Vera's family moved to the US from Russian when she was five, and at nine she is still struggling to make friends and fit in with her American classmates. One thing that all of them do which she's never been able to take part in is summer camps. Until, that is, she learns of ORRA- the Organization of Russian Razvedchiki (Scouts) in America. She begs her mom to send her, thinking that there at last she will make friends, roast smores, and have the summer of her life. When Vera and her little brother arrive, things are immediately not as she expected. She's in a tent with two teenagers (both named Sasha) who have no interested in hanging out with her. She doesn't know any of the songs, any of the jokes, or any of the traditions. And the bathrooms? Too scary to be described. Though she can speak Russian fluently she has difficulty reading it and struggles in the nature and history classes. Pretty soon Vera is writing to her mom, begging to be taken back home. This story, a mix of memoir and fiction, perfectly captures the experience of being young and lonely in the woods. But Vera is smart and resourceful, and she thinks up several different schemes (both foolish and wise) to improve her situation. By the end of the summer Vera has grown up a lot, and is (hopefully) better prepared for whatever life with throw at her next. Beautifully drawn and very engaging.