CAMP PRODIGY

Friendship, identity, and self-discovery take center stage in this musical summer camp graphic novel for tweens.

Tate Seong can’t get the hang of the viola but is excited to attend Camp Prodigy, a summer string orchestra camp for middle schoolers. There, Tate meets nonbinary fellow camper Eli Violet, a viola virtuoso with stage fright. With Eli’s behind-the-scenes support, Tate’s viola skills quickly improve, and the bond between the two grows even stronger when Eli supports Tate’s realization that they’re also nonbinary. Tate’s skills rocket them all the way to first chair viola, but Eli becomes engrossed in other camp activities, enjoying themself for the first time all summer. This new friendship and increasing musical tenacity give Tate the confidence to come out to their close friends at camp—and ultimately, their parents. The story begins in a rush, but it hits its stride as Tate arrives at camp, compensating for some early pacing issues. Tate’s journey of gender discovery is delicately wrought and joyfully celebrated without major conflict. Bold, jewel-toned, manga-style illustrations propel the story forward with movement and expression. Tate reads biracial, with parents who are cued white and Korean American; Eli reads Black, and the campers represent a range of races and body types.

An immersive and affirming story that hits the right notes.