The vibe of this middle grade novel is fun-filled and upbeat from the first page. The pranks, friends, and laughs make the reader not only want to be there, but it pulls the reader right into the cultural overnight camp.

This book is about a Chinese American tween who is attending her final summer at camp – a camp where she has grown up with her best friend.

This year, though, her usual friend squad is split up and new attendees add an element to the experience she did not anticipate. The events turn out to be transformative and Phoenny grows more than she ever thought possible.

I really enjoyed this middle grade book about Phee and her “squad” who are attending their last year at a sleepaway Chinese Cultural Camp. This was a fun book that also tackled some serious subjects, but did so in a way that didn’t make the book too heavy. There are lots of middle school themes like pulling pranks, crushes, not getting along with fellow campers and figuring out who they are in the world. The underlying theme of racism appears when people write negative comments on the camp website. I liked the way the author handled this serious subject matter. The characters were likable and I loved Phee’s spirit. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

Summer at Squee is a relatable, realistic fiction book filled with summer camp, fashion, crushes, and friend drama that will appeal to many readers 4th grade and up. I appreciated that the author consulted with Asian American adoptees when writing the book.

My one issue with the book was that there were too many characters to keep track of. The OG squad at the camp had 8-10 members, not to mention the various new campers, the counselors, and other campers. I had trouble keeping track of them, and feeling invested in many of the storylines as there were simply too many of them.

Phoeny has attended Summertime Chinese Culture, Wellness, and Enrichment Experience (aka Squee Camp) for years. Her mom is the director and she has lifelong friends from camp. Now in 8th grade, this is her last year as a camper. Lots to like about this book: fun camp antics, the sense of belonging that campers feel, the friction with the new campers who are adoptees and not raised by Chinese parents. However there's a bit too much going on in this book. I felt like there was a mismatch between the age of the campers and the intended audience. (Although innocent, there is romance involving counselors but otherwise the book felt solidly like at book for 5th and 6th graders.) Some other story lines could have been left out (mom being the director perhaps?) Still a great addition to any library.

Having grown up going to Jewish summer camp, I found Phee's experiences at Chinese summer camp extremely relatable. It is her last summer as a camper, and Phee and the rest of her squad of friends are so excited about. Unfortunately, there are a bunch of new girls their year and they are separated. To add to the tension, many of the new girls are not happy about being at camp. While Phee and her friends are growing up in Chinese families, the new girls are transracial adoptees growing up in white families. This leads to a lot of tension between the girls. Through authentic conversations and several fun activities, they work out their differences and learn to appreciate each other's perspectives. This is a great summer story and would be especially fun to read while at sleep away camp! Recommended for grades 4 & up.

This was a fun read! despite not being chinese nor american i found myself being able to relate to the ideas and familiarities of one owns culture, and the complex feelings behind it. Phee deals with alot of change throughout the novel and it is presented and written well, though i did struggle to immerse myself into the book. This book is perfect for young children above the age of 8 who come from backgrounds like Phee or similar. It is straightforward and the writing flows well, and even anyone above the age range will enjoy this

At first I was so confused but once I get into it was pretty enjoyable!!

It's quick, funny and I like it. It's nothing special but it's pretty much what it says it'll be. Nothing more, nothing less.

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.

It took me a bit to get into this novel, but once I figured out who all the characters were (there are a lot for a middle grade novel to keep track of), I enjoyed my time at Chinese cultural camp. I loved the friendships, crushes, and character arc of Phee as she learned how to view others with an open mind. I learned so much about Chinese culture and have a new appreciation for adoptees--every chapter is packed with Chinese food, history, art, and more. I found the detailed sewing project descriptions made this story drag and think some of this could have been cut to keep the pacing better. I would enjoy reading a second book with these characters, possibly returning as counselors in training for the following summer camp.