Top Ten Tuesday: Super-Fun Summer Camp Books

18 Fun Summer Camp Books for Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday: Super-Fun Summer Camp Books

It’s Top Ten Tuesday again! This week’s theme is best books for summer, which is a perfect chance to talk about beach reads… but I’m not much of a beach girl? I burn way too easily. So, instead, let’s talk about another favorite summer activity: summer camp!

Whether it’s the story of a first-time camp experience or simply the tale of camp attendance as a means to an end, excellent summer camp books capture the immersive experience of being away from home. They spin stories of unexpected friendships and wacky inside jokes. They remind us to celebrate being in nature and being part of a team or group.

I’ve included six middle-grade books and twelve young adult books in this list, so technically it’s my top eighteen, but I couldn’t help it. They’re all great books that made me feel big summer camp vibes.

Note: Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl in which bloggers share their top ten favorites in the week’s theme. Check out this week’s list of posts about summer reading!

Also: This post contains affiliate links that don’t cost anything for you to use but help support this blog. Thank you for shopping with them!

Super-Fun Summer Camp Books: Middle Grade

Here are six middle-grade books featuring summer camp adventures. From LARPing to twins swapping places to discovering a hidden world of magic, all these books immersed me in summer camp feelings and celebrated the unexpected friendships and adventures that a few weeks away from home inevitably bring.

Monster Camp by Sarah Henning

Monster Camp by Sarah Henning

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads | Review

What you need to know: A girl signs up for what she thinks is a LARPing (live-action roleplaying) camp only to discover the other campers are actually monsters. Totally fun. The camp setting makes this a perfect summer read, but the monster elements would make this a good fall/Halloween season read, too.

Release Date: May 9, 2023


Mirror to Mirror by Rajani LaRocca

Mirror to Mirror by Rajani LaRocca

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads | Review

What you need to know: A richly written novel in verse about twin girls who’ve grown apart and dare one another to switch places at summer camp. One twin has undiagnosed anxiety. I loved the relationship between the sisters in this one.

Release Date:


Amari and the Night Brothers by B. B. Alston cover shows a girl with a hand extended over a glowing ball. Swirls of light extend out from the ball, circling around her, lifting her hair.

Amari and the Night Brothers (Supernatural Investigations #1) B. B. Alston

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads | Review to Come

What you need to know: Men In Black meets Percy Jackson, but better. Amari learns her missing brother was part of a supernatural organization (think FBI plus magic) which she joins after learning it can help her discover what happened to him.

Release Date: January 19, 2021


The Girls of Firefly Cabin by Cynthia Ellingsen

The Girls of Firefly Cabin by Cynthia Ellingsen

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads | Review

What you need to know: Four girls meet for the first time when they’re assigned to Firefly Cabin. Will secrets, competition, and other classic summer camp adventures bind them together as friends or tear their cabin apart? Perfectly captures and celebrates summer camp experiences.

Release Date: May 28, 2019


Chirp by Kate Messner

Chirp by Kate Messner

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads | Review

What you need to know: Not all summer camps are sleep-away– here’s one celebrating day camp for a girl whose family has just moved to a new town. Discusses grooming and consent in a clear, age-appropriate way. Great family elements.

Release Date: February 4, 2020


Ways to Grow Love by Renée Watson

Ways to Grow Love (A Ryan Hart Story) by Renée Watson

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads | Review

What you need to know: The second book in the Ryan Hart series. Ryan braves her nerves about summer camp and changing friendships. A perfect blend of the power of resilience, friendship, and summertime fun.

Release Date: April 27, 2021

Super-Fun Summer Camp Books: Young Adult

Julieta and the Romeos by Marie E. Andreu cover  shows a girl holding a pen thinking at a desk. In front of her is an open book and mug. Roses extend toward her from the edges of the image.

Julieta and the Romeos by Maria E. Andreu

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads | Review

What you need to know: An elite writing summer intensive challenges Julieta to post her writing publicly. A mysterious collaborator begins contributing to the story. She’s determined to figure out which of the three boys she’s maybe interested in could be her online partner. Perfect for fans of Kasie West or Jennifer E. Smith.

Release Date: May 16, 2023


You Don't Have a Shot by Racquel Marie cover shows two girls in profile staring at each other competitively, almost forehead to forehead. One has curly hair, the other straight hair and arms crossed. In the background is a soccer goal.

You Don’t Have a Shot by Racquel Marie

Amazon | BookshopGoodreads | Review

What you need to know: Soccer camp! Rivals to lovers! A layered story exploring romance, pride, and perfectionism. I loved the relationships between characters, and the descriptions of the soccer practices and games made me feel like I was right there on the sidelines.

Release Date: May 9, 2023


Give Me a Sign by Anna Sortino cover shows a girl on the left in a tank top and shorts with her hands one on top of the other with her index finger and thumb extended. Sitting next to her is a boy in a hoodie and shorts with his hands in front of his body, his index finger and pinky extended. Tall grass and flowers in the background behind them.

Give Me a Sign by Anna Sortino

Amazon | BookshopGoodreads | Review to Come

What you need to know: First love and Deaf pride… at summer camp. A book about embracing identity and finding the friends you didn’t know you needed. This one is at the top of my summer reading list.

Release Date: July 11, 2023


It Looks Like Us by Alison Ames

It Looks Like Us by Alison Ames

Amazon | BookshopGoodreads | Review

What you need to know: Summer camp… horror! A research trip to Antarctica turns deadly when an unidentified something tries to kill the retreat members. One of the best books I read last year, and I’m not a big horror girl. Check my review for content warnings.

Release Date: September 13, 2022


Long Story Short by Serena Kaylor

Long Story Short by Serena Kaylor

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads | Review

What you need to know: A homeschooled girl whose parents decide she needs more experience with peers attends the Connecticut Shakespearean Summer Academy in exchange for their permission for her early admission to Oxford. Competitive antics and rivals-to-lovers romance ensue. Great for fans of Lily Anderson.

Release Date: July 26, 2022


When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon

When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads | Review

What you need to know: An intense summer program for aspiring web developers. A suitor in a potential arranged marriage. A girl who couldn’t be less interested in romance. All the fun of Sandhya Menon’s fluffy romance… at summer camp!

Release Date: May 30, 2017


You Have a Match by Emma Lord

You Have a Match by Emma Lord

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads | Review

What you need to know: When a DNA service reveals a younger sister, Abby signs up for summer camp to meet her unknown sibling. Packed with secrets about to burst and an adorable friends-to-lovers romance. My favorite of Emma Lord’s books so far.

Release Date: January 12, 2021


Have a Little Faith In Me by Sonia Hartl

Have a Little Faith in Me by Sonia Hartl

Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads | Review

What you need to know: Jesus camp… but not from a religious perspective. This one tackles issues concerning consent, celebrates girl friendships, and delivers a simmering summer romance.

Release Date: September 3, 2019


Kisses and Croissants by Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau

Kisses and Croissants by Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads | Review

What you need to know: Ballet camp! In Paris! Plus, a sweet romance and a quest to prove family lore that says her relative sat for a painting by Edgar Degas. Perfect for fans of Jenna Evans Welch.

Release Date: April 6, 2021


No Place Like Here by Christina June

No Place Like Here by Christina June

Amazon | BookshopGoodreads | Review

What you need to know: A girl desperate to escape from under her controlling father’s thumb. A rustic team-building retreat center in the middle of nowhere. Awkward, cute, and fun.

Release Date: May 21, 2019


Last Summer at Eden by Christina Hergenrader cover shows a line drawing of an upside down canoe being held aloft by two girls. Another girl kneels in front of them, her hands stretched up to reach for the canoe.

Last Summer at Eden by Christina Hergenrader

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads | Review

What you need to know: It’s been a while since I’ve read this one, but I remember it being a fun read packed with references to camp songs and the emotional highs and lows of being in close quarters with strangers for weeks. It’s a Christian book and has a faith-positive message.

Release Date: March 1, 2017


The Honeys by Ryan LaSala

The Honeys by Ryan LaSala

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads | Review to Come

What you need to know: This is one from my current summer reading list! When his twin sister dies after running all the way home from her summer camp experience, he vows to go to the camp himself and find out what happened to her. Looks creepy and intense. I’m excited about it.

Release Date: August 2, 2022


Andy and the Extroverts by Jessica K. Foster cover shows a girl peeking over her sunglasses, her arms crossed. She's holding a coffee cup and wearing a black long-sleeved shirt and ripped jeans. Behind her are a forest and three people in the distance.

The Honeys by Ryan LaSala

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads | Review to Come

What you need to know: Another one that just came out! A bookish girl forced into summer leadership camp. Girl friendships and an unexpected summer romance that may demand she learn to stand up for herself and, well, lead.

Release Date: May 16, 2023


What are your favorite summer camp stories?

Do you have favorite stories about summer camp? What books feel like summertime to you? Leave a comment and let me know! I would love to chat about them.

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About Kasey

Reads things. Writes things. Fluent in sarcasm. Willful optimist. Cat companion, chocolate connoisseur, coffee drinker. There are some who call me Mom.

8 Responses to Top Ten Tuesday: Super-Fun Summer Camp Books

  1. I’ve never been to summer camp (except girls’ camp with my church when I was a teenager, which probably doesn’t count), but I do like summer camp settings. I haven’t read any of these books, but there are several I’m going to take a closer look at, especially IT LOOKS LIKE US.

    Happy TTT (on a Wednesday)!

    Susan
    http://www.blogginboutbooks.com

    • Kasey says:

      I don’t know– I expect you had some of the classic camp experiences there? I went to ballet camp one summer, so I was hardly out in the woods myself. 🙂 I’m SO excited that you’re gonna check out IT LOOKS LIKE US. It’s soooo good! I hope you enjoy it.

  2. Jo says:

    Nice way to twist this week’s prompt! I hope you enjoy the ones you’ve yet to read 🙂
    My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2023/06/06/top-ten-tuesday-423/

  3. Ah, summer camp! I loved mine. It’s always fun to read a summer camp book because it takes me back. Thanks for sharing!

  4. Lydia says:

    Summer camp is a super fun twist to this week’s prompt. 🙂

    Here is my Top Ten Tuesday post.

    • Kasey says:

      Thanks, Lydia! I have been wanting to do a camp post for a while, so it was nice to be able to share it for TTT. Checking out your post now!