Summary: Melody is ready for a new adventure: summer camp! She's both scared and excited, but she's ready for it. The camp is a specialty camp for kids with disabilities, like Melody. She's going to swim, make new friends, get a crush, and even ride a horse -- and she cannot wait!
Review: "Is this book necessary?" That was my initial thought when I first heard of this book's publication. I didn't think Melody needed more to her story. I read this book because I'm a completionist, but I went in incredibly reluctantly. However, I found myself really appreciating the happiness and closure that this story brought for Melody! I honestly hadn't realized that was lacking from the original. Yes, her story ended okay, but she didn't end up happy. Now, though, after this book, she has friends and a newfound sense of independence. I stand corrected in the need for this book!
I appreciated the various themes of this book, namely letting the girls be normal teenagers! They desperately wanted independence and to be left alone, which was incredibly relatable to real teenagers. There reactions and sense of humor were a bit cliche in terms of the writing, though. It was fine, but a bit forced. I think it may turn some kids off of the book due to the overly-positive nature of it, but it will also attract others for that reason, so who knows?! This all added to the overall message of hopefulness and the joy embedded within the story page after page.
The camp setting was also so much fun. It gave me some nostalgia for the summer camp I worked at about ten years ago. It was pretty interesting seeing all of the different activities that the campers did and how the camp accommodated them. Are they all accurate depictions of what could happen at a camp like this? Who's to say. It was, however, really enjoyable to read about. There was a boat ride, horseback riding, ziplining, swimming, and a dance. It was great seeing the kids get the opportunity to be kids and enjoy the same activities as everyone else who goes to camp.
There were a couple of things I didn't love in this book, though. First off: her narrative style. It was… meh. It felt different and significantly less serious than the first book. While that makes sense because the first book had much more serious subjects, it still felt weird since I went in with certain expectations that weren't met. I honestly think if this had been a standalone novel, I wouldn't have even clocked it, but it's a sequel… so… I did.
I also felt like there may have been slightly too many characters in the story. Between the campers and the counselors, there were a few too many names to keep track of who was who. I found myself flipping back to the chapter they were all introduced in on more than one occasion because I was so confused on who was who. It was survivable but still frustrating. With that being said, there was one character that this book was really suffering from not having: Mrs. V. I missed her so bad in this book! I very much get why she wasn't in this book since Melody was at camp the whole time, but boy would I have loved to have more Mrs. V content!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Recommended reader: Anyone who likes:
- Realistic Fiction
- Stories about friendship
- Characters with disabilities
- Cerebral palsy
- Summer camp
- Female empowerment
- Horseback riding
- Elements of romance
- Coming-of-age stories
Reviews of Previous Books:
Discussion Questions:
- Why was Melody so mesmerized by the fireflies? What did they symbolize to her? How so?
- How do other people perceive Melody? How do these perceptions make Melody feel about herself? How does she want her mom and others to begin treating her? Does this happen at camp? Why or why not?
- Why did Melody want to go to Camp Green Glades in the first place? How did she surprise herself while there? How did she change as a person while there? What allowed her to finally overcome her fear of being there and to just enjoy the experience?
- Who were the most important people that Melody met at camp? Why were these people important to her? How did they help to influence her camp experience in a positive way? What theme could the author be trying to include about friendship through this?
- Which of the various activities that Melody partook in do you think was the most meaningful to her? Why do you think this? Do you think there are others that were also meaningful? How so?
Specifics of the book:
- Genre: Realistic Fiction
- Lexile Level: 700L
- Accelerated Reader Level: 4.8 (10)
- Content Level: 5th
- Pages: 334
- Controversial Issues: None
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