Really Rubie by Maddie Frost

Hello, summer! Eleven-year-old Rubie Fox can’t wait to go to sleepaway camp for the very first time. She and her best friend Riley Swisher will go away for an entire month TOGETHER, and they’ll even be able to spy on Riley’s crush Owen, who will be across from Camp Pineview, over at the boys’ camp, Moose-Ridge.

But when Riley drops a bomb—she can’t go to camp because she broke her ankle—Rubie has to go by herself. Which sort of makes her feel RAGE…how can she go to camp without Riley?! But her mom has already paid for it, so she’s stuck with her plushie chicken Jim the Duck and a cabin full of girls she doesn’t know.

But Rubie just might find another BFF, break out of her shell, and even meet a boy…all without Riley. Camp might be more eventful than Rubie ever thought it could be—will she sink or will she swim?

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First sleepaway camp. No best friend. Maximum feelings.

Pre-Reading Thoughts

Diary-style MG with lots of illustrations is always a fun mix of humour and emotional honesty. Rubie heading to sleepaway camp without her best friend sounds like the perfect recipe for awkward adventures, new friendships, and a few dramatic tween feelings along the way.

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Post-Reading

As I thought…
This is a very fun addition to the illustrated diary-style MG genre. Rubie’s voice is energetic, funny, and wonderfully dramatic in the way only an eleven-year-old can be. The illustrations add a lot to the humour, amplifying her reactions and making the story feel lively and accessible for younger readers.

It surprised me by…
…how relatable the emotional core is, even though the setting feels very American. Sleepaway camp might not be a universal experience, but the feelings underneath - nervousness about new situations, missing your best friend, figuring out where you fit - are completely familiar tween struggles. Watching Rubie slowly come out of her shell makes the story warm and satisfying, and I can easily see this becoming a popular new series.

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Music Pairing

🎵 Featured Song: “Best Friend” – Saweetie & Doja Cat
🎶 Vibe Album: Kid Krow – Conan Gray
🎧 Artist Recommendation: Olivia Rodrigo (for big tween feelings and dramatic honesty)

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Vibe Check

Colour Palette: Bubblegum pink, sunshine yellow, notebook blue
Soundtrack: Upbeat pop with bursts of chaotic energy
Season: Summer camp season ☀️
Mood: Dramatic, funny, friendship-focused
Scent: Sunscreen, lake water, and toasted marshmallows

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Tarot Pull

Page of Cups – Curious, emotional, and open to new friendships, the Page of Cups perfectly captures Rubie’s journey through big feelings, unexpected adventures, and the possibility of discovering new connections when she least expects them.

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For Fans Of

• Book: Dork Diaries by Rachel Renée Russell
• TV/Film: Camp Rock (for chaotic camp energy and tween friendship drama)

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Really Rubie publishes on the 4th of June, 2026. I received a free copy and am giving an honest review.