2026
WISE Score
Five best friends, a summer camp full of supernatural weirdness, and 'Friendship to the Max'—it's the ultimate guide to being a Hardcore Lady-Type.
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Lumberjanes is a modern classic for a reason. It’s the anti-'Mean Girls.' Instead of backstabbing, you get monster-fighting; instead of cliques, you get a squad that actually likes each other.
This deluxe volume is a great pick for any kid who likes adventure but isn't quite ready for the darker themes of YA fiction. It’s smart, it’s inclusive, and it’s genuinely funny. If your kid is into Gravity Falls or The Owl House, just buy this—they'll thank you.
While it's marketed for ages 8-12, the humor and high-quality storytelling give it plenty of 'crossover' appeal for teens and even nostalgic adults.
The entire series is built on the 'Friendship to the Max' mantra. It avoids the typical 'mean girl' tropes often found in middle-grade books, replacing them with radical support, loyalty, and healthy conflict resolution.
It mixes standard summer camp vibes with bizarre supernatural elements like mechanical butlers, shapeshifting Pookas, and Zebracorns. It's the kind of world-building that makes kids want to go outside and look for cryptids.
Extremely safe. While there is some cartoonish peril and supernatural mystery, there is no graphic violence, profanity, or inappropriate content. It’s a very 'clean' read that still feels cool.
It does a fantastic job of normalizing diverse identities, including LGBTQ+ relationships and different family structures, without making them 'issues.' It teaches bravery, empathy, and how to stick by your friends when things get weird.
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