Camo Girl

A biracial student questions her identity in this contemporary novel from the author of the Coretta Scott King - John Steptoe Award-winning The Rock and the River.

Ella and Z have been friends forever, both of them middle school outsiders in their Las Vegas suburb. Ella is the only black girl in her grade and gets teased for the mottled colors of her face. (Her deceased father was white.) Z is the classic "weird kid" who maintains an elaborate--and public--fantasy life, starring himself as a brave knight.

Though Z is content with his imagined world, Ella wishes for a larger group of friends, so she's thrilled when Bailey, another black kid, arrives at their school. He's popular and wants to befriend Ella--but to join the cool crowd, Ella would have to ditch Z. Does she stay loyal to the boy who has been her best and only friend for years, or jump at the chance to realize her dream of popularity?

Author Kekla Magoon deftly navigates the muddy waters of racial and cultural identities in this contemporary exploration of one girl's attempt to find herself.

Author: Kekla Magoon
Publisher: Aladdin Paperbacks
Published: 01/04/2011
Pages: 224
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.70lbs
Size: 8.54h x 5.83w x 0.90d
ISBN: 9781416978046
Audience: Young Adult

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 3.7
Point Value: 5
Interest Level: Middle Grade
Quiz #/Name: 142973 / Camo Girl


Award: Capitol Choices: Noteworthy Books for Children and Teens - Recommended
Award: South Carolina Childrens, Junior and Young Adult Book Award - Nominee
Award: Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award - Nominee
Award: Virginia Readers Choice Award - Nominee
Award: Georgia Children's Book Award - Nominee
Award: Rebecca Caudill Young Readers Book Award - Nominee


Review Citation(s):
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 03/01/2011
Publishers Weekly 12/06/2010
Kirkus Reviews 12/01/2010
School Library Journal 01/01/2011 pg. 112
Booklist 02/01/2011 pg. 74
Kirkus Best Children's Books 11/15/2011 pg. 2118
BookPage 01/01/2011

About the Author
Kekla Magoon has worked with youth-serving nonprofit organizations in New York City and Chicago. She holds an MFA in writing for children from the Vermont College of Fine Arts and her first novel, The Rock and the River, won the Coretta Scott King - John Steptoe Award for New Talent. She resides in New York City and you can visit her at KeklaMagoon.com.