Summer at Meadow Wood audiobook

3.5 STARSThirteen-year-old Vic doesn’t want to be a summer camp, not after finding an email suggesting her parents are having problems. But, she is glad to be back among her camp friends though things are different this year.SUMMER AT MEADOW WOOD tackles family, friendship, first love, change and re

I received a review copy, but, of course, opinions are all my own!I found myself sneaking in pages at every chance and then sad when this book was over.  Tan has such a gift for making you want to know her characters and be in that world. While there is certainly realism and grit in this middle grade delight, the nostalgic and transportive feel of everything she weaves together makes you feel really satisfied and content.  A few key words for you to see if you might be interested:-summer camp-Eleanor Roosevelt- friends becoming family- farmers market- unlikely relationships- gardening- apple cider donuts...Basically, read it! One of my favorites I've read this year and one I know I'm going to reread and treasure over the years.

The perfect camp book I've been looking for for years! (even better than Have a Little Faith in Me in some ways. Yeah, I guess those two will have to share the title.) One of the things I liked most about this book is that it didn't follow the structure a YA camp novel might, with a certain moment somewhere around 60% involving everything that could possibly go wrong, leaving everyone hating the MC, who decides to leave. This book was much more balanced, there were both good and bad events within the same chapter. I need more books like this. It's much more realistic than the "lowest possible point" moment in a lot of YA. I was glad that there was no major girl-drama between the Yarrow cabin girls or any big fights. (I spent most of the book praying that Vic and Angel or Carly wouldn't have a fight...and they didn't! That's a first, and it's fortunate.)The main character is 13 but I definitely think this book will appeal to the YA crowd as well. For me, very few books are rereadable. I haven't read one in so long, but this is definitely one. (Also, finally a character named Carly who isn't a mean girl. We need more Carlys in books.)I just wish there was an epilogue so I could see if Vic kept in touch with Angel and Vera...and also another charity donated to by one girl's parents instead of PETA because PETA isn't actually very ethical...but I guess the characters might not know that)I received a free DRC of this book from Edelweiss.

Although she's loved camp in the past, Vic didn't want to go this summer. Her mother, though, couldn't get rid of Vic and her little brother fast enough, and Vic doesn't want to think about why. So she does her best to focus on camp. There's always a lot going on. This year her "Camp Sister" is 7 year old Vera, a precocious scientist in training, and Vic is determined to be the kind of camp sister she wishes she'd had. Her cabin mates are all long-time campers, though more and more stop coming as they get past 12 so their cabin is half empty. They have only one counselor, Chieko, who's wry and cynical and obsessed with Eleanor Roosevelt--and grieving a failed relationship with her girlfriend. As Vic settles into the camp routine, she finds herself (most surprisingly) drawn to an activity she got signed up for because all the "good" activities were taken--helping the camp director's husband with his extensive vegetable garden. She first goes to Saturday market with him to earn money for canteen (which is another story), but there she meets a boy with green eyes who makes the summer seem not so bad. But the problem with her parents isn't going away, even if Vic has.I'm such a huge fan of camp, and this one, with its lack of technology, is a lot like mine (though we didn't have cabins). I loved how it showed that camp is its own wonderful world, and that while yes, it is an escape in many ways, you are still the same person and you still have the same problems--but camp can give you the opportunity and the time to adapt and figure things out and grow, etc. I loved Vic's relationship with her little "sister" and with her actual little brother Freddie, at the boys' camp across the lake. I loved how Vic found her own place at camp both physically and in terms of activities and what's important to her, and loved her relationship with her thorny counselor. Overall, this was a real win for me, and I think kids reading it will definitely want to go (back) to camp. As will adults who read it. As the camp director says, "The camper in you never dies."

Summer at Meadow Wood is an excellent follow-up to Tan’s debut novel, set in the same universe. This upper middle-grade book is an ode to the joy and ruckus of summer camps. It also highlights a sweet sibling bond; the gift of mentorship; the value of books, reading and hard work for kids; and the unmatched satisfaction that growing food can bring. Despite the fun topics, it tackles hard subjects like the disintegration of a marriage and how that can affect the children in it, peer pressure, and mortality. If you like immersive books set in summer camps on the background of important themes like friendship and parental separation, you’ll enjoy Summer at Meadow Wood. I listened to the audiobook and would recommend.Read my full review on my blog.

I was never a camp kid myself, but Amy Rebecca Tan's new middle grade novel had me immersed in the world of Meadow Wood in ways that will appeal to young readers of all stripes. Tan deftly constructs a satisfying story arc with just the right amount of swoops, surprises and turns. Thirteen year-old protagonist Vic experiences drama of all kinds—between family, friends, and even on the camp's unaffiliated farm—but learns to embrace the unexpected lessons and friendships that emerge as a result. With its quirky jokes, charming characters and evocative summer setting, this novel is a delight.

I loved Amy Rebecca Tan's first book, A Kind of Paradise. So I was excited when I saw that she had a new release coming May 2020. Summer At Meadow Wood is a coming of age story set at a summer camp. It is funny, touching, and wise. Tan has a way of describing scenes in a very detailed but totally pleasant way. I felt like I was there. She also has a diverse and endearing set of characters with a broad variety of interests. Several of the characters are bookworms, which I loved!

I love an author that trusts kids enough not to give them all the answers.

A sweet, relatable story that isn’t afraid to leave things a little uncertain instead of tying everything up into a neat little bow

Loved it! A story of going to summer camp, reluctantly, and finding unexpected pleasures all while handling the ups and downs of life and camp. Great middle grade read.

Summer at Meadow Wood brings back all the wonderful summer camp memories. I was immediately taken back to horseback riding, swimming in the lake, cabin traditions, and, most importantly, getting treats at canteen! The cast of characters in this book are wonderful – a girl who doesn’t really want to be at camp, someone trying to be something they’re not to fit in, a counselor dealing with heartbreak, and the owners who you can’t help but adore.Vic struggles with feeling that she is missing things back home (such as her best friend Jamie, the main character in A Kind of Paradise) and is angry with her mom for an issue we’re originally in the dark about. As we discover more about this, we walk with Jamie through her hurts, confusion, and anger. Vic is gently guided by one of the camp director’s Earl, who runs “Farm” elective and councilor Chieko, who teaches her the wisdom of Eleanor Roosevelt. We also get a sweet first romance that is perfect for this middle grade story.As an avid gardener, my favorite parts were Vic coming around to gardening and selling at the local farmer’s market! I hope you will give this book a read. It may be written for middle grade ages, but I believe that readers of all ages will enjoy this.

“If there was one thing I had learned from my mom and dad, it was that you were never too old to make mistakes. I knew I still had plenty of mistakes ahead of me, big and little. I knew I’d get stuck and I knew I would need help.But I had resources now.I was crazy rich with resources.I could read Eleanor.Or I could do research like Vera.Or I could call Chieko.Or I could find some ground and dig deep like Earl, turning the soil until it sparkled like a mine of gems, shining its possibilities up at me.And then I’d go from there.” (says Vic at the close of 8 weeks of summer camp)Great book full of summer camp adventures and lessons to apply to most anyone’s life. Tan writes a winner for grades 5 and up that has plenty of fun, realistic summer camp girls, and wisdom that isn’t preachy or overdone. Highly recommended for most middle grade and junior high libraries. No profanity, violence or sexual content, but in the spirit of full disclosure, Vic’s camp counselor is still hurting from a break up with her girlfriend.

A quiet, simple story that nonetheless drew me in. The pacing is slow, and the problems are never earth-shattering. But sometimes you just want to go back to summer camp, where your friends all know last year's inside jokes and your cool counselor acts grumpy but actually really cares about you. The characters all felt authentic, the camp situations perfectly captured.Bonus: a sweet budding romance between middle school characters that isn't treated as shameful or scary or like it might "ruin" anyone. The protagonist has a crush and isn't ashamed or terrified about it. Nearby adults are supportive, paying attention and making sure everyone is safe without fearmongering. So, so nice to read.Biggest complaint: the relationship between Vic and her much younger camp sister Vera danced on the line of believability for me, and not just because Vera is so precocious. I absolutely believe that some kids have large vocabularies. (And I like that Vera has to get some practice with personal connections; she's neither a tiny adult nor an emotionless genius stereotype who is "above having friends" or whatever. She has feelings and doesn't always know how to react.) But Vera still instantly latches onto Vic, constantly telling her how great she is, instantly forgiving her when Vic is irritable or unkind over pretty minor slights. Vic is forgivable; she's thirteen, not an adult counselor, and she really tries to be kind. But sometimes she seems to take Vera a little too personally and Vera is still unflaggingly like "I want to hug and touch you and depend on you emotionally all of the time!" It wasn't bad, or totally unrealistic--I just wish we could sometimes see younger children in books for older audiences without them having to be paragons of cuteness all the time, and without having to always age up their dialogue.All in all, a sweet story that mostly does a good job not feeling unbelievable. Vic's quiet self-improvement makes sense and doesn't ask her to reject the inherent complexity of life, or abandon her justified anger and frustration at her parents' mistakes. A solid read.

"The camper in you never dies."I spent most of my 20s working at camps and I *rarely* come across a camp book that portrays my experiences. This came very very close. I love that as much as Vic loves her camp friends her home life makes it hard for her to fully be present...SO often as adults we forget that kid's lives are as complexed and multilayered as ours are and it's not easy to walk away from a tough situation. The interpersonal dynamics of an all-girl group of thirteen year olds were spot on to my camp experience and I really just liked spending time with this character and being in her world.

Loved this story. Engaging, visual writing made me feel like I was there at summer camp with Vic and her bunk mates. As much as she loves MeadowWood, camp isn’t where she wants to be this summer, but with family trouble at home, Vic is forced to go to camp. Vic isn’t quite able to leave her family drama behind but the camp experience, reuniting with friends and a few surprises along the way help Vic come to terms with life’s challenges and changes. Looking forward to reading more from this talented author.