Camp Rolling Hills

Camp Rolling Hills #1

by Stacy Davidowitz

A hilarious and heartfelt series about the particular magic of summer camp—a place where reinvention is possible and friends are like family—from a sparkling debut talent.

Finally, it's summer! Stephanie—aka Slimey—has been counting the days until she can return to her favorite place in the entire world, Camp Rolling Hills. And this year she's especially happy to be back—she'll have eight blissful weeks away from home, where life has been decidedly rocky.
         New kid Bobby, on the other hand, is pretty sure he's in for the worst summer of his life. He does not understand his weirdo cabinmates, the group singing, and the unfortunate nicknames (including his: Smelly). But he does understand Slimey, and the two soon fall in crush. This summer might not be so bad after all!
         But then a fight sets off an epic, campwide, girls-versus-boys prank war. Bunks are raided! Boxer shorts are stolen! And it's up to Slimey and Smelly to keep the peace.

"Camp Rolling Hills is funny and sweet. It brought me back to those amazing summer camp summers and my very first taste of young adulthood." --Michael Showalter, co-writer of Wet Hot American Summer

"Stacy Davidowitz gets the magic of camp and the wonder of being twelve just right. Camp Rolling Hills is both heartwarming and laugh-out-loud hilarious." --Elissa Brent Weissman, author of Nerd Camp
 

Genres: Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Friendship, Childrens, Fiction, Romance, Art

256 pages, Paperback

First published May 10, 2016

About the author

Stacy Davidowitz is a Manhattan-based author, playwright, and screenwriter. Her Camp Rolling Hills four-book series is published by Abrams – Amulet. Her plays include The Rubber Room (Old Vic; Naked Angels), PINK! (NYIT Nominee; Lark Finalist), Sacred Water (Rag and Bone), JOAN: Voices in the Fire (co-writer, The Guthrie), and Miracle Village (Stage Left). Her musicals include Hank & Gretchen, Camp Rolling Hills, and One Day. Her short plays have been produced at The Flea, Sam French, Williamstown, NYMadness, Amios, NYMF, etc. Stacy’s screenplay adaptation of The Rubber Room is in pre-production with All the Way Around. Published by Broadway Play Publishing, Indie Theater Now, YouthPLAYS, Steele Spring Stage Rights. Education: BADA; BS, Tufts University; MFA in Acting, Columbia University.

Reviews

[Jessie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book smelly and slimey (no they are not actually named smelly and slimey) are so cute together. OH and they are not even the best part, the best part when the main two camps (boys vs. girls) has a battle (because of complications) and when the boys raided there cabin by pooping in there toilet, taking all there deodorant(and other stuff), and leaving a horrendous yet hilariously funny mess. and when the girls saw oh were they mad, they decided to take action and steal there underwear! Oh god, never had I had so much fun reading a book before and literally i was begging for more of the fantastic yet dirty prank wars. though the fun ended after only two big pranks (one by boys and one by girls) and I can't wait to read the next book! though sadly the book is owned by a friend that i borrowed from. but I still want the 2nd book, which, hopefully be even more awesome! (i will probably buy the 1st and 2nd myself, sometime.)

[Marian · Rating 5 out of 5]

* I received this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. All opinions are my own!

It's Summer again and everybody is thrilled that it's time to head back to Camp Rolling Hills for another summer of sports, arts & crafts, and just general together-ness. Stephanie (a.k.a. Slimey) is pretty much leading the pack in excitement. She's pretty much recovered from her Dad passing away last summer and can't wait to be back with her bunkmates and her best friend, Melman.

Meanwhile, new camper Bobby (a.k.a. Smelly) is in another boat. Normally he attends baseball camp but his parents wanted him to go away for the Summer so that they could try to "work things out" so that's how he wound up at Camp Rolling Hills. After he meets his bunkmates for the first time, he's not sure if he wants to try to fit in, or start running in the opposite direction as fast as possible.

1. Summer Camp! I love a good Summer Camp story, as do a lot of people. Just look at Michael Showalter's (co-writer of Wet Hot American Summer) quote on the front cover. This book is filled with so much humor and fun and it's clear that Stacy Davidowitz is very familiar with all things camp.

2. I loved the characters! First there's the girl's cabin which is led by counselor Sara. I laughed so hard at all of their interactions with each other whether it was The J Squad shrieking at each other or Slimey consoling her counselor. Everything was really clever.

3. The boys cabin was funny in a lot of different ways. The scene where they try to come up with a nickname for Bobby is hilarious. I also laughed as they gave a rundown of everybody else's nicknames, like Totle and Play Dough. Their counselor Rick was funny too. I liked how he was able to work with Bobby and teach him guitar.

4. A lot of the different things that went on made me feel nostalgic for childhood, like dances and first crushes and those care free summer days where you don't have to worry about anything besides not getting sunburn. Not gonna lie, the final campfire scene definitely warmed my heart.

5. There is another book! 2 more books! I have a copy of the second one for review so you can expect me to read & review that on the blog within the next couple of weeks.

Sure, Camp Rolling Hills is a middle grade book, but it's filled with humor and will make you smile. I recommend this book to you if you like nostalgia and summer and summer camp! Also, if you have any kids or know any kids you should definitely have them check it out. I would have loved a book series like this when I was a kid! :)

Take care,
Marian

[Mrs Mommy Booknerd http://mrsmommybooknerd.blogspot.com · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to head to camp and meet these kids. This an amazing book! Filled with heart, fun, sun and camp shenanigans. Davidowitz has brilliantly captured the emotions that arise and interpersonal relationships that develop while at camp. Any kid would love to open this book and head to Camp Rolling Hills. Whether they have attended camp or not they will laugh, feel and maybe learn a few new ways to interact with other kids. This is the first book in a series that will surly become a favorite for you and your kids... 5 stars

[Katharine Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughter loved the book! She couldn't put it down. Now other kids in the class want to read it.

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

it was really good

[January · Rating 3 out of 5]

Camp Rolling Hills by Stacy Davidowitz
Camp Rolling Hills #1
5h 41m narrated by the author, 256 pages

Genre: Juvenile Fiction, Humor, Middle Grade, Young Adult

Featuring: Long, Island and Upstate, New York; New Jersey, 12-year-olds, New Kid, Hill Names, Summer Camp, Singing, Letters, Corny Slang, Unnumbered Chapters, Titled Chapters, Nicknames, Toilet Humor, First-Crush Trope, Marital Issues, Anxiety, Pranks, Assumptions , First Dating Relationship Trope

Rating as a movie: PG/PG-13 for crude humor and sexual innuendos

Songs for the soundtrack: "Michelle" by The Beatles, "Layla" by Eric Clapton, "Kayleigh" by Fish

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️🏕
My son's rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My thoughts: 📱9% 31:47 seventeen minutes into When You've Got A Nickname... and twenty--three minutes from Icebreakers - This story is already on my nerves. I couldn't finish the second chapter. My kid is interested and I'm in an irritable mood (minor surgery). So I'm going to sleep on it and get his opinion in the morning. I think I'm finally going to try one of those sleep books.
📱11% 37:48 ⏮️23m When You've Got A Nickname 17m⏭️ - My son insisted I listen with him so I had to restart the book, it's better the second time around but not much, we got phone calls so I didn't get much farther.
📱29% 1:37:19 Treading Lightly - These kids are so annoying. 🙄 Unfortunately for me my kid thinks only the 3J's are annoying and already wants to read the rest of the series (hopefully solo), he thinks the story is cringy but funny.
📱55% 3:06:32 Campstock - This has improved a lot, some much so that my son will be finishing it without me because he doesn't want to wait till the next car ride.

So, my son finished this last night and thought it was okay, he is interested in reading the rest of the series and gave it 4 stars. I finished it this morning and I'm not a fan. The story was much better after I built an immunity to the excessive toilet humor, I wouldn't have liked this as a kid. It was just okay for me, I will not be continuing. Also, this book is considered Middle Grade (8-12) but some of the jokes may not be suitable for parents with kids in that age group, for example, there is a kid named Ben Dover, and references to going backstage to fool around, tampons, and examining a tooth by kissing.

Recommend to others: Maybe. I think if you're a fan of Bunk'd you'd like this series.

Camp Rolling Hills
1. Camp Rolling Hills (2016)
2. Crossing Over (2016)
3. Breakout! (2017)
4. Freefall (2018)

[Cecelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

SO FREAKING CUTE THIS ENTIRE BOOK WAS ADORABLE. Was not planning on becoming attached to this series but welp it's gonna happen.

[Annieee · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's really good.

[Kay]

Definitely An addictive dad. The characters pull a prank war - girls vs boys cabins, adding a humorous feeling to the book. Character names like Smelly and PlayDough also add to humor.

[Adeline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very entertaining and exciting also funny with 'summer campy' humor.

[YAYOMG]

We received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. Review will also be available on yayomg.com when the book is released.

"Camp Rolling Hills" by Stacey Davidowtiz is the absolute perfect summer read for anyone who’s ever been to camp, had a crush, or felt a little insecure in their own skin.

"Camp Rolling Hills" captures the magic of heading off to camp for the summer. The freedom of no parents. The chance to be someone different than who you are back home. S’mores. Three legged races. Nicknames. Bunk raids that turn into epic underwear scavenger hunts - and of course - the summer crush! The first book, “First Base” is told from two perspectives - Smiley and Smelly.

Smiley is a girl who recently lost her father, but doesn’t like to share her sadness with others. She generally keeps a pretty optimistic personality, especially when it comes to summer camp. Camp Rolling Hills is her most favorite place on Earth, and she’s so excited to see her camp friends and start her year as an Upper Camper. Unfortunately, her camp bestie, Melman, doesn’t really understand the point of having a boyfriend. She’s reluctant to share her friends with boys, so Smiley tries to hide her crush on Smelly.

Smelly is the new kid at camp who struggles with pretty hardcore anxiety issues. He loves baseball and generally goes to baseball camp in the summer, but this year, his parents sent him off to Camp Rolling Hills while they work out their problems. Smelly is reluctant at first, and finds the camp to be filled with kids he can’t relate to. Why does everyone have a weird nickname? And why must his be SMELLY?

Smiley and Smelly become fast friends, as they find each other not only really cute, but really easy to talk to about some of the harder things in their lives, like their parent struggles. As each others first crushes, the book does a really great job of making you root for these two as every first hand holding and other adorably seemingly regular, yet totally magical moments unfold between them. Unfortunately, when it comes time for the Midsummer Dance, things somehow go from totally fine to completely out of control. Smiley and Smelly end up in a huge fight that ultimately leads to a bunk raid of epic proportions.

Can Smiley and Smelly make up before the end of camp bonfire? You’ll have to read it to find out.

We didn’t read the second book in the series, “Crossing Over”, but it’s told from the perspective of Melman and Steinberg, two characters you meet in the first book, but don’t really learn too much about. We know that Melman is super into soccer and Steinberg loves building robots - but they’re definitely side characters in “First Base”. Thankfully, these two interesting characters get to tell their side of the story in “Crossing Over”.

One other really cute thing about the book is that in between some of the chapters, you get to read some of the letters the campers have written home to their friends and family. Some of the letters actually divulge a bit about the plot or how much time has passed, so you’ll definitely want to read them.

We definitely recommend this series for anyone looking for a really cute summer read or any kid who’s totally nuts for camp like Smiley and the gang.

[Valerie McEnroe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Adult rating: 3 stars
Kid rating: 4 stars

This book was a bit of a disappointment because I wanted to give it 4 stars but couldn't due to the author's decision to add questionable material. Slimey is returning for another summer at her beloved Camp Rolling Hills. This year she is in the 12-year-old girls cabin, Anita Hill. Robert is the new camper in the 12-year-old boys cabin, San Juan Hill. Normally he goes to baseball camp, but this year his parents decided to send him to a longer camp so they could sort out their marriage struggles. Robert has anxiety, so when he enters the happy chaos of San Juan cabin he's sure his summer is going to be a bust. Then his cabin mates rename him Smelly in the naming ritual, and he's so upset he zips himself up in his duffle bag.

The two cabins pair up for many of their activities. Slimey and Smelly take an instant attraction to one another, but play it cool as just friends. Then a big mix-up happens at the dance, and Slimey wants nothing further to do with Smelly. Their friendship goes through further complications during the dual cabin raids. In the end, all is forgiven, relationships are mended, and Smelly realizes he kind of likes the weirdos in his cabin.

Honestly, this is a fun, engaging summer camp book. I love the characters, the cabin raids and the Campstock talent show. In truth, I think this is probably the way summer camp really is for 12-year-olds, so I'm conflicted on this review. I don't mind that one of the boys tries to convince Smelly to get Slimey backstage for a kiss in the dark. What I mind is the small stuff that doesn't add anything to the story and doesn't need to be there. For example, when the boys raid the girls cabin, Play Dough poops in the girls toilet and describes it as birthing a big one. Gross. Another boy puts a tampon up his nose. Gross. I suppose girls around 6th grade are the target audience, but since my library serves 4-6, I can't include this one. 7th and 8th graders tend to go for YA, which this book is not. From a school library standpoint, it's kind of caught in no man's land. I'm not writing this book off, just suggesting you read and decide for yourself.

[Cindy Hudson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slimey loves everything about Camp Rolling Hills, and she can’t wait to spend her summer there. Robert, aka, Smelly, is a first timer, and he would surely be at baseball camp if his parents hadn’t made him go to Rolling Hills while they try to patch up their marriage.

When Slimey and Smelly meet, they are instantly attracted. Soon, they are confiding things in each other they feel they can’t tell anyone else. But after a misunderstanding at the camp dance, the boys’ cabin and the girls’ cabin trade pranks in an escalating war. It may be up to Slimey and Smelly to patch things up with the two groups.

Camp Rolling Hills by Stacy Davidowitz is a great summer read for children aged 8 to 11, whether they attend summer camp or not. Davidowitz captures the mix of emotions that can arise when kids get to spend weeks at a time with each other in a place where they may experience camaraderie, acceptance, rejection, loneliness, and more.

At times laugh-out-loud funny, this opener in the series sets the stage for stories about a range of campers with different personalities, which I expect will unfold with more books. It’s a fun world to enter. Letters home from several characters helps readers get to know them and their quirks, as does journal entries, sketches, and other bits of information.

The publisher provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Michelle Kidwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Camp Rolling Hills
Book One
by Stacy Davidowitz

ABRAMS Kids

Amulet PaperbacksMiddle Grade, Children’s Fiction

Pub Date May 10, 2016

I was given a copy of Camp Rolling Hills Book One through the Publisher and there partnership with Netgalley in exchange for my honest review which is as follows:

It’s Slimey’s first year at Upper Camp and she is looking forward to spending it with her Soul Sister/BFF. Soon she meets a Camper she is starting to develop feelings for but another camper is interested in Bobby the new boy as well.

Will Bobby and Slimey become boyfriend and girlfriend?

Camp Rolling Hills Book One is geared towards Middle Schoolers and I think there are aspects both girls and boys of that age will enjoy.

I give this book four out of five stars

Happy Reading

[Kellee Moye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full review with teaching tools and author interview: http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=9899

The crazy cast of characters are what really make this book. Oh, and the reminiscing of camp. Camp really is something that is hard to explain unless you go yourself, but Stacy Davidowitz does a great job bringing the reader into Camp Rolling Hills and all of its quirkiness. And to add to the quirkiness, the characters in the books are so much fun! They are quite the mix of personalities. From stereotypical girly-girls to a cat-obsessed, sweet girl to a do gooder to a philosophical jock. Their interactions and characterization are what keep you reading the most! I also love the mix of letters home throughout the books.

[Cara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slimey (Stephanie) has been going to Camp Rolling Hills for years, so to her it feels like home, even though last summer was tainted by the news of her dad’s death. Smelly (Bobby) is new to camp this year, since his parents are trying to sort out their relationship at home; being the new guy with anxiety problems is even worse. Slimey and Smelly meet and develop a cute crush, which is complicated by a misunderstanding that leads to escalating pranks between the girls’ and boys’ cabins. Filled with letters home and even illustrations at the end, it will make readers nostalgic for summer camp. A sweet romance appropriate for younger readers paired with the gross-out humor of the boys’ cabin gives this book wide appeal with fourth through sixth graders.

[Charity · Rating 4 out of 5]

For full review please go to: 5girlsbookreviews.blogspot.com, Twitter @camartinez and Facebook "5 Girls Book Reviews"

REVIEW BY: Michaela, age 11 years, 8 months

MAY CONTAIN SPOILER:

I enjoyed this book very much.

The relationship between Smelly and Slimey is so nice that when you are reading the book, you feel like you are wrapped in a furry blanket. When you get to the hilarious part(s) you feel like you are actually there.

My favorite character was Rick because he is soooo relaxed and the way the author describes him, I would not mind him being my cabin counselor.

My favorite part is when the girls steal all of the boys' underwear.

[julia zoel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this when I was barely 12 I think and that was a long time ago but still I can remember how cute it was. Everything is this book is so cute and I know that would probably be a pretty basic or even bad word to describe a book but it was just so... cute. The friendships, the little love story and everything. I love how it also talks about how to deal with loss and sadness because both of the main characters are going through some pretty big things and changes in their lives but they can still learn to be and feel happy. I just love and adore that so much, definitely such a good and “cute” read. ❤️

[Aberforth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute book geared for kids about 8-13 years old. It's a fun story about camp that I think most kids would enjoy. I liked the fact that the series features kids going through a variety of different issues - a child facing the aftermath of a parent's death, another with parents divorcing, one who just moved out of the country due to their parent's work situations, kids with anxiety... It's nice for kids to see characters facing issues they may be dealing with on their own with those issues not necessarily being the entire plot of the book.

[Michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

i was given a free copy of this book by the publisher at ALA.

totally enjoyable book for young teens about summer camp with many hijinks and friendships and learning to be yourself moments. there was one part I was actually snorting with laughter. sadly I gave the book away to a teenager before noting down the bit of dialogue that caused all the hilarity. but you can just read it for yourself and try to guess what I found so funny.

I'm delighted to see there's a sequel about Melman which I will now have to try to find at the library.

[Liam Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cool book. I enjoyed the romance in the book (never really liked romance in other books) very realistic
but the kissing scenes made me get the "bag"(I didn't actually barf I just gagged a little) its funny and helps me know when problems happen I can always say, hey at least I'm not this kid. One of my favorite books with two kids at a camp (Rolling Hills) who switch each chapter and do stuff you would normally do in a camp. Overall a great book with LOL.:D

[Orangetails · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, so this book had great potential. The story was sweet, I liked the characters, and the setting was realistic. But a few things turned me off. First off, 12 year olds shouldn't be kissing, in my opinion. And then there were other things, too, like mentioning that one of the girls hid her lipstick in the bust of her swimsuit. Like...yeah, that made sense, but I still don't appreciate mentioning that. So, I might be reading the next books, but I might not. :/

[sayitwithasmile · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I wasn't a camp kid growing up. Like one of our main characters Bobby, I mostly did sports camps (and mine were generally only a week long) which have a much different vibe that a regular summer-long sleep-away camp. I also grew up on the South Shore of Massachusetts, where family vacation homes on Cape Cod were the norm (though sadly, not for my family), not summer camp. That being said, having lived and worked in NYC for the last 5 years (and in the theater industry at that), I know so many camp people so was guffawing at this cute and light juvenile fiction book that, at least from an outsiders perspective, completely captures the obsessive cult-ness of camp culture.

Slimey, so nicknamed for a typo of her familial nickname "Smiley", is going back to her favorite place on Earth for her fourth summer in a row. She gets to be with her best friend, Melman, who recently moved across seas to London, and a new boy whom she meets on the bus ride there. Bobby, the bus boy, is new to camp. His parents are going through some issues and sent him away for the summer so they could sort things out. Camp hijinks ensue and you get 250 pages of ridiculousness and heartwarming fun.

Immediately after starting this book I texted my friends who are camp people to tell them about this series. Davidowitz writes so well for younger readers and after devouring her new book, The Chance to Fly, which is co-written with Broadway star and Tony winner Ali Stroker, I can see that Davidowitz shines in characterizing groups of young kids being passionate about their favorite things. As a theater lover, The Chance to Fly was much more up my alley in terms of geeking out with the kids on the page. However, Camp Rolling Hills proves that the passion and cuteness shines through no matter if you are the same wavelengths as the kids involved. I did cringe at the cabin raid fight that occurred (the sheer grossness of leaving poop in the toilet, TP and silly string all over the place, and stealing of personal objects was beyond me... maybe it's a camp thing lol) and questioned the responsibility of the adults in the story. The camp counselors all seem to be in high school rather than in college and beyond (which was my camp experience) and seemed like they needed to be a little more responsible!

This is a super cute book (and series, which I look forward to continuing) that is perfect for camp lovers, those that want to understand camp lovers (#me), and anyone who enjoys passionate groups of kids being kids.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stephanie (I just refuse to call her "Slimey"--if she'd been called pretty much anything else, I would have added another star, but I loathed the nickname) is dying to get to Camp Rolling Hills for eight weeks of her favorite world, and eight weeks away from the difficult life where she's just lost her father. She's not going to tell anyone; she just wants to be who she's always been at camp, with the girls she's known forever. Bobby has social anxiety and panic attacks, and is furious that his divorcing parents are sending him to camp for eight weeks--he's never been to camp before. His first impressions are not favorable. It's too hilly, his cabinmates seem like members of a cult he doesn't want to belong to, and they christen him with the camp nickname of Smelly for no real reason. But then he meets Stephanie, and somehow, they find they can talk to each other. Well, that is until the disaster of the camp dance, when Bobby stupidly listens to the advice of his cabinmates and screws everything up. Soon, the two cabins are at war, with raids and stolen underwear and stinky fish. Ah, another blissful summer at Camp Rolling Hills!

I'm a huge camp fan, so I generally love camp stories, and there were parts of this I liked a lot. The world was really well-built, and the activities were all very camp, and I especially appreciated the interstitial letters home that showed the personalities of the various writers. There was a lot of humor here, and if I wished some of it had not been toilet humor, I worked at a boys' school so I know it's on point. There were an awful lot of characters and I couldn't keep them all straight, but the main characters were well drawn and sympathetic. I think if kids can overlook the off-putting names, they'll like this one. (I mean, Slimey isn't even her camp nickname--it's her regular nickname. I mean, what??)

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given this book by NetGalley and Abrams kids in exchange for my honest review. This was such a fun book. It made me wish for my summer camp days again. This book is filled with all the things you find at camp, fun, friends, songs and more. The author, Stacy Davidowitz has the talent to share the emotions and relationships which occur at camp. This would be a great book for any child to read, whether they have ever been to a summer camp or not. This book is rated my highest rating: 5 stars

[Ashley Waugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this with my 9 year old. We loved it! There is some more mature content (like talking about going “around the bases”), so I did change some wording as I read aloud to her at bedtime. It was fun and although there are a lot of characters, they were easy to get to know.

[Zach Strassburger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun young adult book. I knew I would love the summer camp aspect, but I didn’t expect to like the characters as much as I did. Pretty formulaic/predictable plot, but it was still sweet. Writing simple enough for my 9 year old, but topics better for maybe 11 or 12+.

[Seorin · Rating 5 out of 5]

i got so into this book that i felt like the world ended when i finished the book. I love it, and now i won’t be able to sleep because i finished it 😭😭😭

if the author is reading this!

PLEASEEEEE write a book about sara, and rick.

[Sarah Threlkeld · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and entertaining book that's perfect for middle school readers looking for a bit of romance.

[Molly · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn’t like it, it was boring, she mainly in the first few chapters saying she had an ugly nose and she got a nose job (at like twelve?)