Emmie is looking forward to an end of year school class trip with her best friend Bri. Being together 24/7 for a few days is going to be the best fun. Rock climbing, paddle boarding, ghost stories and marshmallows around the campfire at night. Awesome!

But when Bri comes down with a terrible cold, Emmie must go on her own. After all, her big sister has volunteered as a camp counsellor planning that they can have some sister-time while on camp.

Alone on the bus and feeling like the old, quiet and shy Emmie, she wonders how she will survive it all. Then a boy called Joe gets on the bus and sits next to her.

Joe is secretly wondering the same thing. His friends Tyler and Anthony talked him into going to camp. But as usual, they sit together, talk to each other and forget Joe is even there.

He had hoped this wouldn’t happen, but again he’s feeling left out.

Emmie and Joe are struck with these feelings at first. Joe makes Emmie feel even worse with bad jokes he’s known for, but an apology helps – a little.

Slowly they realise the other is coping with stuff abut being alone at camp and they start talking – to each other.

I love the Emmie & Friends series.

Terri Libenson encapsulates problems experienced by pre-teen heads and hearts, in her dual-viewpoint graphic novels. Two illustration styles clearly show the different key characters of Joe (a jokester who just wants to fit in), and Emmie who feels out of her depth without her bestie by her side.

Entirely Emmie portrays friendship, a first crush, building self-confidence and self-awareness in another full colour episode in this wonderful series.

This series is a must for all Intermediate/Middle Grade School library shelves. They share advice and guidance in growing up, within often funny, down-to-earth real-life stories. 

Author / Illustrator – Terri Libenson

Age – 10+

Graphic Novel

Find more Terri Libenson Graphic novels here

Publisher – Harper Collins

Graphic Novel

Set – USA / School Camp / Present

Viewpoint – person ???

Real Life

Fantasy – No

(2025, Harper Collins, Friendship, School, Family, Growing up, Humour, Real Life, School, Series, Crush, School Camp, Paddleboarding, Rock Climbing, Three’s a crowd, Feeling Left Out, Sisters, Siblings)