First published 2023
High schooler Jarrett J. Krosoczka expects the worst when he joins a program sending students to counsel at Camp Sunshine, a camp for seriously ill children and their families. He worries the experience will be depressing and grim, shadowed by death and suffering. Instead, Jarrett discovers something unexpected among the campers and staff. He faces the typical camp counselor duties: wilderness challenges, campfire stories, and wearing a smelly mascot costume. But he also meets remarkable kids dealing with illness and medical treatments. Through these encounters, Jarrett learns about the constraints that sickness places on young lives. He also discovers how a safe space can create freedom even in difficult circumstances. The campers and fellow counselors show him hope and determination in the face of serious struggles. This experience at Camp Sunshine changes the direction of Jarrett's life, teaching him lessons about resilience and community that extend far beyond his time at camp.
Genres: fiction, family-life, contemporary
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: Camp Sunshine
240 pages · Hardcover · Graphix