‘Camp Midnight’ by Steven T. Seagle

Within minutes after Skye’s mother leaves her with her father and step-mother for the summer, the adults spring their plans for Skye — they’re sending her to camp.

Only problem (from the adults’ perspective, that is), they don’t remember the name of the camp but they think the name started with “M.” On the basis of that hastily-remembered detail, Skye finds herself on a bus bound for “Camp Midnight.”

From its eerie first impression and the official beginning-of-camp, Skye quickly discovers that Camp Midnight is like no other summer camp.

Skye encounters adolescent dramas that many readers will be able to relate to — mean girls who “run” the camp and attention from a cute boy.

But at Camp Midnight, Skye encounters one unique additional challenge. Everyone at Camp Midnight is a monster, and summer camp is the one place where they can be their real selves, free from human scrutiny.

Compounding the drama of concealing her identity in this non-human environment, Skye discovers that even at Camp Midnight, some things are too scary or different, even for monsters to accept.

Ultimately, this is a story about true friendship and acceptance. Through Skye’s experience, readers receive valuable lessons about loyalty and about focusing upon similarities instead of being mired in differences.

Written by Steven T. Seagle with cartoonist Jason Adam Katzenstein, I recommend Camp Midnight among Young Adult graphic novels for inclusion in a library. Camp Midnight will be published in April 2016 by Diamond Book Distributors.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a review copy of this book from the publisher. The opinion expressed is my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”