Campers, are you joining us this summer for our Camp BTC Reading Challenge? Then we’ve got some recs to help you get started with the reading challenge that will run from June to August. There are 6 prompts for Outstanding Campers and then an additional 4 prompts for Overachieving Campers! Make sure to tag us in your photos and use #BTCSummerReads as you work your way through the challenge.
For Our Outstanding Campers
Books Featuring Crafts and Hobbies
Did you love doing crafts during camp? Or maybe you were more of a theater kid. From baking to origami, these books evoke some of your favorite summer activities!
- Paper Cuts by Ellery Adams
- Murder is a Piece of Cake by Valerie Burns
- Pink Lemonade Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke
- Mastering the Art of French Murder by Colleen Cambridge
- Rehearsed to Death by Frank Anthony Polito
- A Colorful Scheme by Krista Davis
- Steeped in Secrets by Lauren Elliott
Books That Evoke Ghost Stories
These reads will remind you of sitting beside the campfire with a delicious s’more! Whether you want to be completely spooked or just kind of scared, we’ve got some recs for you.
- A Haunted History of Invisible Women by Leanna Renee Hieber and Andrea Janes
- Where Ivy Dares to Grow by Marielle Thompson
- Her Little Flowers by Shannon Morgan
- Folklorn by Angela Mi Young Hur
- A Ghost in Shining Armor by Therese Beharrie
- High Spirits by Carol J. Perry
Books That Will Keep Up Past Lights Out
Grab a flashlight and a snack! These thriller and suspense filled reads will have you saying just one more chapter well past lights out.
- Remain Silent by Robyn Gigl
- The Other Mistress by Shanora Williams
- On the Line by Fern Michaels
- The Last Sinner by Lisa Jackson
- Second Shot by Cindy Dees
- Those Empty Eyes by Charlie Donlea
Books That Remind You of Your First Crush/Love
Does thinking about summer camp make you nostalgic for your first crush for first kiss? These reads will steal your hearts and remind you of those moments!
- Someone Else’s Bucket List by Amy T. Matthews
- Gigi Listening by Chantel Guertin
- The First Date Prophecy by Danny and Kate Tamberelli
- Anchored Hearts by Priscilla Oliveras
- In the Event of Love by Courtney Kae
Books to Take Camping
Heading out into the woods? From witchy shenanigans to fantasy realms, you’ll want some entertaining reads to keep you company!
- The Dueling Duchess by Minerva Spencer
- The Midnight Bargain by C.L. Polk
- The Language of Love and Loss by Bart Yates
- Blue Moon Haven by Janet Dailey
- The Heretic Royal by G.A. Aiken
- A Newlywed’s Guide to Fortune and Murder by Dianne Freeman
- The Witch Hitch by Elizabeth Bass
Books Highlighting Friendship
Here are some stories that highlight friendships, whether it’s meeting people later on in life or reconnecting with your friends. These reads make for perfect buddy reading!
- Strawberry Lane by Jodi Thomas
- For Her Consideration by Amy Spalding
- The Scapegracers by H.A. Clarke
- The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle by Matt Cain
- Charlotte Illes Is Not a Detective by Katie Siegel
- Peg and Rose Stir Up Trouble by Laurien Berenson
- Intermission by Phyllis R. Dixon
- Lonely Castle in the Mirror by Mizuki Tsujimura
- Georgie, All Along by Kate Clayborn
For Our Overachieving Campers
Books with Water on the Cover
Whether you love an atmospheric mystery or a historical fiction novel, we’ve got you covered with these books that have water on the cover!
- No Strangers Here by Carlene O’Connor
- Shell Beach by Davis Bunn
- Intrigue in Istanbul by Erica Ruth Neubauer
- The Lost Girls of Willowbrook by Ellen Marie Wiseman
- Hidden Beneath by Barbara Ross
- Death of a Clam Digger by Lee Hollis
- Peril by Kat Martin, Alexandra Ivy, and Rebecca Zanetti
Books with “Campers” of the Past
We wish we could have gone to camp with the characters from these books! Journey through Gilded Age New York to 1920s Ecuador with these reads!
- Such Good Friends by Stephen Greco
- The Book Spy by Alan Hlad
- The Seamstress of New Orleans by Diane C. McPhail
- An American Beauty by Shana Abé
- Before the Storm by James D. Shipman
- The Spanish Daughter by Lorena Hughes
Books That Should Be a Movie
What’s summer camp without a movie night? These book recs range from inspired by the movies to ones we wish we could watch on screen!
- The Nurse’s Secret by Amanda Skenandore
- Elizabeth and Monty by Charles Casillo
- Such a Pretty Girl by T. Greenwood
- How to Taste by Mandy Naglich
- The Way They Were by Robert Hofler
- The Woman in the Castello by Kelsey James
- The Exorcist Legacy by Nat Segaloff
- Killin’ Generals by Dwayne Epstein
- The Confidante by Christopher C. Gorham
Books Set in Nature
Is being outdoors one of your favorite parts of summer camp? These books set in nature are sure to call to you! But maybe after reading a few of them, you’ll prefer to be safely indoors…
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