Hurricamp!

Hurricamp!

Review "Hurricamp! paints a joyous glimpse into life at sleepaway camp as the charming lead character, Noodle, works through her nerves as a first-time camper. The girls in Noodle's cabin start off as strangers but become lifelong friends as they go through (often humorous) ups and downs, while helping Noodle discover herself, her talents and her place in history at Camp Hillside." --Cynthia Ellingsen, Author of The Girls of Firefly Cabin "Steph Katzovi has written a story many who have had a camp experience will understand and relate to...[Noodle] prevails and comes out better for her experience. The writing is good, the dialogue is appropriate for the age, and it is a quick read." --The Manhattan Book Review Product Description Ten-and-three-quarter-year-old Laura "Noodle" Newman had high hopes about going to sleepaway camp for the first time. Once she's there, however, Noodle is miserable. No one can help her get over her terrible homesickness. Things go from bad to worse when Noodle panics while talking on the camp's radio station. Noodle's moment to shine becomes a bout of stage fright as her bunkmates laugh at her. As a menacing hurricane heads up the coast, life at Camp Hillside turns upside down. Through the craziness, Noodle realizes that only one person can make her feel better: herself. Told in Noodle's witty, earnest, and distinctive voice, Hurricamp! emulates the quirkiness of Beverly Cleary's Ramona books combined with Judy Blume's relatable dialogue. Parents and children alike will identify with Noodle's vulnerabilities and the humorous lessons she learns on her adventures at Camp Hillside. About the Author In third grade, when asked "What do you want to be when you grow up?" Steph Katzovi knew instantly that she wanted to be an author. But like the plot of any good story, the path to realizing her dream included a few twists and turns along the way. Steph was--and still is--a voracious reader. As a child, when she wasn't playing soccer, she was busy filling stacks of black and white composition notebooks with her writing. At Binghamton University, one of Steph's more noteworthy extracurricular activities was as a part-time disc jockey on AM 1360 WKOP. With a mere fifteen minutes of training, "Steph Katzovi" debuted at 6:00 a.m. when the regularly scheduled DJ called in sick. Steph's next stop was Brooklyn Law School. Although she aced the Legal Writing classes and wrote amazing outlines for exams, Steph knew her calling wasn't as a practicing attorney. In 1999, Steph shelved her law degree and two bar admissions to become a professional writer. She spent the bulk of her more than fifteen-year career at Deloitte as a speechwriter and strategic communications consultant. In 2015, when the opportunity arose to raise her children and focus more fully on creative writing, Steph decided it was the right time to hang up her pantsuits and sensible pumps. Despite proclaiming her career aspirations in third grade, it's safe to say that eight-year-old Steph had only a glimmering idea of what being an author would entail. The one constant that has endured since then is Steph's desire to connect with others through wit, humor, and warmth. When she's not writing, Steph is a sports and exercise enthusiast. She also enjoys playing guitar and piano with her two sons, going out on date nights with her husband, and reading... preferably poolside.