Camp Sylvania

Julie Murphy lives in North Texas with her husband, who loves her, and her cats, who tolerate her. When Julie isn't writing, she can be found watching movies so bad they're good, hunting for the perfect slice of cheese pizza, or planning her next great travel adventure. She is the author of the middle grade novels Dear Sweet Pea and Camp Sylvania as well as the young adult novels Ramona Blue, Side Effects May Vary, the Faith series, Pumpkin, Puddin', and Dumplin' (now a Netflix original film). You can visit Julie at imjuliemurphy.com.

"Murphy renders her camp of fat characters with nuance, giving them unique personalities beyond their size and often pointing out how others' judgments ignore their full humanity and undermine their confidence....A fun and spooky celebration of fat kids and friendship." - Kirkus Reviews

"Through Maggie's witty first-person narration, Murphy reveals the fat camp's horrors, both benign and supernatural, as Maggie, who experiences performance anxiety, realizes that she and her body are just right the way they are. It's a character-driven summer camp romp that takes on anti-fat bias while underscoring how parents don't always get things right." - Publishers Weekly

"Readers of gentle horror will enjoy the eerier elements, and fans of contemporary middle-grade fiction will be delighted by Maggie's realization that she's perfect just the way she is." - ALA Booklist

"Readers looking for a slightly spooky, fast-paced adventure with fully developed characters will delve into this one." - School Library Journal

"The characters' [are] engaging and memorable.... The central focus is on Maggie's journey to overcome her personal fears, but the diet culture-obsessed vampires also allow for some moments of biting satire." - Horn Book Magazine