“Happy birthday to you!”

From Vera Brosgol’s Be Prepared.

Unable to really connect with her American friends as a young Russian, Vera is desperate to fit in. When Vera learns of a Russian camp from a girl at church, she convinces her mother to let her and her younger brother, Phil, go. When she arrives at the ORRO camp, Vera expects to make lots of friends while participating in all the activities that her American friends talk about, but she is in for a definite surprise. Since she is a few weeks from turning ten, Vera is the youngest girl by quite a bit in her group, as well as one of the few first-time campers, so she struggles to make friends. With outhouses, no running water, and no s’mores, the ORRO camp life is more intense than Vera expected. Vera is glad that she’ll only have to stick with camp for the half-camp track, but on the day she’s expecting to go home, her mother announces the terrible news that she and Phil are going to stay for the entire duration of camp. Now totally stuck at camp with mean campers, nasty bugs, and a crushing case of homesickness, Vera must find a way to salvage her time at camp by making it her own… if she can just figure out how.

This semi-biography is genuine and relatable, especially for those familiar with the area and happenings of the book. The young narrator is relatable with her uncertainty and worries, which makes the story that much more enjoyable. The illustrations are interesting and fun, but the book’s true attraction comes from the protagonist’s genuine heart. Be Prepared is a must-read for anyone looking for a nature-centered story of growing up and growing through tough situations.