Unhappy Camper

By Lily LaMotte, Ann Xu (Illustrator), Sunmi (Illustrator)

Two sisters clash over cultural identity at summer camp. Will they reconcile or drift further apart?

3.8/5 Goodreads · 716 ratings

208 pages· 12,028 words· Est. 2 hour read

$15.99Save 6%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

Sisters Claire and Michelle are at odds—Claire embraces their Taiwanese heritage, while Michelle wants to fit in at school. Sent to a Taiwanese American summer camp, they must navigate their differences. As they reconnect, Michelle faces a choice: embrace her culture or conform to the popular crowd. Will the camp mend their bond, or will their paths diverge forever?

From the publisher

“Moments of humor captured through playful anime-like facial expressions and gestures propel the plot forward in whimsical fashion.” –The Horn Book”With compassion, the story teaches the benefits of embracing one’s identity… A worthy addition to any middle or high school library.” –School Library JournalFrom the acclaimed creators of Measuring Up, author Lily LaMotte and illustrators Ann Xu and Sunmi, comes a graphic novel about two sisters–one who embraces her Taiwanese culture and one eager to do away with it–who rebuild their bond at a Taiwanese American summer camp. Perfect for fans of Be Prepared and Sisters, this is a heartwarming story about the importance of being true to yourself. Would you rather blend in or stand out? Claire and Michelle used to be best friends, but now the two sisters couldn’t be more different. Michelle will do anything to fit in, even if it means denying her Taiwanese culture, whereas Claire is proud of who she is. So much so that she decides to become a junior counselor at a Taiwanese American summer camp. Sensing a rift between the two, their parents decide to send them both off to camp, much to Michelle’s dismay. As summer continues, both sisters learn more about their culture and each other. But Michelle must eventually decide to either embrace her culture and family or assimilate into the popular group at school. Which will she choose?

At a glance