Shriek Week (Camp Scream #1)

Debut author Yung evokes monster tropes and fish-out-of-water pandemonium to laugh-out-loud effect in a lighthearted series launch peppered with amiable, cartoony grayscale illustrations by Eng. Bespectacled middle schooler Max Wong and his best friend, Kiana Kaori Reyes, are excited to attend their first summer sleepaway camp together. But Camp Sacretama is nothing like the fun-in-the-sun experience they anticipated: it’s gloomy, secluded, and signage declares it Camp Scream. More troubling are the cabins, which include a haunted house, a mausoleum, and a cave. Soon Max and Kiana discover that Camp Scream is a program for monsters, and the tweens—the only human campers—were invited as part of an equal opportunity agreement between the monsters and human parents in the nearby town. Now the pair must try to play nice with their cryptid and creaturely peers, which include kappa, vampires, and mummies. Resolving to embrace the opportunity, the besties set out to befriend and have fun with their fellow campers. Classic kid-meets-monster mayhem and fast-paced narration pave the way for a goofy yet sincere adventure about learning how to fit in and finding the courage to stand out. Kiana is depicted with brown skin; Max cues as having East Asian heritage. Ages 8–12. (May)