Boys Camp

April 1, 2013
Eleven-year-old Zack Wilson has dreamed of summer camp his whole life, and here he is at Camp Wolf Trail having the time of his life in this debut volume in the Boys Camp series. There's a map challenge, swim tests, breakfast cleanup duty, an expedition looking for animal tracks and a mistake that could cost Zack the trust and friendship of his new Birch Cabin buddies--and that's just the first day at summer camp. The Outdoor Adventure Guide has always been Zack's favorite book, in which a city boy like him could learn everything about the great outdoors--navigating by the stars, using a compass or starting fires. But it lets him down when he most needs it, and Zack must learn a lesson about taking a stand and owning his mistakes. Later, on a mountain hike, the lesson learned comes into play once again, and in a short time, Zack goes from chump to hero, and camp now feels like where he belongs, among his new friends. Combining simple, fast-paced prose, a third-person voice and italics to indicate Zack's thoughts, Dokey crafts a high-spirited, good-natured story of a young boy finding his place in the camp world. A lighthearted camp romp with just enough danger and misadventure to keep the pages turning. (Fiction. 7-10)

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May 1, 2013

Gr 2-4-This easy chapter book is a sweet story about friendship, confidence, and problem-solving. Having prepared himself for his first camp experience by reading the ultimate guidebook, Zack quickly makes friends with the other boys. However, he soon makes a mistake that causes his whole bunk to get sprayed by a skunk. Needless to say, the boys turn against him, holding him responsible for their tomato-juice-covered clothes. He eventually makes up with most of them, but soon they are faced with a life-threatening challenge, and Zack finds himself hesitant to act for fear of failing again. Young readers will be drawn to Zack as he negotiates his way through a new environment. The book has some fun back matter, including an essay on camp, information about animal tracking, and glow-in-the-dark animal-tracking cards.-Kerry Roeder, Professional Children's School, New York City

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