Be Prepared
written and illustrated by
Vera Brosgol
Edition
Hardcover edition
Publisher
Macmillan
Imprint
First Second
ISBN
9781626724440
Awards and Honors
2019 EGL Award Finalist, Middle-Grade Fiction
ILA Young Adults' Choices - 2019
ALSC Notable Children's Books - 2019
Capitol Choices: Noteworthy Books for Children and Teens - 2019
CCBC Choices 2019 Choice: Fiction for Children
NYPL Best Books for Kids - 2018
NPR’s Book Concierge - 2018
Horn Book Fanfare - 2018
POTENTIALLY SENSITIVE AREAS
Language: Crude Humor, Violence: Mild Violence
For Vera, Russian camp seems like the perfect opportunity to finally fit in, but the bugs, nature, and tentmates are more than she bargained for!
POTENTIALLY SENSITIVE AREAS
Language: Crude Humor, Violence: Mild Violence
Details
Format
Page Count
256
Trim Size
6 1/2" x 8 3/4"
Dewey
920.72 B
AR
2.6: points 1
Lexile
GN360L
Genre
Nonfic
Scholastic Reading Counts
0
JLG Release
Jul 2018
Praise & Reviews
Starred or favorable reviews have been received from these periodicals:
Booklist*, The Horn Book Magazine*, Kirkus Reviews, School Library Journal*, Publishers Weekly*
Praise & Reviews
School Library Journal
[STARRED REVIEW]
Brosgol has worked on acclaimed animated films, but she was once a lonely nine-year-old aching for friendship. Here, she relates the story of her monthlong experience at Russian summer camp, where she coped with the horrors of outhouses, feral wildlife, and bug bites, as well as with mean older cabinmates and alienation from her fellow campers. The author/illustrator reprises her cartoony character art and her detailed yet subtle background work. The book eschews the plot-driven and suspenseful storytelling of Brosgol’s Anya’s Ghost in lieu of a slice-of-life narrative in which problems aren’t always neatly resolved. This lends a hard realism to the memoir, in spite of the adorable art style, as young Vera earns small victories and an understanding of herself rather than soaring triumph. The text is simple and accessible, but the relaxed pacing, characters who go often unpunished for cruel behavior, and the brief inclusion of an ill-fated romance set this title apart from more gentle middle grade works. VERDICT A gorgeous, emotional memoir worthy of any graphic novel collection.—Matisse Mozer, Los Angeles Public Library, CA
Horn Book
[STARRED REVIEW]
This book is a true story. And also made up.” Brosgol’s (Anya’s Ghost, rev. 7/11;
Leave Me Alone, rev. 9/16) fictionalized graphic memoir captures the ups and
downs (let’s be honest—mostly downs) of a stint at a Russian Orthodox summer
camp. Feeling like an outsider at school, Russian American preteen Vera is
initially thrilled to attend camp with other Russian kids. Once there, however, she
struggles to adjust to the strict rules, lack of modern electricity and plumbing, and
drama involving her significantly older bunkmates. The story’s visual narrative,
exposition, and dialogue are in balance as inky illustrations fill smartly placed
panels. The tone is accessible, vulnerable, and hilariously kid-centric (there are
plenty of potty references). Angle brackets in the speech bubbles indicate dialogue
spoken in Russian, and untranslated words and signs build atmosphere. A monochromatic
palette using shades of army green reinforces the natural setting, and
a cliffhanger ending leaves the door open for a sequel. Gaps between fiction and
reality are clarified in an author’s note, which also includes primary documents:
real-life photographs and a letter written by Vera to her mom (“Love, and homesick
and crying, Vera. P.S. My stomach hurts every night. It does right now, too”).
The story, both culturally specific and universal, is a welcome addition to the
growing canon of comics tales by talented women cartoonists (Raina Telgemeier,
Tillie Walden, Zeina Abirached, Cece Bell, and many others) based on their own
lives. elisa gall
Grades 5-8
Graphic Novels Middle Plus
For Grades 5-8
Book-length narratives presented in comic book style, graphic novels foster both visual and verbal comprehension skills while exposing readers to interesting dialogue and satire, as well as affirming diversity.
JLG's selection of these unique books, some of them only published in softcover, are ideal for attracting reluctant readers and introducing them to literature they might not encounter otherwise. You may find that the 12 books in this category will turn your reluctant readers into eager readers.
14 books per Year
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Interests
Diversity,ESL,Fiction,Graphic Novels,Reluctant Readers,Transitional Readers,Funny/Humorous
Grades 5-8
Graphic Novels Middle Plus
14 books per Year
$293.02 per Year
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