Vail, Rachel. Just In Case: Shells, Smells, and the Horrible Flip-Flops of Doom.

Vail, Rachel.  Just In Case: Shells, Smells, and the Horrible Flip-Flops of Doom.   Macmillan/ Feiwel & Friends   179p      $16.99      978-1-250-00081-1 elem    VG-BNe    Realistic Fiction

Nicknamed "Justin Case" by his classmates, due to his cautious nature, Justin Krzeszewski is looking forward to summer vacation, all 80 days of it.  He is trying hard to be a brave kid (NOT a worried kid), but there is a lot on Justin's plate to cause anxiety.  Leading the list of things to worry about are Summer Camp (which emphasizes "sweaty sports that require skills") and Cash (a tough newcomer).

Vail gets the voice of a geeky-third-grader-going-into-fourth-grade perfectly.  Young readers will find many moments to relate to (keeping secrets, first crushes, mean teenagers, and group dynamics).  Vail manages to handle Justin's confusions, challenges, and small triumphs with deft humor and straightforward prose.  I found myself chuckling out loud several times.

Readers who haven't read Justin Case: School, Drool, and Other Daily Disasters will enjoy the characters so much they will go back to read the earlier volume, even though this one stands up well independently.  They will also eagerly anticipate the next book.

Summer Camp-Fiction, Humor                            --Hilary Welliver