What happens when you realize you haven’t gone to culinary camp and ended up at not just any regular old summer camp, but a camp for vampires?! Well, it turns out you can have a whole lot of fun in the last place you’d expect to! 😂

Maya is a young girl who struggles to make friends and is unable to speak her mind out of fear of being judged by others. After a big life-changing announcement from her father and his girlfriend, she gets treated to the summer camp of her dreams: culinary camp. Only, she ends up somewhere completely different and she’s terrified about it! But what starts as an awkward summer of having to pretend she’s not human ends up being an unforgettable summer spent making the best friends with the most unlikely cabin mates.

It was great to see Maya find her voice and learn to speak up for herself but to also see her be comfortable with showing who she is and what she loves. The friendship group she makes with Alex, Daisy and Nico is so sweet and wholesome, even if it started on the wrong foot with Alex especially. There was even an adorkably cute vampire boy who developed the most awkward summer crush on Maya! 🤭 Even though the themes are ones typically found in all middle-grade stories, I found the combination of the summer camp setting and pre-teen/teen vampires was a fun and fresh way to bring the message across. Growing up problems are truly universal and it doesn't matter whether you're human or a vampire, you'll find people who may be going through the same thing as you and you'll always find your people.

I also really enjoyed the art style and colour palette because it was adorable and gave the book such a great summery vibe. Overall, this was such a fun and heartwarming graphic novel that would make the perfect summer beach (or camp!) read for readers all ages, but especially the young ones. Highly recommend it! This was such a great heartwarming graphic novel that would make the perfect summer beach (or camp!) read for readers of all ages, but especially the young ones. I highly recommend it!

This was a fun graphic novel written for middle school kids but could also be enjoyed by upper elementary students. I have not seen this particular scenario for a book, but I loved it! Maya love cooking, but her lack of social skills often leaves her feeling left out. She is excited when her dad's girlfriend gives her the gift of summer camp at a cooking camp--finally she'll be with kids who get her. Except it all goes wrong when she gets on the wrong bus and ends up at a camp for vampire kids!

I loved Maya and her enthusiasm for cooking, and I really loved how she unexpectedly ended up loving this camp that was NOT cooking camp. The story is fun and while it contains the usual middle trope of embracing yourself and being excellent at it, I loved how the author chose to tell this story. The illustrations were a lot of fun and overall, I just enjoyed it. I would recommend this for 4th grade and up, depending on the reading level of the child. But thinking back to my days at the elementary school book fair, I can think of many 4th and 5th graders who would have no trouble with this book.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Maya has a hard time fitting in at school and making friends. She’s prepared for a boring summer until her dad’s girlfriend signs her up for culinary camp. Maya loves cooking so she is excited and looking forward to going to camp. However, Maya gets on the wrong bus and ends up at Camp Dracula- a summer camp for vampires.

Summer Vamp was a cute middle grade graphic novel. The story was entertaining and funny. I loved the adorable and colorful artwork. I loved the characters, especially the vampire campers. I had a fun time reading this one!

If you’re a fan of super cute, light-hearted middle grade graphic novels, definitely check this one out.

Summer Vamp was a really fun and creative middle grade graphic novel. Maya thinks she is going to a culinary summer camp, but accidentally ends up at Camp Dracula, a summer camp for tween vampires. Maya learns a lot during her time at camp. She learns how to speak up for herself, how to conquer her fears and how to make new friends. Highly recommended for all graphic novel collections.

Once I put aside my (tragic adult) skepticism--How do the vampires not realize that Maya's a human immediately? How are they awake during the day? How does Maya hydrate without water??--I grew to love this fun little graphic novel about a case of mistaken camp identity. There are some valuable tidbits about vulnerability and standing up for oneself and, of course, what true friendship looks like.

“Summer Vamp” is a delightfully quirky and humorous graphic novel that puts a fresh spin on the vampire genre. With vibrant illustrations and an endearing protagonist in Maya, readers are swept into a summer camp adventure like no other. Chan Karim deftly blends the ordinary challenges of adolescence with the extraordinary world of vampires, creating a delightful and engaging narrative.

Full review in the link below!

Really cute! A fun middle grade take on (seemingly normally aging, food-eating) vampires, summer camp, and friendship.

Imagine this scenario: You suddenly find yourself in a camp full of vampires. What would you do if you were a human in this situation? Would you run away as fast as possible or try to find a way to coexist with these supernatural beings? It's a thrilling and scary thought.

A teenage girl named Maya had a challenging school year. She was excited to learn to cook from her favorite chef's video recipes. However, her dad and his girlfriend, Charlotte, surprised her. They registered Maya for a culinary camp. On the day of the camp, Maya accidentally boards the wrong bus and ends up at Camp Dracula. The camp is for vampires, and Maya is a human! What will Maya do in this strange and unexpected situation?

I instantly connected with this book as soon as I looked at it; good job on the cover.
The words were woven together so masterfully that it was hard to put this book down. The author's aptitude for humor was evident throughout, and I was snickering at every turn.
The art style was captivating and added another dimension to the overall experience.
Maya, the main character, is a brilliant and passionate girl. Her love for cooking is comical yet endearing, and the author does an excellent job of bringing out her unique personality traits. Maya's dad and his girlfriend, Charlotte, are well-written characters who add depth to the story. Nico, one of the Camp Dracula campers, is a funny character who stands out the most.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good story with quirky and unforgettable characters.
Happy Publication Day and Reading, Paige

Thank you, @tbrbeyondtours & @rhkidsgraphic, for sending me a copy of this epic graphic novel. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was a super fun read that I think while fun and fantastical, a lot of kids will also be able to relate to it. In it we follow Maya, who's very much in an uncertain stage - she feels like she's in risk of losing her dad to his relationship, dealing with her own awkwardness and learning who she is. She's elated when she has the opportunity to go to culinary camp...but due to a little mix up she finds herself going to an entirely different summer camp - full of vampire kids. Not only is her constant worry of being discovered as a human hilarious, it's also full of a lot of worries and hiccups that a lot of preteens go through as they are making friends and figuring out who they want to be. It was super fun and a great story about friendships, seeing past differences, communication and adjusting into that period of life.

I received this book from TBR and Beyond Tours in exchange of an honest review.

This was such a fun book, yes, it took me a bit to like our MC, especially those pages before camp just had me wanting to yeet pizza at her (seriously, I could also understand her, but they clearly told her they were going to get pizza and then she is offended when they don't want her food, hello did you even care???). But then camp started and her getting in the wrong bus with the vampires and things hit off! I loved seeing her realise where she ended up and then also making friends, discovering new things to herself, and a lot more! She even does some cooking. And there is a fun food fight! There are two heists (as I would call them, though it is all just fun plans by the kids to help each other/help our MC). And I just adored seeing our MC get more and more happy at the camp, though also definitely dodging all the questions on whether or not she is a vampire or not (which later led to some drama and then some humour because yes it is quite obvious). I loved the summer camp (though not the food) and wish I could have been part of it all.
I would LOVE the POV of the vampire girl who got on the wrong bus/who saw her bus disappear.
The art was just so pretty and I love love love the style!

Oh, and I just love how magical it was that no one questioned if our MC should be here or not. The counsellors/bosses of the camp should have noticed, right?

All in all, highly recommended! This is a delightful fun summer read about vampires, family, friendship, and discovering yourself.

It’s the end of 7th grade and all Maya knows is that the school year was a bummer and her dad has a new girlfriend moving in that makes her watch vampire movies (boring and vampires aren’t even real!). When the opportunity to go to a culinary camp presents itself, Maya is thrilled! Except she accidentally winds up at vampire summer camp. Will this group of fanged teens accept her as one of their own? Summer Vamp is a beautifully written and illustrated graphic novel that tackles the timeless struggle of finding your fit in the world while growing into your own personal. Perhaps a group of blood sucking new friends can help Maya assert herself and accept the changes happening in her life. A lighthearted and fun story about pushing past stereotypes and having the summer of a lifetime with new friends who just happen to drink blood!
!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my e-ARC of Summer Vamp!

𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔
🏕️ ever attended a summer camp
🧄 love garlic and use it in everything
👩‍🍳 wanted to be a chef as a kid
😂 enjoy hilarious graphic novels

• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓

After a lackluster school year, Maya anticipates an even more disappointing summer. The only thing she’s looking forward to is cooking and mixing ingredients in the kitchen, which these days brings her more joy than mingling with her peers . . . that is until her dad's girlfriend registers her for culinary summer camp! Maya's summer is saved! . . . or not.

What was meant to be a summer filled with baking pastries and cooking pasta is suddenly looking a lot . . . paler?! Why do all of the kids have pointy fangs? And hate garlic? Turns out that Maya isn't at culinary camp—she's at a camp for VAMPIRES! Maya has a lot to learn if she's going to survive this summer . . . and if she's lucky, she might even make some friends along the way.

• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒

Oh my gosh, this was the cutest and funniest graphic novel! I absolutely loved the drawings, they reminded me a lot of Japanese anime with the eyes which made me laugh constantly! I also loved the storyline. Maya is such a talented girl but is very shy and soft spoken. She reminded me of myself in a lot of ways, so I enjoyed her character and the growth she goes through. Overall, just incredible in every single way! I hope that she goes back to Camp Dracula next year!

Maya is not excited her dad's girlfriend is moving in with them. However, she is excited to go to a cooking summer camp. When she arrives, she realizes she got on the wrong bus and is actually at a camp for vampires. She is trying to find a way to escape, but soon realizes that she is enjoying herself and making friends.

This was a really cute book! I think the author did a great job at creating a relatable character who is struggling to fit in and the struggles kids can have. I'm curious to see if there will be another one! I could see it either way, but I do think this would work as a series.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Summer Vamp by Violet Chan Karim is a middle grade graphic novel scheduled for release on May 14 2024. After a lackluster school year, Maya anticipates an even more disappointing summer. The only thing she’s looking forward to is cooking and mixing ingredients in the kitchen, which these days brings her more joy than mingling with her peers. That is until her dad's girlfriend registers her for culinary summer camp! Maya's summer is saved, or not. What was meant to be a summer filled with baking pastries and cooking pasta is suddenly looking a lot . . . paler?! Why do all of the kids have pointy fangs? And hate garlic? Turns out that Maya isn't at culinary camp—she's at a camp for VAMPIRES! Maya has a lot to learn if she's going to survive this summer. If she's lucky, she might even make some friends along the way.

Summer Vamp is a fun and entertaining read about embracing and owning the interests that make us different. I thought Maya was a well written character, one readers could empathize with and relate to even if they did not always agree with her words or choices. Her fears and doubts are universal, at least in my opinion, and I loved going along as she got a little more comfortable in her own skin and found her friend group. I think upper elementary and middle school readers will get the most out of this read, but older and younger readers that are interested will enjoy it just as much.

Thank you Random House Children's, Random House Graphic, and NetGalley for the advanced electronic review copy of this fun book. This adorable middle grade book is about camp, friendship, overcoming challenges, and a mistake that turned out to be no mistake at all. Great, colorful artwork goes well with the storyline. I’ll definitely recommend this book to my upper elementary students.

Summer Vamp is an adorable graphic novel for middle grade readers. Maya boards the wrong bus and ends up at Camp Dracula instead of the culinary camp she's supposed to be going to. I loved the pacing of the story. Kids will find this easy to read and the graphics are simple and easy to follow. Thank you to Random House Kids and Net Galley for the e-arc.

I liked it! It was definitely a simple story, but it was good for the age group it was written for. The teen angst joke at the end was hilarious and added to it. I liked the premise a lot, how the characters acted with one another, and I even liked that the "romance" angle wasn't a main plot point. It was a cute story overall and I enjoyed reading it!

Adjusting to the idea of having a stepmom is hard, but it gets a little easier when Maya is gifted a summer camp experience of a lifetime: culinary camp. A kitchen nerd at heart, Maya can't wait to find her people, but instead of kids who love swapping crepe pans, she finds herself swapping sunburn stories with kids who can actually turn into bats. She's at vampire camp! None of Maya's secret escape attempts work, and it seems only a matter of time before she's discovered and eaten. But perhaps her prejudice against vampires is clouding her judgment.

This is a super fun story that emphasizes the importance of looking a little deeper before judging someone, whether that be your new bunkmates at camp or a potential new member of the family. The art is bright and fun, and the story full of both silly and heartfelt moments. This is the perfect read to kick off summer.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

A summer away at culinary camp is a dream come true for Maya - a chance to escape the doldrums of summer and, more importantly, her father’s new girlfriend who’s planning to move in with them. But she soon discovers cooking sessions are no where on the agenda. Rather, the fanged counselors have banned garlic and serve blood juice boxes. Maya will need to make friends and put aside her own fears if she wants to survive the summer. Author Violet Chan Karim’s Sumer Vamp is a fun to read graphic novel with friendship at the heart of the story. Fun illustrations capture the reader's attention with quirky characters and a lot of heart. I would definitely recommend this graphic novel to others. Geared to those in the eight to twelve range.

Thank you Random House Children's, Random House Graphic and Netgalley for the ARC.

Summer Vamp is a very well-written and well-illustrated middle-grade graphic novel about a girl named Maya who accidentally ends up going to a summer camp for vampires. Hilarious hijinks ensue and this book made my heart happy. I would have really loved it when I was a kid.