Friday, August 5, 2022

The Rubber-Band: Slingshot Summer Kick-Off Package

About the Book

Book: The Rubber-Band: Slingshot Summer

Editor: Christy Hoss

Genre: Middle Grade

Release date: May, 2022

Separated from each other at rival camps by a shared lake, the bond of the Rubber Band is challenged. Lead guitar player, Eddie attends a rustic camp for diabetics while across the lake, the rest of the band is at a posh resort for elite rich people’s children, sponsored by lead singer, Becca. During the annual Olympics between camps, the sabotage of a high-stakes kayak race threatens to sink friendships. From the moment they step off the bus to the last day of goodbyes, it’s a non-stop, hilarious and fun-filled first time-at-camp experience for the guys all while Becca is bullied by a long-time rival. Although both summer camps bring new possibilities, will it strengthen the bond of the band and change hearts or stretch them apart?

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About the Author

Christy caught the writing bug in second grade after winning a prize for a five-page story about her dog, Noodles. Mrs. Olson told her she was destined to be a writer and that dream never left her thoughts. After teaching elementary school for fifteen years, Christy fulfilled her childhood dream with her debut novel, The Rubber Band. She substitute teaches to support her writing career, deriving writing inspiration from the students and situations she encounters.

At age twenty-five, she was diagnosed with type-one diabetes but refuses to let it limit her. Her diabetic alert dog, Aiden, has saved her life uncountable times and will appear The Rubber Band Snaps, the fourth book in the series. Christy lives by this equation: Living + diabetes = LIVE-abetes.

Christy is a freelance editor and writes children’s Bible stories for Focus on the Family ClubHouse magazine and has written articles for Guideposts. She is a featured speaker for conferences, retreats and special events. Christy lives in eastern Tennessee with husband Kevin, the love of her life. They have three grown children.

The Rubber Band Slingshot Summer is the third book in The Rubber Band middle grade novel series by Christy Hoss.

More from Christy

If you have ever been to summer camp, I guarantee you will enjoy the Rubber Band’s newest adventure. It takes place at two camps across the lake from each other. Although this is a fictional story, some of it is based on reality. Bearskin Meadow Diabetes Camp does exist and some of the names I used are real people who have given me permission to honor them and what they do. Becca’s exaggerated outdoor adventure camp is, however, purely non-existent and based only on my imagination.

I couldn’t resist writing this light-hearted, fun-filled, nonstop adventure for the band but not without its serious message that I am hoping will encourage strength in my readers.

One week at Bible camp was always the highlight of my summer, giving me something to look forward to. The week always ended too soon for me. Fresh out of high school, I flew to Southern California and worked as a counselor for inner-city kids at a Salvation Army camp in Malibu. It was so much fun, I worked three more summers at various camps on the East Coast and then two more back in Malibu. It was inevitable I would write about the experiences one day.

If you want to experience the camp Eddie attends, check it out here: https://dyf.org/why-camp/

In order to get to Bearskin Meadow, you must travel through Sequoia National Park. Take a sneak peek at its thousand-year-old trees here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/sequoia/home

MY REVIEW

If you have not read the first two books in this series I highly recommend that you do. The author captures the trials and accomplishments as a group of middle schoolers. In this book of them goes to a diabetes camp, while the rest go to another camp. I thought it was interesting that the camps were close by. This scenario leads to some competitions between the two camps which could affect friendships.

I loved how much information the author gives about diabetes and includes a diabetic alert dog. This is a lifesaving animal that will alert if their handler’s blood sugar drops. Eddie is fascinated by the dog and witnesses just how valuable the dog is when his seat companion’s blood sugar drops dangerously low. Janell’s dog knows exactly what is needed to help her as Eddie looks on in amazement.

I never went to summer camp as a child but I did take kids every summer when I was the Children’s pastor. Just like in this book, we did have a young person who was diabetic. His older brother came with us as a counselor and helped monitor his diabetes. I can still remember how excited the kids were when they got off the bus. Squeals and hollers could be heard throughout the camp grounds. Reading this story reminds me how important it is to help each child have a great time and make new friends.

The other camp is quite different and sounds like a swanky hotel with gourmet meals, all the snacks you could ask for and fancy rooms. I wonder how the kids will adjust to this environment? Being at this camp has its own challenges as Becca faces her bully once again. Everywhere she turns, Pamela is there to tease her and make her feel awful.

The story is filled with adventure, fun times and lessons about forgiveness and believing in yourself. It was nice to follow the kids as they explored being away from home and making new friends. The author does talk about bullying and gives a great illustration of showing someone they are forgiven even when their actions were hurtful. This would be a great book to have in a school or church library.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.