Be Prepared

As a nine-year-old for the majority of the narrative, Vera is at a very tumultuous, transitional age. She is still a child in many ways and is clearly much younger than some of her fellow campers, but she is also actively maturing into a pre-teen. With this growth comes many challenges, particularly when it comes to interpersonal relationships and self-confidence. Struggling with school friends and camp friends throughout the narrative, Vera’s desire to fit in transcends the various social groups that Vera encounters, demonstrating that it does not matter to Vera where she fits in. She simply wants to be included and feel like she belongs somewhere. Additionally, Vera begins to struggle with outbursts of emotions, worsening her stress in already-difficult situations.

At the start of the graphic novel, Vera fixes her desire to fit in socially on her peers from school, like her friend Sarah Hoffman. Sarah throws Vera’s idea of the best birthday party, so much so that Vera knows exactly the components or ingredients that contribute to her party’s success. While attending Sarah’s sleepover birthday party, Vera continually tries to seem as much like her peers as possible, even when it is obvious she has qualities and experiences that set her apart. When the other girls are playing with their dolls or talking about their summer camp plans, Vera either fakes her way through the conversation or sits quietly by herself. Throughout these slumber party scenes, Vera is often drawn physically separate from the other girls. She is depicted on the edge of a panel or in a completely different one by herself, on the outside looking in.

Vera’s struggles with adolescent experiences follows her to camp. When Vera finds herself sharing a tent with two girls who are several years older than her, she starts to become keenly aware of her age. She also begins to wish she could grow up faster. On the first night, Vera takes off her shirt without a second thought and the Sashas cringe and tease her because she is not wearing a bra. Vera thinks to herself, “a bra wasn’t on the packing list…” (75). Based on the illustration, it is also clear that Vera is still flat-chested and may have never worn a bra. However, she is now fixated on her age, thinking of the ways that her youth is a deficiency. This same insecurity arises when she is hanging out with the Sashas and their friends and she notices the menstrual pads stored neatly under one of their cots. She asks if these are a kind of candy, and the girls laugh and explain they are pads for your period. They realize that, of course, Vera has not yet gotten her period, and they find her lack of knowledge on the subject “adorable.” Vera is embarrassed, and she also finds herself desperately wanting to grow up and get her period, so she can be like these older girls. Eventually, Vera meets a girl from the younger girls’ camp named Kira. She is only eight and a half, but Vera finds that she enjoys Kira’s company and her sincere friendship much more than the fickle and sometimes cruel attention of the older girls.

Throughout the narrative, Vera also experiences many difficult emotions that feel out of her control, even leading her to outbursts. Hormones and stressful situations often cause pre-teens and teenagers to have trouble regulating feelings and expressions, which is another piece of Vera’s journey toward maturity throughout the novel. While she begins with minimal perspective, driven by her desires and feelings, these feelings become explosive when she learns from her mother that she will be staying at the camp for an additional two weeks. Vera’s outburst includes declaring that she would rather stay with her father, a hurtful comment directed at her mother. When Vera realizes, however, the impact of what she has said, she calms herself and reassures her mom that everything will be fine. This is the first small step Vera takes toward gaining perspective and empathy, and this gesture shows maturity. This, combined with Vera’s realization about the importance of true friendship, is a pivotal step in her coming of age, even as it also reminds her not to rush to grow up.