unique premise/background with the rest of the story being rather simplistic and predictable.

Intrigue - 7
Despite some of the parts that irritated me, I found myself enjoying the majority of the story and intrigued as to how it would end.

Logic - 6
This book was reasonably logical. Nothing really struck me as wrong with it, but the logic did seem a bit flawed at points.

Enjoyment - 6
I enjoyed aspects of this book. I particularly liked the way that Group 13 tied everything they learned into their final Showcase performance. The chats they had about fitting in and finding their place in the world were enjoyable as well.

Final Thoughts:
My biggest gripe with this book is that the main character, Phee, could have cleared up a lot of confusion earlier if she just communicated with the other characters more. She build up this crazy love triangle in her head based on very little evidence, which was easily solved when she just had one conversation with McKenna. Otherwise, I found a lot of the plot predictable and fairly unoriginal. Aside from the reveal of the what their performance would be and a few conversations between characters, most of the storyline was easily predicted and that made it much less intriguing overall.

[TheNextGenLibrarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new MG book following a tween at her annual summer camp during a time of change and growth.
⛺️
Phoenny Fang is ready to have the best last summer ever at Camp Squee, a Chinese Enrichment Camp that her mom and auntie are camp directors. In the first day, though, Phoenny realizes her Squad have been split up in different cabins due to new campers. But these campers don’t like talking about their culture or taking Mandarin classes and everyone is wondering why. Phee also has her eye on a new camper, a slightly older boy who is actually a bit of a flirt and looks like an idol. Does he like her back and will Phee adjust to the changes this summer?
⛺️
I really enjoyed this novel by @andreawhywang It’s hard to find middle grade books that have crushes/love that feel authentic, but this one really nailed that. In addition to this title being for fans of kdramas and romance it’s also great for discussions surrounding AAPI hate, racism and adoption conversations. I like how the author made it a point to show that being Asian isn’t a monolith; there are so many different types of people, races and cultures and we should respect all. A great summer read!

CW: racism, microaggressions, cyberbullying, adoption (theme)

4.25 ⭐️

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciated the camp for Chinese Americans, but the book was a bit boring. Remind students to read author’s note at the end.

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Andrea Wang reaches into her own experiences attending a Chinese culture camp and interviews of others who have attended similar camps or are simply connected to Chinese heritage in some way to write a book about the same. Main character and rising 8th grader Phee/Phoenny has attended the same camp for years, has a close knit group of friends who are also repeat participants and their group, The Squad, has been looking forward to being the most senior campers and all the extra privileges that go with that status. But attendance is up, new groups are formed and Phee and her best friend Lyr are not only separated from their friends, they are forced to contend with a group of first timers who absolutely do not want to be there. As all good middle grade lit does, the girls begin to compare experiences and appreciate not only their similarities, but their differences and find that they all have something to offer as each girl connects with her heritage in some way. Wang throws in some expected drama in the who likes who department and some talk of dating and Phee develops strong feelings for a slightly older counselor in training. All is kept very low key in the physical expressions of affections but there is plenty of flirting, gift giving and almost kisses. Camp activities are typical in the sense that they attend craft and sporty classes but unique in that all of them reflect Chinese culture-calligraphy, martial arts, the playing of instruments common in Asian-Pacific parts of the world, ribbon dancing, etc. The camp does experience some bigoted remarks and racial slurs on its social media page and the senior campers and some of the counselor crew come up with a creative way to shut it down. There is something for everyone in this summer camp book and is highly recommended for grades 4-7. Text is free of profanity, sexual content and violence. Representation: Chinese heritage for sure, but in a variety of ways-through adoption, recent immigration, being American-born Chinese and more; descriptions of campers reveal diversity in body types, hair styles, and special interests; one camper has come out as homosexual and her crush on another girl at camp is known to those in her group but is an almost incidental part of the book.

Thanks for the eARC, NetGalley.

[Julia✨Book Reviews by Jules✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this book for free in exchange for my review! All opinions are my own.

This book was very charming. I can imagine slightly more mature readers enjoying it. I think I would've enjoyed this book as a young girl.

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[Susan Dunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phoeny has been going to Chinese Culture Camp [(Summertime Chinese Culture, Wellness, and Enrichment Experience (SCCWEE for short and “Squee” to campers in the know], since she was 7. As usual this summer, she's excited to see and reconnect with all of her camp friends. So when she finds out that her squad has been split up to accommodate a group of new campers, she isn't happy. The new girls haven't had the same experiences as Phoeny - they don't speak Mandarin or know much of anything about Chinese culture - and they also make it very clear that they're not happy to be at Squee. Phoeny gets off on the wrong foot with one of the girls, and despairs of ever connecting with her. Can her last summer as a camper recover from a difficult beginning?

I really enjoyed this title. It's a great snapshot of camp, brings in lots of issues around American born vs adopted, and Phoeny is a spunky and fun main character. The author has a personal connection to cultural camps too, which makes the book even more relevant. Highly recommended. I listed to it, and that's fun too b/c you get to hear some of the actual spoken Mandarin.

[ting · Rating 4 out of 5]

binged in a day. it was super fun to read about all the camp shenanigans and even i was caught up in the giddiness of middle school crushes 💗 i really liked the angle on adoptee experiences as this is rarely discussed in books centred around cultural camps. my only gripe is that i wanted to know some of the characters more (looking at you william) and the online trolls plot felt underdeveloped ☹️

[sal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading the ARC of this delightful story, and I hope that many kids read about and love Phee and her friends. I love that it explored finding the feeling of “home” — at a camp, among a group of friends, with family, and also with people that may not seem like home. But through growth and some discomfort, Phee makes new friends and her “home” grows. A lovely story.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fine middle grade novel set in a Chinese heritage summer camp. I loved the self-reflection and growth of these campers, and how their friendships blossomed. Sweet and bittersweet, all at once.

[Tiffany Painter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kid lit- A sweet summer story about growing up and still wanting to hold onto the past. While Phee is figuring out the new campers who have disrupted her plans, she reminds the reader the importance of not being judgmental about others and making room for everyone’s differences. This is a good read for all, regardless of cultural background.

[Melissa Killian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would've read this book multiple times as a kid, reveling in the friendship drama and first crushes of a soon-to-be eighth grader at summer camp. The fear of losing a best friend to someone cooler than you and who has an interest in common with your bestie that you don't, is so real. And so is becoming someone's nemesis because you inadvertently insult them, so both of you hate each other because you assume the hatred is mutual and came from the other side first. And then your nemesis ends up crushing on the same boy as you? Ugh! Of course she does. All of this is typical middle school drama and I love it!

I also enjoyed the setting of a Chinese heritage summer camp. It's great for those of us who aren't Chinese American to get a glimpse of what goes on there and for Chinese American kids to see themselves reflected in at least one of the characters. And there were lots of characters! Honestly, I had a little trouble keeping them all straight because there were some similar personalities, but I think the point was to show those similarities between the ABCs (American Born Chinese) and the adoptees.

The pacing of the first part of the book was a lot slower than the rest, but I understand why. The beginning was not only introducing the setting and the characters, but also the activities commonly seen at a Chinese heritage camp that a lot of readers might not be familiar with. So those first couple days of camp span several chapters because they reveal each of the activities in detail, that can then be simply mentioned by name in later chapters.

The relationship between Phee and her crush, Harrison, felt appropriate for their ages. It's mentioned early on that Harrison is younger than the other CITs because he skipped a grade or two, so he technically qualifies to be a counselor. So Harrison is only a year or two older than Phee, while the rest of the counselors are around sixteen. I also really related to the part when Phee's best friend, Lyr, asks her if Harrison kissed her and Phee admits she's not sure if she wants him to. At least not yet. Because she might not be ready for a boyfriend. Even though she's been openly crushing on him the whole time, the truth is, a crush might be all she can handle right now. And I love the honesty in that.

[DaNae · Rating 2 out of 5]

I appreciated the basic structure and intent of this book about a Chinese Cultural Summer camp. This dialogue was a travesty, delivered in platitudes and therapy sessions, sprinkeled with modern slang, it never sounded like actual kids. I ‘cringed’ through most of the book. The fashion show sounded splendid.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5. This would have been an easy recommendation for me if it weren’t for one thing. Summer camp books tend to be hits with me just because of the setting which I love for some reason, and this element was done really well. The story is set at S.Q.U.E.E, a sleep-away Chinese heritage and cultural camp that takes place on a college campus during the summer holidays. I loved all the regular camp elements that the author included, like snack raids and cabin meetings and showcases, but I also loved all the classes the campers took that were relevant to Chinese culture and heritage. A central theme of this book is on there being no one way to be Asian, and specifically no one way to be Chinese. This is brought to the forefront by there being a group of transracial adoptees in MC Phoe’s “cabin” who have had a very different relationship with their culture and heritage in comparison with the other campers. But the other campers soon realise that even within themselves they all have unique experiences. MC Phoe’s development is very much hinged on her learning about this and accepting the adoptees into her “squad” of friends. It is also about accepting change in friendship - that meeting and becoming friends with new people is okay, that your old friends doing the same is okay too. Overall I think the execution of this development could have used a little work but was pretty good.

But as aforementioned there was one thing that I just couldn’t get past and that was how the romance was handled. I have no issue with romance in MG books, I think this is something important to include for this audience and it can be done really well. However the romance here is between a camper and a CIT (counsellor in training). The problem isn’t actually the age gap, as the CIT is young for a CIT at age 14 and Phoe is 13 (although I would like to point out that there would be a few months where Harrison, the CIT, is 15 while Phoe is still 13. It’s a bit weird). The issue is in the CIT/camper dynamic. I mean the camp itself prohibits relationships between CIT and counsellors, and campers. In the book this rule is treated like a nuisance by the campers and by Harrison. I was frustrated that at no point in the book was it explicitly explained to Phoe (and thus the reader) WHY that rule exists - that the camper, in a position of weakness in comparison to the CIT’s position of power, is vulnerable to being abused. It’s so importance for especially MG girls to know that these relationships are actually inappropriate because it is so easy to be exploited and not know you are being so. To be clear, Harrison does not exploit Phoe but honestly that makes her the exception not the rule. I think it’s dangerous to include this type of romance without making it clear to the MG reader that these relationships can be dangerous and that rules like that exist for a good reason. And that they may not understand when they are being exploited!! (Because Serena, the counselor, at one point asks Phoe if Harrison is making her do anything she doesn’t want to do - as a test of their relationship - and Phoe says no, which is true, but so many girls would say no in that situation and believe it to be true when it isn’t, because they think certain behaviours are normal. So that “check” by Serena isn’t enough to satisfy my critique.)

Also, the hoops the author had to jump through narratively to make Harrison a CIT… It would have made more sense to just have him as a regular camper. I think the author made him a CIT to create tension, like a forbidden romance because a camper and CIT aren’t allowed to date. But this wasn’t the crux of tension that actually eventuated in the story - it was much more about Phoe not understanding Harrison’s emotions and thinking she was being played. Harrison didn’t need to be a CIT for that to work.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Phoenny Fang and her best friend Lyrica are super excited for the summer camp their mothers run, Summertime Chinese Culture, Wellness, and Enrichment Experience (SCCWEE for short, pronounced “Squee”). It's always been Phee's happy place, where she can explore her Chinese culture and also do a lot of her favorite activity, sewing, but this year feels different. Her older brother is a Counselour in Training, and the girls who are usually in a group together are split up because there are some new girls. The new campers all seem to be cousins, since their Chinese names seem to match, but they are all cagey about their relationship, and one, McKenna is just downright rude. It turns out that the new campers have all been adopted by US families, and are a bit resentful. Phee loves speaking Mandarin, doing traditional crafts, games, and sports, and is hurt that the new girls don't necessarily want to participate. She's also crushing hard on Harrison, her brother's friend and fellow CIT who has just moved to the US from Hong Kong. He's only about a year older, and Phee thinks he might be interested in McKenna. There's a lot of stuff to do at the camp, and a final show to prepare for, but the campers have to also deal with online trolls who say racist things about the Squee posts on social media. Some on the counselors try to locate the perpetrators and bring them to justice, but the experience leaves everyone in the camp shaken.
Strengths: There aren't a lot of books about adoptees from China (except for the 2012 Red Thread Sisters by Peacock), and I love the idea of a summer camp that is culture based. The camp is a huge amount of fun, but also has plenty of drama. Not only is there the rivalry with the angry McKenna and the crush with Harrison, but there are also other campers with different sexual identities who are trying to figure out their own crushes. The camp is located on a college campus, which is interesting for those of us who only went to camp out in the woods! Being the daughter of someone who runs the camp would be intriguing, and Phee's struggles during her last year as a camper with the changes that have occurred will resonate with childre who find that their own worlds are changing.
Weaknesses: At 320 pages, this packed in a LOT of characters and a lot of activities on top of a wealth of information about Chinese culture as well as racism and prejudice. This was all good stuff, but it would have helped the story move more quickly if there had been fewer things like Phee's allergic reaction to a weasel bristle art brush and detailed descriptions of her sewing projects.
What I really think: There's been a significant decline in the number of adoptions from countries outside the US; it seemed like we'd had fewer such children at my school, and statistics so seem to show that. This is a good choice for readers who liked this author's The Many Meaning of Meilan or camp books like Matson's Firefly Summer or Soderberg's Sky Ropes.

[Pipbish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phoenny, the narrator; is a camper at “Squee” (a summer camp for kids who want to explore Chinese-American culture and experience), and it’s the last year she will be young enough to attend. Andrea Wang explores not just the ordinary themes of friendship, change, and independence common to sleepaway camp stories, but examines differences in privilege and culture, and adeptly addresses what makes kids sharing a common experience the same versus what isolates or excludes them.
It’s the summer between seventh and eighth grade: Phoenny and her friends are navigating firsts and lasts, and the story is Tetrised with moments and experiences that will resonate with any reader: crushes, embarrassments, navigating old and new friendships. In addition, Yang explores adoption, what it means to be Chinese-American, and anti-Asian hate crimes that surged in the wake of the pandemic.
Wang does a lovely job giving us details that make the story and characters vivid and real: colors, personality quirks, names all stand out because they fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. Nothing is wasted, and nothing feels outsize or unrealistic. Even Phoenny bringing her sewing machine to camp - held on a college campus (how envious my 11 year old self would have been of this!) - feels true.
The inclusion of contemporary tech is deft: I can think of few other writers for middle grade readers who handle this at all well. Here, computers, social media, and the online shadows we cast are simply a seamless part of the story. It’s refreshing to find a book where references don’t feel forced or plastic.
We are introduced to a memorable cast of characters from the very beginning, but the way Yang writes makes it easy to remember who’s who - each one is fully-realized and Yang gives us the idea that each has a life beyond the story. The writing is clear and brisk; nothing feels wasted. The dialog is never awkward, and Yang uses it in a kinetic way that spotlights her characters and enriches the action.
This is a deep and intricate narrative, but not a stodgy or sad one: Phoenny learns some hard lessons about making assumptions, and she discovers that people bound by a seemingly common denominator all bring different and sometimes contradictory experiences.
I hope this book gets the attention it deserves: it is a rich, generous, joyous story that updates the summer camp stories I loved as a kid. Highly recommend this one - no reservations.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thirteen-year-old Phee has been attending the Summer Chinese Culture, Wellness, and Enrichment Experience camp since she was six years old, and this summer is going to be the best one yet. But, when she arrives at camp and discovers that her coveted Squad is going to be split into different groups this year, she is devastated. And that is just the beginning of the changes Phee will have to face. As the summer continues, Phee must navigate the feelings that come with unexpected people and situations, especially as crushes and rivalries find their way into the mix. The summer may not unfold as she initially wishes, but perhaps the ultimate outcome will be better than anything Phee could have ever expected.

This middle grade coming of age story is cleverly placed in the setting of a Chinese heritage immersion camp. All of the characters have some level of Chinese background, and their awareness of Chinese culture and language varies, as well. There is, of course, a level of angst that appears within the narrative due to the age of the protagonists, but this is amplified by the discomfort several characters feel at their disparate levels of familiarity with Chinese culture. This inclusion helps readers of all backgrounds recognize that challenges are faced by people due to a variety of reasons, even when they happen to identify with a similar cultural background.

The narrative moves smoothly, especially as it is told in the first person from Phee’s perspective. Phee’s emotions are palpable with each interaction, and readers will sympathize with many of the feelings she exhibits. Chinese language and cultural references appear throughout the narrative, which enhances the authenticity of the storytelling in general. These words and phrases are presented using western-styled lettering and accents to increase their accessibility to non-Chinese speaking audiences. Clear, focused, and straightforward, this novel will appeal to fans of contemporary fiction, especially stories with diverse subject matter and strong interpersonal relationships. This is an enjoyable addition to library collections for middle grade readers.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

13yo Phoenny Fang is so excited for summer camp this year. She and her best friend Lyrica have been going for years, and have a special in because their mothers are the directors. It's a Chinese cultural heritage camp the kids call Squee. This is Phoenny's last year because she's going into 8th grade, and it promises to be the best. But when she arrives, she finds her regular group has been broken up because there are some new campers - a group of girls who were adopted from China. Their arrival is met with mixed emotions from both the new girls and the seasoned campers, and everyone seems to get off on the wrong foot. There's a possibility of a summer romance as well, as one of the new counselors in training - a boy recently moved from Hong Kong, seems to have his eye on Phoenny, but dating is strictly off-limits.

I haven't seen many books about adopted Chinese orphans - although I know several families who have children from China. I liked the discussions the campers had with their advisors, especially about their feelings for their culture and whether or not they felt Asian enough. I loved the classes they took - this camp really looks like a lot of fun! There's a lot going on, with so many characters, a couple of side stories could have been removed to help the reader keep track. There's a long distance runner, a camper questioning her identity, an allergy scare, and a social media troll who shakes up the camp's sense of security, lots of different teachers and leaders and extra drama - I didn't feel it was all necessary. The characters are culturally or ethnically Chinese.

cross posted to http://kissthebook.blogspot.com

[Theresa Sandifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the kind of book I like to read and recommend to middle grade readers. To me it shows that you can write a book in which nothing earth-shattering happens and yet have the book be engaging. and well-worth the time spent reading. It is an ordinary story about ordinary people - nobody has any superpowers or magical abilities, nobody. has a huge crisis in their life, and nobody. needs to be saved from something or someone evil. I like that in a book now and then.

The book tells the story of a group of kids at a Chinese Culture Camp. The main group of characters are in their last year of camp and one of them, Phoenny, wants it to be the best year ever. Many of the campers are American Born Chinese (ABC) but a new group of girls are actually Chinese born adopted by American parents. The groups clash at first on their attitude toward learning Chinese culture, with. the new group either ambivalent or against the idea. The book is mostly about how the two groups come to understand each others' point of view and find commonalities and friendships based on interests outside of the culture.

The only hokey part for me was the introduction of internet trolls who make fun of the camp and campers and create fear among the kids as well as the adults in the camp. I understood, at the end of the book, what this odd side-plot was there to accomplish, but it wasn't really ever dealt with in a real way and it just fizzled into nothing at the end. Still a good. book and a good read.

[k.eleanor.s · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think it’s easy, as an adult, to see how entirely self-centered the main character is throughout this story. Even when Phoenny realizes she’s made everything about herself, she kind of continues to do it.
However, she’s a rising freshman in high school, and I think the target audience for this story is her peers.

I think I would have gained a lot from this book at her age! I’m half first-generation American, and half fourth. I grew up entrenched in the immediate culture of my father’s country, with my maternal great grandmother leading the family in traditions from her country. It was very unusual in my friend circles because I was too Polish for them and not Polish enough for other kids who spoke it at home. I went to a Ukrainian-speaking church, but only knew my prayers and kitchen culture in Ukrainian.

Everything happens in relation to you when you are 12, right? I’m not going to pretend, as an adult, that I didn’t need to be reminded to be empathetic at 12. My feelings were too big to remember the feelings of others, at times. It seems like that is the biggest complaint amongst reviewers. Let’s just give Phoenny some of the grace and understanding she needs to learn herself.

I sincerely hope that adults reading reviews to see if they should buy this book for the middle schoolers in their lives choose to buy it. The perspectives in this story are well-established and well argued. We can all learn from them.

[Erica · Rating 3 out of 5]

When 13-year-old Phoenix, called Phee or Phoenny (pronounced Feenie, even though it looks like "phony"...it helps if you think of the name Phoebe - or Phoebby, I suppose...), returns to the summer camp her mother directs, with her best friend Lyrica, called Lyr (probably pronounced "leer" rather than"liar"), who is the daughter of Auntie Chu, the assistant director, it only takes a few hours for her joyful expectation to turn to sour disappointment and for it to be expressed in hostility to new campers.

Even though in my mind I heard their names as Phony & Liar for the entire book, in fact Phoenny and Lyr are good friends, honest and authentic people, and straightforward to everyone they meet. It felt almost surprising that their friendship was not a vehicle to talk about jealousy, competition, or any kind of relationship flaws - Phoenny & Lyr were exemplary friends, seemingly designed to show how stable a relationship can be in fiction; helpful, attentive, present, attuned or sensitive to one another's needs & interests, and there when you need them but able to happily be independent and hang out with others.

On the other hand Phoenny's crankiness is a facile vehicle to show all the didactic lessons of the book; that young people should be welcoming, accepting, broad-minded, and inclusive. Phee figures out on her own that she'd rather be friendly than hostile, and she explains her thinking pretty clearly.

The summer camp is intended for Chinese kids in the Boston area of the U.S. to get in touch with their cultural heritage, and the campers come from a variety of Chinese American homes - but this is the first year they have UNINTENTIONALLY included five girls adopted from China who all have white American parents. Different campers have different connections to Chinese culture - some speak fluent Mandarin or Cantonese, others don't, some grew up in households where Chinese crafts were practiced, others didn't. Some love Chinese cuisine, others reject it, etc. All of them are in this camp to connect or re-connect to the Chinese culture, but while some long for this summer camp all year, others came only unwillingly.

The girl camper's adoration of the cute, new, young CIT (counselor-in-training) from Hong Kong, and the older CIT who is Phee's older brother is realistic, but the author waited too long to have a character explain than any sort of relations between campers and CITs are prohibited, and why. And then to introduce a technical irrelevancy (Phee is one of the oldest campers, Harrison is the youngest CIT, making them only 1.5 years apart in age) that allows the two of them to feel fine about meeting in secret, seems like bad guidance in an otherwise very purposeful, didactic story.

In general, the girls' frequent flirting with the boys and the CITs made me uncomfortable and also seemed repetitive.

Actually, there was a lot that seemed repetitive - Phoenny's internal dialogue in which she reflects on her own exclusionary behavior and the assumptions that guided it, mentally adjusts to be more accepting, and then reframes to advise herself for future behavior, is repeated at least three full times, without much changing. Also we heard about the camp activities for several full days of camp - which could be great because many readers will feel as if they had actually attended the camp!

A threat by a racist online harasser (called a troll) feels gratuitous, but is a useful device for the campers, counselors, and directors to demonstrate some ways to handle racist hecklers. Likewise, Phee's allergic reaction to weasel fur in a paintbrush provided an example for responding to life-threatening allergies.

This novel gives some examples of intersectionality within the conversation about being a young Chinese person in America; when the various campers, CITs, and counselors eventually describe themselves, they include people who hold a variety of identities around language, facial features & hair, and family & location of origin. All of this is woven into a middle-school-level summer camp story, making it an easy vehicle for instruction - no teacher or bookclub discussion needed, but it would serve well for book reports when "diversity" is required or encouraged.

Added note: If you liked this, try the graphic novel Unhappy Camper by Lily LaMotte & AnnXu.

[Misti · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's Phoenny's last summer as a camper at Squee, the campers' affectionate nickname for Summertime Chinese Culture, Wellness, and Enrichment Experience. She can't wait to be reunited with her best friend Lyrica and the rest of the Squad, her camp friends. But when she arrives, she discovers that unwelcome changes have occurred. The Squad has been split up to accommodate a number of new campers, some of whom seem unhappy to be at Squee. Will their bad attitude ruin the vibe? Not all newcomers are unwelcome, however: new CIT Harrison makes Phoenny's heart pitter-patter. Phoenny won't be having exactly the summer she anticipated . . . but maybe that's a good thing?

Wang puts her finger right on the heart of summer camp and middle-school drama: cute boys, mean girls, insecurities, and cliques, plus camp activities designed to keep the campers busy round the clock. There's also an instance of anti-Asian trolling on social media that makes both campers and staff feel unsettled. It took me a surprisingly long time to read this book, and I felt at times like there was just too much going on. However, I think young readers will enjoy all of the drama and angst, and find it a realistic depiction of middle-school life, especially those who have experienced any kind of summer camp program.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Andrea Wang’s children’s books but this middle grade novel didn’t really do it for me. It fills an important gap in the middle grade book market, grappling with what it means to be Chinese American, whether as a first, second or third generation Chinese American, a China-born adoptee in a Caucasian American family, being a queer or questioning Chinese American etc.

The feel of the book reminded me of Judy Blume’s Just As Long As We’re Together, which I had read many, many decades ago; tween girls navigating the perils of friendship (are you in or are you out? Is my BFF still my BFF?) and first crushes, albeit in a Chinese American context.

But it was the dialogue that didn’t quite cut it for me. Maybe this is really how tweens speak (and Lord grant me patience when my kids reach this stage). When the characters have more serious discussions on identity - like the exchange the camp participants have on how each of them are “bad Asians” in different ways, or when they talk about how they connect or don’t connect with being Chinese - the dialogue felt stilted and awkward, as if Wang struggled to find the right balance between unpacking these issues sufficiently for a potentially non-Asian audience, while keeping to the tween tone.

Overall, it’s still a decent read but it just didn’t wow me.

[Yu Ying · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phoenny is looking forward to her last year as a camper this summer because she has always felt that the SQUEE is her safe place, surrounded by her best friends who share the same identity crises, struggles, and beauty of being Chinese-born Americans. I love how the author expands the scope to include transracial adoptees—McKenna, Teagan, and others—and first-generation immigrant Harrison, to explore what it means to be Chinese American. Of course, the story also captures the ups and downs of Phoenny’s coming-of-age journey. I found it especially interesting when the campers discuss what makes them a “bad” Asian, as if there were a fixed standard or societal expectation to be the “model minority.” They may share the same skin or hair color, but that does not necessarily make them the “same” people. For instance, Phoenny’s love for sewing is dismissed as merely an “interest” rather than a “serious aspiration,” reflecting her father’s traditional expectations. Yet she surprises everyone with the garments the campers wear at the fashion show. Sewing also becomes a powerful metaphor for emotional expression, since it is what Phoenny loves most. Altogether, this is a brilliant piece of work!

[Chrissy Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Phee is excited for her last year as a camper at Summertime Chinese Culture, Wellness, and Enrichment Experience aka SQUEE. She’s has gone there since she was 6. She can’t wait to get together with the Squad-all her friends that have been together forever. When she gets there she realizes that a set of new girls and now the Squad is split into 2. Phee meets 2 of the new campers and already has problems with them. What is her summer going to be like? Follow Phee and her friends through 2 weeks of camp. She learns to navigate through many changes-adoption, finding yourself, budding romance, internet trolls, just to name a few. Phee finds that camp is even better than she expected and she is so sad to see it end!

What a great story. It was a little hard to keep track of the characters at first, but soon I had them down. I did learn about Chinese culture and problems facing Asian students. I can see where this was gong to be a popular book for middle grade. Can’t wait to share this with others!

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

In SUMMER AT SQUEE Phoenny is excited about her last summer as a camper with her “squad” at a Chinese culture sleepaway camp, but soon finds that things aren’t going to work out exactly as she had planned. She arrives at camp and learns that she and her friends will be split between two different groups—and that her group will be joined by some newcomers to camp, who are nowhere near as excited about camp as Phoenny is. She clashes with the newcomers right away, but as the time at camp goes on, Phoenny learns more about the new campers and this helps her to change her views.

With its setting at a Chinese culture themed camp, identity and culture are at the center of the story. As the perspectives of the different campers emerge, readers will see Phoenny become more aware and understanding of the views of those around her. The focus on friendships, exploration of the Chinese culture, and the typical tween/teen summer camp hi-jinks and crushes make SUMMER AT SQUEE a fun summer read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of the book to read and review.

[Diana of Shelved by Strand · Rating 3 out of 5]

Summer at Squee takes the best of summer camp memories and overlays them with a cultural element for campers with a Chinese heritage. I appreciated all Wang incorporated into this book as it opened my eyes to the many ways of being Chinese American, especially when the campers shared why they were “Bad Asians” or the transracial adoptees shared their experiences. Being that this book was billed as middle-grade fiction, I wish it had been targeted squarely there. Going into 8th grade is a hard age and I know that many of the readers in my classes will not like this title because of the sappy crush elements that tip over into whether a 13-year old should be dating, particularly dating an older boy. That element made me uncomfortable, along with some of the overly positive messages and behavior changes. I’m glad to have learned more about Chinese culture camps, but this isn’t a must-purchase title for my classroom library. Thanks to NetGalley for this digital copy for review.

[Ivy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phoenny Fang and her friends are pumped for their last summer as campers at Chinese culture camp, affectionately known as Squee. There are so many campers her age this year though that they have been split into two groups and she won't be together with all of her friends. Also, some of the new girls in her group act like they don't want to be there. This last year of camp is definitely going to be different than Phoenny pictured. Will she and the other girls ever get along? Why come to a Chinese culture camp if you don't want to learn about being Chinese? Phoenny and her friends must learn that even though they all may be ethnically Chinese, they all have vastly different experiences. This is a great middle grades book filled with typical camp experiences as well as the addition of cultural content.

I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.