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Camp QUILTBAG
From the acclaimed authors of Hurricane Season and Ana on the Edge, an unforgettable story about the importance of and joy in finding a community, for fans of Alex Gino and Ashley Herring-Blake.
Twelve-year-old Abigail (she/her/hers) is so excited to spend her summer at Camp QUILTBAG, an inclusive retreat for queer and trans kids. She can’t wait to find a community where she can be herself—and, she hopes, admit her crush on Laura Dern to kids who will understand.
Thirteen-year-old Kai (e/em/eir) is not as excited. E just wants to hang out with eir best friend and eir parkour team. And e definitely does not want to think about the incident that left eir arm in a sling—the incident that also made Kai’s parents determined to send em somewhere e can feel like emself.
After a bit of a rocky start at camp, Abigail and Kai make a pact to help each other find their footing, all while navigating crushes, their queer identities, and a competition pitting cabin against cabin.
Twelve-year-old Abigail (she/her/hers) is so excited to spend her summer at Camp QUILTBAG, an inclusive retreat for queer and trans kids. She can’t wait to find a community where she can be herself—and, she hopes, admit her crush on Laura Dern to kids who will understand.
Thirteen-year-old Kai (e/em/eir) is not as excited. E just wants to hang out with eir best friend and eir parkour team. And e definitely does not want to think about the incident that left eir arm in a sling—the incident that also made Kai’s parents determined to send em somewhere e can feel like emself.
After a bit of a rocky start at camp, Abigail and Kai make a pact to help each other find their footing, all while navigating crushes, their queer identities, and a competition pitting cabin against cabin.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published March 21, 2023
About the author
Nicole Melleby
14 books254 followersNicole Melleby, a Jersey native, is the author of highly praised middle-grade books, including the Lambda Literary finalist Hurricane Season and ALA Notable Children's book How to Become a Planet. She lives with her wife and their cats, whose needs for attention oddly align with Nicole’s writing schedule.
Feel free to follow her on Twitter @LadyMelleby
Feel free to follow her on Twitter @LadyMelleby
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews
July 21, 2023
This novel is about two queer kids, Abigail and Kai, who find themselves attending Camp QUILTBAG, a summer camp for queer or transgender youth. Both have found themselves struggling in their home-lives, with Abigail finding herself excluded and mocked by her friends after revealing her crushes on women, and nonbinary Kai facing bullying at school. During their time at camp, Abigail and Kai come together as friends and their time at the camp makes them more confident in themselves and their identities. An engaging middle grade chapter book, this book has valuable messages about friendship, identity, and confidence in yourself and who you are. – Madeline C.
September 22, 2022
Well, here I am, writing the first official review for this book and I'm so freaking happy.
I wasn't expecting to get so emotional over this book seeing as I am 27 years old and this book it's a middle grade summer camp book about 12-year-olds but from the second I saw this cover I knew this was going to be a good one.
Camp QUILTBAG is about a queer summer camps in Minnesota and kids from all over the country come to it. It's a 2-week summer camp and there is such a wide range of all sorts of kids of all different types of identities and representation at the camp.
Our first main character is Abigail (she/her/hers) who is pretty sure that she is a lesbian but she can't quite say the word yet. She goes to a Catholic school and has a crush on her best friend Stacy's mom (The millennial in me the absolutely loved this reference 😂) when Stacy found out about Abigail's crush, she was really really mean about it and Abigail is determined to find somewhere that she can safely explore her queer identity and maybe find some friends and so she starts searching out and finds camp QUILTBAG.
Then we have Kai (e/eir/em). Kai has been struggling with eir new pronouns, not necessarily the pronouns themselves but having people respect em. E didn't want to go to camp and was perfectly content to hang out with eir friends doing parkour but e finds out that maybe there's more to camp than e thought, and maybe a boy to crush on as well.
The majority of this book takes place at camp and we see the two of them get put into their cabins and begin to form friendships with their cabin mates. The whole camp is doing a sort of competition and Abigail and Kai form a sort of alliance. I loved all of the secondary characters, especially Bryn and Oren. We see Abigail and Kai make friendships and struggle to be confident and all of their feelings, emotions, and experiences.
At it'sheart this book is about acceptance and learning that even if you are not in a safe space in your day-to-day life, there is a safe community for you and a community that will welcome you with open arms. There are people who love you and accept you and want you to be happy no matter what. There are people who will always respect your name and pronouns and identity because that is the absolute bare minimum that we deserve. It is about how even if we aren't able to be immersed in this safe found family everyday, our community is still there for us and will help us and support us as we find our way. I think that this is an exceptionally important story for young queer kids to have access to.
I didn't cry while I was reading the book but I did cry at the end and when I finished because I cannot even imagine having such a safe space as a kid and I am so so happy that places like Camp QUILTBAG really do exist and there really are camps full of queer kids who are allowed to just exist and be exactly who they are.
A SAMPLING of the representation on page: lesbian, queer, nonbinary, trans, gay, bisexual, pansexual autistic, Jewish, Black, Latine, white. (This is just a handful of rep that I can remember off the top of my head)
I do wish there was more prominent aspec rep, even if one of the kids in the cabins mentioned it vs a small reference to a kid making an ace bracelet. A lot of this is focused on crushes, and while that's totally valid and awesome, it would've been extra cool to see some additional aro or ace rep. Also would've loved to see a fat camper or two or perhaps some conversations about disability and access to camp. But those are really my only comments.
I wasn't expecting to get so emotional over this book seeing as I am 27 years old and this book it's a middle grade summer camp book about 12-year-olds but from the second I saw this cover I knew this was going to be a good one.
Camp QUILTBAG is about a queer summer camps in Minnesota and kids from all over the country come to it. It's a 2-week summer camp and there is such a wide range of all sorts of kids of all different types of identities and representation at the camp.
Our first main character is Abigail (she/her/hers) who is pretty sure that she is a lesbian but she can't quite say the word yet. She goes to a Catholic school and has a crush on her best friend Stacy's mom (The millennial in me the absolutely loved this reference 😂) when Stacy found out about Abigail's crush, she was really really mean about it and Abigail is determined to find somewhere that she can safely explore her queer identity and maybe find some friends and so she starts searching out and finds camp QUILTBAG.
Then we have Kai (e/eir/em). Kai has been struggling with eir new pronouns, not necessarily the pronouns themselves but having people respect em. E didn't want to go to camp and was perfectly content to hang out with eir friends doing parkour but e finds out that maybe there's more to camp than e thought, and maybe a boy to crush on as well.
The majority of this book takes place at camp and we see the two of them get put into their cabins and begin to form friendships with their cabin mates. The whole camp is doing a sort of competition and Abigail and Kai form a sort of alliance. I loved all of the secondary characters, especially Bryn and Oren. We see Abigail and Kai make friendships and struggle to be confident and all of their feelings, emotions, and experiences.
At it'sheart this book is about acceptance and learning that even if you are not in a safe space in your day-to-day life, there is a safe community for you and a community that will welcome you with open arms. There are people who love you and accept you and want you to be happy no matter what. There are people who will always respect your name and pronouns and identity because that is the absolute bare minimum that we deserve. It is about how even if we aren't able to be immersed in this safe found family everyday, our community is still there for us and will help us and support us as we find our way. I think that this is an exceptionally important story for young queer kids to have access to.
I didn't cry while I was reading the book but I did cry at the end and when I finished because I cannot even imagine having such a safe space as a kid and I am so so happy that places like Camp QUILTBAG really do exist and there really are camps full of queer kids who are allowed to just exist and be exactly who they are.
A SAMPLING of the representation on page: lesbian, queer, nonbinary, trans, gay, bisexual, pansexual autistic, Jewish, Black, Latine, white. (This is just a handful of rep that I can remember off the top of my head)
I do wish there was more prominent aspec rep, even if one of the kids in the cabins mentioned it vs a small reference to a kid making an ace bracelet. A lot of this is focused on crushes, and while that's totally valid and awesome, it would've been extra cool to see some additional aro or ace rep. Also would've loved to see a fat camper or two or perhaps some conversations about disability and access to camp. But those are really my only comments.
October 17, 2024
SO CUTE AHHHHH
Obviously when I saw that the two best middle grade authors of our time were co-writing a book I had to read it, and it was so much fun! Probably should have saved it for a summer read, but it did fulfill the cabin/woods setting I needed for a challenge I'm currently doing. Abigail, Kai, Oren, Juliana, Bryn, and all of the other campers have my heart <3
Obviously when I saw that the two best middle grade authors of our time were co-writing a book I had to read it, and it was so much fun! Probably should have saved it for a summer read, but it did fulfill the cabin/woods setting I needed for a challenge I'm currently doing. Abigail, Kai, Oren, Juliana, Bryn, and all of the other campers have my heart <3
March 29, 2023
This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I am so glad that books like this one are available for middle-grade kids. I thought that this book did an excellent job of addressing issues that young adults might face due to their sexuality or gender identity. I think that anyone wanting to understand these issues better would benefit from reading this book, regardless of age, sexuality, or gender identity.
This story is told from two points of view. Abigail (she/her/hers) recently lost her friends when they learned that she had a crush on a friend’s mom and is eager to go to Camp QUILTBAG where she hopes to meet kids who understand. Kai (e/em/eir) doesn’t really want to go but Kai’s parents want em to go after an incident at school left em wearing a sling. Kai and Abigail form a pact to try to win points for Kai’s cabin and seem to have a special connection.
I thought that this was a fun story filled with a wonderfully diverse cast of characters. I love that the adults in the story were supportive of the campers and were willing to listen to their concerns and make changes when needed. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in reading a story that touches on some of the issues that queer and transgender youth might face.
I received a copy of this book from Algonquin Young Readers.
I am so glad that books like this one are available for middle-grade kids. I thought that this book did an excellent job of addressing issues that young adults might face due to their sexuality or gender identity. I think that anyone wanting to understand these issues better would benefit from reading this book, regardless of age, sexuality, or gender identity.
This story is told from two points of view. Abigail (she/her/hers) recently lost her friends when they learned that she had a crush on a friend’s mom and is eager to go to Camp QUILTBAG where she hopes to meet kids who understand. Kai (e/em/eir) doesn’t really want to go but Kai’s parents want em to go after an incident at school left em wearing a sling. Kai and Abigail form a pact to try to win points for Kai’s cabin and seem to have a special connection.
I thought that this was a fun story filled with a wonderfully diverse cast of characters. I love that the adults in the story were supportive of the campers and were willing to listen to their concerns and make changes when needed. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in reading a story that touches on some of the issues that queer and transgender youth might face.
I received a copy of this book from Algonquin Young Readers.
August 31, 2023
✩ 4 stars
~
“But what about the time after coming out, before it got better.”
~
this book is so wholesome & adorably sweet.
~
i love this book & the characters must be protected at ALL COSTS!!
~
anyways i loved this book & it made me wish i went to camp quiltbag when i was little instead of the religious indoctrination, clique filled camps i went to.
~
after i read this is our rainbow getting to revisit two of the characters of that book makes me so happy bc i loved that book.
~
anyways if u want a cute, heartwarming summer read then i highly recommend this book.
~
LAST SUMMER READ!!! ☀️👙🍉⛱️🌻BRING ON THE PUMPKIN SPICE & AUTUMN COLORS!!!! 🍂🍁🥮🎃👻🪦💀⚰️
~
“But what about the time after coming out, before it got better.”
~
this book is so wholesome & adorably sweet.
~
i love this book & the characters must be protected at ALL COSTS!!
~
anyways i loved this book & it made me wish i went to camp quiltbag when i was little instead of the religious indoctrination, clique filled camps i went to.
~
after i read this is our rainbow getting to revisit two of the characters of that book makes me so happy bc i loved that book.
~
anyways if u want a cute, heartwarming summer read then i highly recommend this book.
~
LAST SUMMER READ!!! ☀️👙🍉⛱️🌻BRING ON THE PUMPKIN SPICE & AUTUMN COLORS!!!! 🍂🍁🥮🎃👻🪦💀⚰️
March 22, 2023
Loved everything about this :)
April 10, 2023
I don’t know if it’s the fact that I never went to a sleep away camp or that I’ve always wanted to be a counselor for a queer summer camp, but this is the kind of book that makes me excited for summer… and I HATE summer.
QUILTBAG is the acronym for Queer, Unidentified, Intersex, Lesbian, Transgender, Bisexual, Asexual, Gay. (There are more than one meaning for each letter, but those are the ones that pop into my head first.) Now there are some really honest conversations about inclusivity contained inside of this book that I found really beautiful. LGBTQIA adds a + on the end, because the list is never ending. That’s because gender, sexual orientation, sexuality… it’s all fluid and always changing and growing, like we should be. So with that growth, our use of certain terms and words and sayings have to change as well.
That may seem like a heavy topic for a middle grade book, but we learn from an early age that we should be kind to one another. And camps like the fictional one in this book are teaching children that everyone has a place and a reason to be in this world. Camp QUILTBAG has a place and a reason for being in this world. I always say when I read a book that touches a special place in my heart that I wish I had it when I was child and I’ll say the same thing about this one. Maybe coming out and seeing myself as worthy to be would have been a lot easier, because let me tell you… it’s not easy.
I hope this book helps even one child know that they can be who they are and feel valid and know that they have a place in this world no matter what anyone says.
QUILTBAG is the acronym for Queer, Unidentified, Intersex, Lesbian, Transgender, Bisexual, Asexual, Gay. (There are more than one meaning for each letter, but those are the ones that pop into my head first.) Now there are some really honest conversations about inclusivity contained inside of this book that I found really beautiful. LGBTQIA adds a + on the end, because the list is never ending. That’s because gender, sexual orientation, sexuality… it’s all fluid and always changing and growing, like we should be. So with that growth, our use of certain terms and words and sayings have to change as well.
That may seem like a heavy topic for a middle grade book, but we learn from an early age that we should be kind to one another. And camps like the fictional one in this book are teaching children that everyone has a place and a reason to be in this world. Camp QUILTBAG has a place and a reason for being in this world. I always say when I read a book that touches a special place in my heart that I wish I had it when I was child and I’ll say the same thing about this one. Maybe coming out and seeing myself as worthy to be would have been a lot easier, because let me tell you… it’s not easy.
I hope this book helps even one child know that they can be who they are and feel valid and know that they have a place in this world no matter what anyone says.
July 24, 2023
Camp QUILTBAG follows Abigail (she/her) and Kai (e/em/eir) as they go to an LGBT camp by the same name. Both of these kids have difficulties in their personal lives and this camp ends up being a safe space for them.
I don’t often read middle grade but I found this heartwarming and entertaining. The characters are children so we deal with some misunderstandings and such but all the characters develop nicely. The plot is mainly just them at camp, mainly focusing on the competition going on as well as the characters personal conflicts. Overall, I’d definitely recommend for all fans of queer middle grade and are looking for a sweet camp story. Thanks to Algonquin for sending me a copy to read and review honestly!
I don’t often read middle grade but I found this heartwarming and entertaining. The characters are children so we deal with some misunderstandings and such but all the characters develop nicely. The plot is mainly just them at camp, mainly focusing on the competition going on as well as the characters personal conflicts. Overall, I’d definitely recommend for all fans of queer middle grade and are looking for a sweet camp story. Thanks to Algonquin for sending me a copy to read and review honestly!
August 16, 2024
This was so sweet! A new favorite queer middle grade. I loved this story and I know this would have been really impactful, even life-changing, for me to read as a twelve-year old. As an adult, it was such a fun and heartwarming time--I'd recommend this to any kid at my library!
October 30, 2022
I received a free eARC of this book. Thank you for the opportunity to read it.
Representation matters. So does having a place and being able to connect with others at least occasionally. Summer camps that serve specific populations often provide that connection. CAMP QUILTBAG is the story of a group of LGBT+ middle school kids who connect at a camp designed just for them.
There is a lot to like about this book. A lot of kids who do not normally find representation will see themselves in this book, whether they are an agender kid who uses neopronouns, a trans, autistic, pan kid, or a kid who has crushes that their friends cannot understand.
Having said that, there are times, particularly early on, where this book feels kind of like it’s falling into the “Five Token Band” trope, specifically because it feels like it went down the list and ticked boxes and became a roll call of names and pronouns. Having said that, it gets better as the characters develop.
Possible Spoilers ahead——
There is one thing that I really, really want to see changed if this book has a new edition. And that is that obviously these kids have supportive parents. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be attending a $1000/week speciality camp that for most requires flying to get there. Therefore, it really seems a miss that only one of the parents, as far as I can tell, has made any effort to get their child out of a situation where they are facing ostracism, verbal abuse, or, in Kai’s case, actual queer bashing that has caused fairly severe injuries. As a mother, the idea that Abigail will have to go back to a Catholic school where she was outed by her former best friend and is getting homophobic content in classes from the teachers is appalling. Kai having to go back to a school where e is regularly misgendered, deadnamed, and was attacked by two of eis classmates, and, based on events in the book, it seems likely the injury will be chronic and cause long term changes in Kai’s life is even more so. Bryn is having to see himself through puberty and gender dysphoria, and isn’t comfortable even coming out at school yet. All of these kids need more than 2 weeks at camp can provide, and the fact that the book ends without addressing that really bothers me. I want a prologue zoom call, 6 weeks later, where Kai and Abigail are talking about their new schools, where they are both involved in the GSA and have friends who understand them. I want to hear that Kai is back doing Parkour and Stick is dancing, , where Bryn has an appointment with a pediatric endocrinologist and is seeing a therapist, and where Owan invites them to his upcoming Bar Mitzvah, and Juliana is talking about her Quincenera. Where things aren’t perfect, but where they’re getting better, and where those camp friendships are lasting. Because these characters deserve "it gets better" to be more than a 2 week experience, and LGBT kids need that, too.
Overall, this is a good book that deserves inclusion in schools, libraries and homes. There is no inappropriate content. I wish I were confident that it will get that chance,
Representation matters. So does having a place and being able to connect with others at least occasionally. Summer camps that serve specific populations often provide that connection. CAMP QUILTBAG is the story of a group of LGBT+ middle school kids who connect at a camp designed just for them.
There is a lot to like about this book. A lot of kids who do not normally find representation will see themselves in this book, whether they are an agender kid who uses neopronouns, a trans, autistic, pan kid, or a kid who has crushes that their friends cannot understand.
Having said that, there are times, particularly early on, where this book feels kind of like it’s falling into the “Five Token Band” trope, specifically because it feels like it went down the list and ticked boxes and became a roll call of names and pronouns. Having said that, it gets better as the characters develop.
Possible Spoilers ahead——
There is one thing that I really, really want to see changed if this book has a new edition. And that is that obviously these kids have supportive parents. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be attending a $1000/week speciality camp that for most requires flying to get there. Therefore, it really seems a miss that only one of the parents, as far as I can tell, has made any effort to get their child out of a situation where they are facing ostracism, verbal abuse, or, in Kai’s case, actual queer bashing that has caused fairly severe injuries. As a mother, the idea that Abigail will have to go back to a Catholic school where she was outed by her former best friend and is getting homophobic content in classes from the teachers is appalling. Kai having to go back to a school where e is regularly misgendered, deadnamed, and was attacked by two of eis classmates, and, based on events in the book, it seems likely the injury will be chronic and cause long term changes in Kai’s life is even more so. Bryn is having to see himself through puberty and gender dysphoria, and isn’t comfortable even coming out at school yet. All of these kids need more than 2 weeks at camp can provide, and the fact that the book ends without addressing that really bothers me. I want a prologue zoom call, 6 weeks later, where Kai and Abigail are talking about their new schools, where they are both involved in the GSA and have friends who understand them. I want to hear that Kai is back doing Parkour and Stick is dancing, , where Bryn has an appointment with a pediatric endocrinologist and is seeing a therapist, and where Owan invites them to his upcoming Bar Mitzvah, and Juliana is talking about her Quincenera. Where things aren’t perfect, but where they’re getting better, and where those camp friendships are lasting. Because these characters deserve "it gets better" to be more than a 2 week experience, and LGBT kids need that, too.
Overall, this is a good book that deserves inclusion in schools, libraries and homes. There is no inappropriate content. I wish I were confident that it will get that chance,
February 13, 2023
Seriously just such a cute sleepaway camp story, with an amazing inclusive cast, and full of regular camp drama, but also so very gentle and welcoming in the best ways!! I truly treasured reading Abigal's parts - as a kid who knows she is a lesbian, but is so new to being in queer spaces that she feels like she doesn't belong. And Kai's pages - who also knows who e are, and just would rather be back home and not having to spend time at camp. There's a few moments of backstory homophobia that are talked about, but just like the camp it portrays, the book is a safe place to explore, and have fun, and being a kid. It's the kind of book that just makes you feel like you belong. Loved it so much and cannot gush about all the spoilers I want to gush about, but ughhh. What an awesome book! It makes me wish I could be a camp counselor at Camp QUILTBAG!
July 25, 2023
After reading one of A.J. Sass' their books earlier this year I wanted to read more of them. I bought Camp QUILTBAG on release day and was excited to read it. It's co-written by Nicole Melleby, whom I hadn't read any books by before, but after reading this one I plan to check out more of her books in the future.
Camp QUILTBAG is a great Middle Grade book about two kids who both visit Camp QUILTBAG. It has a light and fun vibe, but also repeatedly touches upon some more difficult topics like coming out and dealing with people who are not being accepting. It has a message of acceptance and being yourself and I liked seeing both of the characters make new friends and grow more confident in who they are.
I had fun reading this book and I liked how the book switched point of views between Abigail and Kai. They both have a different experience of camp and their own story, but their stories also intertwined in a sense. I enjoyed both their point of views and thought reading both of their stories in one book like this worked out well. Where Abigail is excited to be at camp, but is still very much new to it this and doesn't quite feel like she belongs at first. While Kai is more comfortable with who e is and doesn't want to be at camp. This led to them having a different start and experience with camp.
I really felt for both of them as they both have had a difficult experience with people not being accepting of who they are. Abigail grows more confident throughout the book and makes friends who do accept her for who they are. And it was just amazing seeing that. Kai already has some great friends who accept em for who e is, but e has grown more wary of new people and trusting them after the event that caused eir arm to be in a sling. I thought it was interesting to see how they both deal with things and the ending is awesome and I liked seeing how they had changed throughout the book.
I have to admit I struggled a bit with the start of this book with remembering who was who and their pronouns, but luckily this got easier the further I read. Both main characters are assigned to a different cabins and have 3 other cabin mates that get introduced in quick succession and then there are camp counselors and other cabins members as well. While it was a bit of a struggle to remember who was who and their names and pronouns at first, I also think having this many queer characters in a book was great as it really illustrates diversity. They are all queer, but each has their own experience and own challenges. I almost wished this book was even longer as I would've liked to get to know each character better.
The camp setting was fun and I enjoyed reading about all the camp activities and seeing the characters make new friends. They each have a crush as well and I liked seeing how they dealt with that. I would've liked to see more scenes and activities that were only fun and light, as sometimes the angst and worries of the characters could put a damper on some scenes. One the other hand I did think it was interesting seeing both Abigail and Kai deal with their own troubles and how those plot lines developed throughout the story. When they made mistakes or don't handle things as well they found a way to resolve it or apologize, which I liked. The competition and the troubles their pact made wasn't my favorite part of the book, but I was happy how things got resolved. The ending was awesome and really ended the book on a high note, although I was sad to see the camp come to an end.
To summarize: This is a great Middle Grade novel set at a camp for queer kids. I liked reading about both Abigail and Kai and I liked how the book switched between their point of views. They both have their own story and struggles. I liked how Kai was a bit like a big brother for Abigail and I liked seeing how they interacted. There is a big group of side characters and while that was a bit overwhelming at first with remembering who was who and their pronouns that got easier the further I got. Everyone has their own personality and behavior and I liked getting to know them. The book has a great variety of characters and neatly shows much diversity there is when it comes to people and how they experience things. The camp competition and the pact between Abigail and Kai wasn't my favorite part of the book, but I liked how it got resolved. There are some great friendships that develop throughout camp and I thought the ending was awesome with how everything got resolved and dealt with.
Camp QUILTBAG is a great Middle Grade book about two kids who both visit Camp QUILTBAG. It has a light and fun vibe, but also repeatedly touches upon some more difficult topics like coming out and dealing with people who are not being accepting. It has a message of acceptance and being yourself and I liked seeing both of the characters make new friends and grow more confident in who they are.
I had fun reading this book and I liked how the book switched point of views between Abigail and Kai. They both have a different experience of camp and their own story, but their stories also intertwined in a sense. I enjoyed both their point of views and thought reading both of their stories in one book like this worked out well. Where Abigail is excited to be at camp, but is still very much new to it this and doesn't quite feel like she belongs at first. While Kai is more comfortable with who e is and doesn't want to be at camp. This led to them having a different start and experience with camp.
I really felt for both of them as they both have had a difficult experience with people not being accepting of who they are. Abigail grows more confident throughout the book and makes friends who do accept her for who they are. And it was just amazing seeing that. Kai already has some great friends who accept em for who e is, but e has grown more wary of new people and trusting them after the event that caused eir arm to be in a sling. I thought it was interesting to see how they both deal with things and the ending is awesome and I liked seeing how they had changed throughout the book.
I have to admit I struggled a bit with the start of this book with remembering who was who and their pronouns, but luckily this got easier the further I read. Both main characters are assigned to a different cabins and have 3 other cabin mates that get introduced in quick succession and then there are camp counselors and other cabins members as well. While it was a bit of a struggle to remember who was who and their names and pronouns at first, I also think having this many queer characters in a book was great as it really illustrates diversity. They are all queer, but each has their own experience and own challenges. I almost wished this book was even longer as I would've liked to get to know each character better.
The camp setting was fun and I enjoyed reading about all the camp activities and seeing the characters make new friends. They each have a crush as well and I liked seeing how they dealt with that. I would've liked to see more scenes and activities that were only fun and light, as sometimes the angst and worries of the characters could put a damper on some scenes. One the other hand I did think it was interesting seeing both Abigail and Kai deal with their own troubles and how those plot lines developed throughout the story. When they made mistakes or don't handle things as well they found a way to resolve it or apologize, which I liked. The competition and the troubles their pact made wasn't my favorite part of the book, but I was happy how things got resolved. The ending was awesome and really ended the book on a high note, although I was sad to see the camp come to an end.
To summarize: This is a great Middle Grade novel set at a camp for queer kids. I liked reading about both Abigail and Kai and I liked how the book switched between their point of views. They both have their own story and struggles. I liked how Kai was a bit like a big brother for Abigail and I liked seeing how they interacted. There is a big group of side characters and while that was a bit overwhelming at first with remembering who was who and their pronouns that got easier the further I got. Everyone has their own personality and behavior and I liked getting to know them. The book has a great variety of characters and neatly shows much diversity there is when it comes to people and how they experience things. The camp competition and the pact between Abigail and Kai wasn't my favorite part of the book, but I liked how it got resolved. There are some great friendships that develop throughout camp and I thought the ending was awesome with how everything got resolved and dealt with.
March 29, 2023
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc and finished copy from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Camp QUILTBAG
Author: Nicole Melleby & A.J. Sass
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Diversity: Lesbian MC, Non-binary Jewish MC who uses neopronouns, POC characters, Black Lesbian character, Jewish gay character, Black Trans Pansexual character with Autism, Trans character, Character who doesn’t use pronouns, Gender Fluid character
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, queer, LGBT, contemporary, camp book
Publication Date: March 21, 2023
Genre: MG Contemporary
Age Relevance: 12+ (homophobia, body dysphoria, religion, bullying, deadnaming)
Explanation of Above: There is some homophobia mentioned in the book, along with a deadnaming event mentioned but not shown. There is some discussion about body dysphoria. There is some small mentions of bullying. Judaism is shown and mentioned in the book, including some insight into practices and celebrations/customs and there are some mentions of Catholicism as well.
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
Pages: 352
Synopsis: Twelve-year-old Abigail (she/her/hers) is so excited to spend her summer at Camp QUILTBAG, an inclusive retreat for queer and trans kids. She can’t wait to find a community where she can be herself—and, she hopes, admit her crush on Laura Dern to kids who will understand.
Thirteen-year-old Kai (e/em/eir) is not as excited. E just wants to hang out with eir best friend and eir parkour team. And e definitely does not want to think about the incident that left eir arm in a sling—the incident that also made Kai’s parents determined to send em somewhere e can feel like emself.
After a bit of a rocky start at camp, Abigail and Kai make a pact to help each other find their footing, all while navigating crushes, their queer identities, and a competition pitting cabin against cabin.
Review: I really liked this book overall! I thought the concept of a queer camp for young children is amazing and I loved how much diversity there was in this book. The book is about two characters who are either outted or come out during the school year and, because they’re having a hard time at school with that, they are sent to a Queer Camp to help them get friends and make good memories. The course of the events see these two main characters make a pact to help each other during a competition and the turn of events that happens by the end of the camp season. The book had a main character that uses neopornouns and I loved seeing and exploring that in this book. The book did well with the duel POV and the voices felt distinct. The gender inclusivity and understanding in this book really made it a special read and one I’ll frequently recommend from now one.
The only issue I had with the book is that it was a little hard to get into in the beginning and there was A LOT of characters to remember, but I loved it regardless.
Verdict: I highly recommend this one!
Book: Camp QUILTBAG
Author: Nicole Melleby & A.J. Sass
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Diversity: Lesbian MC, Non-binary Jewish MC who uses neopronouns, POC characters, Black Lesbian character, Jewish gay character, Black Trans Pansexual character with Autism, Trans character, Character who doesn’t use pronouns, Gender Fluid character
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, queer, LGBT, contemporary, camp book
Publication Date: March 21, 2023
Genre: MG Contemporary
Age Relevance: 12+ (homophobia, body dysphoria, religion, bullying, deadnaming)
Explanation of Above: There is some homophobia mentioned in the book, along with a deadnaming event mentioned but not shown. There is some discussion about body dysphoria. There is some small mentions of bullying. Judaism is shown and mentioned in the book, including some insight into practices and celebrations/customs and there are some mentions of Catholicism as well.
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
Pages: 352
Synopsis: Twelve-year-old Abigail (she/her/hers) is so excited to spend her summer at Camp QUILTBAG, an inclusive retreat for queer and trans kids. She can’t wait to find a community where she can be herself—and, she hopes, admit her crush on Laura Dern to kids who will understand.
Thirteen-year-old Kai (e/em/eir) is not as excited. E just wants to hang out with eir best friend and eir parkour team. And e definitely does not want to think about the incident that left eir arm in a sling—the incident that also made Kai’s parents determined to send em somewhere e can feel like emself.
After a bit of a rocky start at camp, Abigail and Kai make a pact to help each other find their footing, all while navigating crushes, their queer identities, and a competition pitting cabin against cabin.
Review: I really liked this book overall! I thought the concept of a queer camp for young children is amazing and I loved how much diversity there was in this book. The book is about two characters who are either outted or come out during the school year and, because they’re having a hard time at school with that, they are sent to a Queer Camp to help them get friends and make good memories. The course of the events see these two main characters make a pact to help each other during a competition and the turn of events that happens by the end of the camp season. The book had a main character that uses neopornouns and I loved seeing and exploring that in this book. The book did well with the duel POV and the voices felt distinct. The gender inclusivity and understanding in this book really made it a special read and one I’ll frequently recommend from now one.
The only issue I had with the book is that it was a little hard to get into in the beginning and there was A LOT of characters to remember, but I loved it regardless.
Verdict: I highly recommend this one!
June 28, 2023
Trigger Warnings: periods, body dysmorphia, internalized homophobia, homophobia, bullying, injury, outing
Representation: neopronouns, Lesbian, Jewish, Gay, Nonbinary, Autism, Bisexual, Pansexual
Camp QUILTBAG is a LGBTQIA+ middle grade about the summer of several teens at sleep away camp. Twelve-year-old Abigail (she/her/hers) is so excited to spend her summer at Camp QUILTBAG, an inclusive retreat for queer and trans kids. She can’t wait to find a community where she can be herself—and, she hopes, admit her crush on that one hot older actress to kids who will understand.
Thirteen-year-old Kai (e/em/eir) is not as excited. E just wants to hang out with eir best friend and eir parkour team. And e definitely does not want to think about the incident that left eir arm in a sling—the incident that also made Kai’s parents determined to send em somewhere e can feel like emself.
After a bit of a rocky start at camp, Abigail and Kai make a deal- If Kai helps Abigail make new friends, Abigail will help Kai's cabin with the all-camp competition. But as they navigate a summer full of crushes, queer identity exploration, and more, they learn what's really important.
This finished copy was provided by the author in a contest on Twitter.
This was a very cute middle grade! The idea of having access to a camp like this would have been a game changer for a younger me. This book really emphasizes the importance of acceptance and letting our queer youth know that there is a community that they can call home. The story is full of the joy that comes from being and loving yourself. It truly touches my heart knowing our next generations have books like these to read.
Representation: neopronouns, Lesbian, Jewish, Gay, Nonbinary, Autism, Bisexual, Pansexual
Camp QUILTBAG is a LGBTQIA+ middle grade about the summer of several teens at sleep away camp. Twelve-year-old Abigail (she/her/hers) is so excited to spend her summer at Camp QUILTBAG, an inclusive retreat for queer and trans kids. She can’t wait to find a community where she can be herself—and, she hopes, admit her crush on that one hot older actress to kids who will understand.
Thirteen-year-old Kai (e/em/eir) is not as excited. E just wants to hang out with eir best friend and eir parkour team. And e definitely does not want to think about the incident that left eir arm in a sling—the incident that also made Kai’s parents determined to send em somewhere e can feel like emself.
After a bit of a rocky start at camp, Abigail and Kai make a deal- If Kai helps Abigail make new friends, Abigail will help Kai's cabin with the all-camp competition. But as they navigate a summer full of crushes, queer identity exploration, and more, they learn what's really important.
This finished copy was provided by the author in a contest on Twitter.
This was a very cute middle grade! The idea of having access to a camp like this would have been a game changer for a younger me. This book really emphasizes the importance of acceptance and letting our queer youth know that there is a community that they can call home. The story is full of the joy that comes from being and loving yourself. It truly touches my heart knowing our next generations have books like these to read.
January 30, 2024
It’s a good book. A good one for young readers when it comes to identity and gender. However, the story could have been much more interesting and way shorter than it is.
As someone who reads a lot of middle grade books, I usually do not find middle grade fiction boring but I felt really bored when I reached 30 per cent. However, the writing is really accessible and easy to read. I really wanted to enjoy and love this book. I feel there’s not enough middle grade books when it comes to queer/identity or similar discussion on gender identity. I really wanted to love and recommend this book. I am a bit disappointed 😢
As someone who reads a lot of middle grade books, I usually do not find middle grade fiction boring but I felt really bored when I reached 30 per cent. However, the writing is really accessible and easy to read. I really wanted to enjoy and love this book. I feel there’s not enough middle grade books when it comes to queer/identity or similar discussion on gender identity. I really wanted to love and recommend this book. I am a bit disappointed 😢
January 6, 2024
Gay??? Summer camps??? GAY SUMMER CAMPS??? Yes. Gay summer camps.
Cute great MG. Great queer rep. Great plot and characters. Classic MG structure with some great lessons intertwined! Also bonus points for lots of Laura Dern crushes.
My biggest critique is how much alone time these campers had unsupervised. Very unsafe!!! Quite the camping liability!!!
Cute great MG. Great queer rep. Great plot and characters. Classic MG structure with some great lessons intertwined! Also bonus points for lots of Laura Dern crushes.
My biggest critique is how much alone time these campers had unsupervised. Very unsafe!!! Quite the camping liability!!!
September 23, 2023
Wanted to like this, but I found the concept more aspirational than realistic, the characters not particularly likeable, another overlong, under edited middle grade book, and worst, some of the dialogue felt very inauthentic.
I personally found the e pronouns to be a challenge to read. No problem with them as a construct, just that my mind doesn't process them in the same way as pronouns that I have been familiar with all my life. Not knocking the book for this, just my observation.
Nice to see various representations. But representations alone do not make for a successful product.
I personally found the e pronouns to be a challenge to read. No problem with them as a construct, just that my mind doesn't process them in the same way as pronouns that I have been familiar with all my life. Not knocking the book for this, just my observation.
Nice to see various representations. But representations alone do not make for a successful product.
October 23, 2022
Camp QUILTBAG joins two amazing authors and results in a wonderful middle grade novel. Long and short of it, Camp QUILTBAG follows a group of middle grade students as they search for identity and acceptance at a sleep away camp for LGBTQ+ youth. (This may be an introduction to the term QULTBAG>) All struggle with some aspect of their identity and growth and all make mistakes along the way. There are explorations of the intersection of religion, race and disability with LGBTQ+ issues. It realistically portrays the fears youth carry in coming out.. that feeling that YOUR issues are somehow different and 'worse' than anyone else's. The main character makes many mistakes along the way as she tries to find her place at camp... all providing food for thought and discussion for readers.
I think kids will find someone in this cast of characters to relate to. the book will give them insights into the importance of pronouns, even while the use of new ones can be difficult to master. It will help them see the importance of respecting identity and, hopefully, show them that even if they are not finding acceptance where they are right now, there is a place where they will. They need to keep looking and be open to trying new spaces and people. I hope that readers will find hope and comfort in it. It is a great addition to a middle grade LGBTQ+ (QUILTBAG) collection.
Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an unbiased review.
I think kids will find someone in this cast of characters to relate to. the book will give them insights into the importance of pronouns, even while the use of new ones can be difficult to master. It will help them see the importance of respecting identity and, hopefully, show them that even if they are not finding acceptance where they are right now, there is a place where they will. They need to keep looking and be open to trying new spaces and people. I hope that readers will find hope and comfort in it. It is a great addition to a middle grade LGBTQ+ (QUILTBAG) collection.
Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an unbiased review.
December 16, 2022
"Things change after you come out," says a character in Camp QUILTBAG, which is achingly true for two LGBTQ+ kids in this important middlegrade novel byNicole Melleby and A.J. Sass, arriving in March 2023. While their schoolmates at home aren't ready or willing to accept them as they are, thirteen-year-old Kai and twelve-year-old Abigail find thatthings start getting better at a two-week retreat in the mountains of Minnesota. As they explore their identities in a safe community, where they're called by pronouns they prefer, they find love and acceptance that guides them toward being fully themselves. I can only imagine how much this book will mean to kids today and into the future.
September 24, 2022
Thank you, Algonquin Young Readers, for allowing me to read Camp QUILTBAG early.
Yes, yes, and yes!!! A.J. Sass is one of my favorite middle grade authors, and this cooperation with Nicole Melleby is just fantastic! Loved, loved, loved it! Highly recommended to anyone who loves middle grade books with superb BIPOC and queer rep!
Yes, yes, and yes!!! A.J. Sass is one of my favorite middle grade authors, and this cooperation with Nicole Melleby is just fantastic! Loved, loved, loved it! Highly recommended to anyone who loves middle grade books with superb BIPOC and queer rep!
October 19, 2022
This book easily joins Different Kinds of Fruit and Alice Austen Lived Here as a top queer MG book I've read this year (can't wait until 2023 so I can buy & share with students!)
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April 3, 2023I was sent a copy of this book by the publisher, Algonquin Young Readers in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
CW: Mentions of minor transphobic comments, microagressions and hate crime, mention of injury, bullying, homophobia, menstruation scene and illusions to gender dysphoria.
Camp QUILTBAG by A.J. Sass and Nicole Melleby has something for everyone whether you’re like me and would prefer tye-dying t-shirts opposed to kayaking and roller derby or you like ballroom dance and trivia, this middle grade book needs to be on your TBR.
Kai (e/em/eirs) and Abigail (she/her/hers) are new campers at Camp QUILTBAG, a camp for queer and trans kids. Both kids are at camp for different reasons. Abigail wants to meet kids like her (she’s a lesbian who loves Jurassic Park, Laura Dern especially) after her friends at her Catholic school tease and shut her out for having a crush on Stacey’s mom. And Kai would rather be at home with eir friends doing parkour.
Filled with queer and trans joy plus queer and trans kids getting into competitive rivalries and learning from their mistakes, this book truly has something for everyone. What I loved the most is how every kid is different. This book is such a great introduction into the queer and trans community for kids. As I was reading, I couldn’t help but think about how important this visibility is for kids to see neopronouns normalized and feel safe just like they would at camp.
I especially liked how it shows and tells kids you don’t have to know right away and each kid at the camp is accepting of the other and accepting of not knowing your label. Camp QUILTBAG is a safe space for LGBTQIAP+ kids and readers.
It’s a great escape but doesn’t shy away from having important conversations. One that resonated with me was Abigail talking about not feeling pride in her sexuality and feeling lonely and isolated since she doesn’t know anything about the LGBTQ+ community. But through her time at camp, that changes.
Highly recommend if you're in need of some hope, queer and trans joy and/or love books set at camp!
CW: Mentions of minor transphobic comments, microagressions and hate crime, mention of injury, bullying, homophobia, menstruation scene and illusions to gender dysphoria.
Camp QUILTBAG by A.J. Sass and Nicole Melleby has something for everyone whether you’re like me and would prefer tye-dying t-shirts opposed to kayaking and roller derby or you like ballroom dance and trivia, this middle grade book needs to be on your TBR.
Kai (e/em/eirs) and Abigail (she/her/hers) are new campers at Camp QUILTBAG, a camp for queer and trans kids. Both kids are at camp for different reasons. Abigail wants to meet kids like her (she’s a lesbian who loves Jurassic Park, Laura Dern especially) after her friends at her Catholic school tease and shut her out for having a crush on Stacey’s mom. And Kai would rather be at home with eir friends doing parkour.
Filled with queer and trans joy plus queer and trans kids getting into competitive rivalries and learning from their mistakes, this book truly has something for everyone. What I loved the most is how every kid is different. This book is such a great introduction into the queer and trans community for kids. As I was reading, I couldn’t help but think about how important this visibility is for kids to see neopronouns normalized and feel safe just like they would at camp.
I especially liked how it shows and tells kids you don’t have to know right away and each kid at the camp is accepting of the other and accepting of not knowing your label. Camp QUILTBAG is a safe space for LGBTQIAP+ kids and readers.
It’s a great escape but doesn’t shy away from having important conversations. One that resonated with me was Abigail talking about not feeling pride in her sexuality and feeling lonely and isolated since she doesn’t know anything about the LGBTQ+ community. But through her time at camp, that changes.
Highly recommend if you're in need of some hope, queer and trans joy and/or love books set at camp!
July 3, 2023
this book was cute - i love aj sass and will read anything he writes (haven’t read any of the other authors books before this) so i feel like i knew what to expect. i think multiple-narrator stories are growing on me, in this case it was perfect for helping the reader understand how everyone had different information at times which lead to a lot of drama…. :( i love that the kids in this book had such an accepting place but in some ways it felt like a fantasy because it’s hard for me to imagine a place like this irl - i am sure similar places/programs for kids exist, but i have no experience with them. i also loved the minnesota connection and i thought each character had a good balance of personal reflection/growth, drama at camp and at home to navigate, and just fun summer stuff.
June 28, 2023
A heartfelt #ownvoices middle grade novel with a full cast of queer characters who find friendship, belonging and acceptance at a unique summer camp for LGBTQIA+ kids.
I really appreciated the emphasis on different pronouns - listening to this book helped make the e/em/eir option feel more normalized the more I heard it.
Overall this was such a diverse book with Jewish, BIPOC, trans, pan, nonbinary (and more) characters. Definitely the book so many middle grade children will be glad is out there when they're ready to read it. Highly recommended and a perfect summer or #PrideMonth read!
I really appreciated the emphasis on different pronouns - listening to this book helped make the e/em/eir option feel more normalized the more I heard it.
Overall this was such a diverse book with Jewish, BIPOC, trans, pan, nonbinary (and more) characters. Definitely the book so many middle grade children will be glad is out there when they're ready to read it. Highly recommended and a perfect summer or #PrideMonth read!
April 7, 2023
what a joy of a book to read!! a summer camp story following abigail, jurassic park (and laura dern) obsessed, lesbian, and hoping to find more friends like her, and kai, sad to leave eir parkour friends at home but needing an escape from the bullying e faced after coming out at school. i love summer camp stories, and this one set at an all queer camp was so fun, with so many identities, with abigail learning more about the lgbtq+ community, with kai learning more about eir jewish culture, and just. kids being kids! friendship mishaps and what it’s like to grow up in this world as a visible queer kid, and also a mythical albino squirrel named mx. nutsford, and the little bit of magic that comes with finding xem.
i definitely recommend this book, no matter what age you are. it’s a great escape, so sweet, and just. such a healing middle grade. thank you alongquin young readers for sending me this finished copy in exchange for an honest review!
content warnings: homophobia, transphobia, misgendering, bullying (all off page/discussed)
i definitely recommend this book, no matter what age you are. it’s a great escape, so sweet, and just. such a healing middle grade. thank you alongquin young readers for sending me this finished copy in exchange for an honest review!
content warnings: homophobia, transphobia, misgendering, bullying (all off page/discussed)
April 5, 2023
Public library copy
My students will definitely love the LGBTQIA+ representation in this one, but there were so many characters and so much going on that it was a bit confusing. Perfect for fans of both Sass' and Melleby's titles, and of books like Luckoff's Different Kinds of Fruit or medina's The One Who Loves You Most.
My students will definitely love the LGBTQIA+ representation in this one, but there were so many characters and so much going on that it was a bit confusing. Perfect for fans of both Sass' and Melleby's titles, and of books like Luckoff's Different Kinds of Fruit or medina's The One Who Loves You Most.
May 13, 2024
A bunch of kind and respectful children go to a queer summer camp where they are kind and respectful to one another. Occasionally they have misunderstandings and become upset. But don’t worry! It is resolved with kindness and respect.
October 7, 2023
cute but it made me feel...empty. like i didn't really get anything out of this book. it's cute, i liked the couples, there were some characters that i cared about and didn't feel like they had the personality of wet towels, i related to abigail a little, but that's it. it's like candy; sweet and nice but i don't get anything out of it. i would give it 3 and a half stars if they'd let me
April 18, 2023
There is SO MUCH diversity and sexual identity representation in this middle grade novel! It's a book about kids and young teens going to an LGBTQIA+ camp to find friends, do different activities and most importantly, find others going through similar issues as themselves. Kai (nonbinary) and Abigail (lesbian) are realistic characters going through problems with friends and family after coming out. They don't have friends on the queer spectrum and hoping to find kids like them but encounter universal issues for this age group: misunderstandings, unrequited crushes, secrets, feeling like an outsider and being alone in their circumstances. Some of the writing seemed a little over the top dramatic in parts (mainly from Abigail) but preteens do have intense highs and lows and mostly I was sympathetic to her feelings. Great side characters of different ages, ethnicities, religions, genders, sexual identities, and one neurodiverse kid. I also liked how the authors didn't tie up all loose ends with the characters lives back home. They will still have to deal with what they were escaping for two weeks but now might have more confidence in doing so, or at least know they have friends they can count on when things are bad.
June 24, 2023
OMG this book was sooooooo good!!!!!!! I'd give it more stars if I could! Nicole Melleby and A.J. Sass do an amazing job intertwining their characters from This Is Our Rainbow: 16 Stories of Her, Him, Them, and Us, Abigail and Kai, and digging deeper into their stories. I love how unique they are and I DESPERATELY WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS WITH ABIGAIL AND HER CRUSH ON STACY'S MOM!!!!!! It was such an adorable read, (that's a good thing!), and I also really like how it's told in both Abigail's and Kai's point of view! Everything just tied up into -- *chef's kiss* -- perfection! If there's a sequel to this, I would be one of the first to read it! This is definitely going on my faves list! A must-read! <333
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