Ethel Hollister's Second Summer as a Campfire Girl

Ethel Hollister lives in a polished brown‑stone on Riverside Drive, surrounded by elegant gowns, bridge parties, and the constant pressure to secure a “fine establishment” through a wealthy marriage. Though her mother scrimps and saves to keep up appearances, the family’s finances are precarious, and Ethel’s world is a careful performance of aristocratic charm. Her great‑aunt Susan, once a philanthropist turned victim of a swindling cereal company, adds a layer of mystery to the family’s once‑glittering reputation.

When Ethel’s older cousin Kate, a Camp Fire Girl leader in Ohio, visits the city, she opens a doorway to a different kind of adventure. The Camp Fire movement promises friendship, outdoor skills, and a chance to discover who Ethel might be beyond society’s expectations. As the summer begins, Ethel steps into the camp’s lively circle, where the values of cooperation and self‑reliance start to challenge the snobbery she has known all her life.