The Camp Fire Girls at Long Lake; Or, Bessie King in Summer Camp

Bessie King and her fellow Camp Fire Girls trade their daily routines for the adventure of summer camp at Long Lake. The girls arrive eager for hikes, ceremonial campfires, and weeks of freedom under Miss Eleanor Mercer's watchful eye. But camp life brings unexpected challenges: old friendships strain under new distractions, and a startling encounter with a gypsy wandering too close to camp leaves everyone on edge. Bessie finds herself worrying about her friend Dolly, whose attention has drifted in concerning directions. Stewart writes with genuine affection for the natural world and the small dramas of growing up, capturing both the thrill of independence and the vulnerability of young friendships tested by jealousy and outside threats. The book reflects its era, with all the dated gender conventions you'd expect from 1910s children's fiction, but it also captures something universal: the anxious business of learning who you can trust when you're far from home.