Camp Shady Crook

March 15, 2019
When a skillful (but lonely) con artist meets up with a clever (but friendless) trickster at summer camp, the outcome is sure to leave other campers suffering misfortune.Archie Drake's starting his fourth summer at the woefully run-down Camp Shady Brook, cleverly misguiding other campers into thinking he's rich--very far from the truth. But the misperceptions help him with his cons, aided by Oliver, a counselor-in-training. And sometimes, Archie even rewards some of the other, poorer campers with bits of his payout, helpfully assuaging his underactive conscience. Vivian Cheng is new to Shady Brook, but she's there because of a scam she participated in at school that's left her parents feeling little trust in her. Under Archie's reluctant tutelage, she readily learns the tricks of the con trade while avoiding the attention of the camp director, the evil "Miss Hiss." But after the pair challenge each other to con two undeserving campers, the situation quickly spirals out of control, and both begin to experience the hurtful consequences of their acts. Writing alternately in tightly focused third-person from the two protagonists' points of view, Malone infuses into each enough believable personality to carry the story along to its satisfying conclusion. Vivian's name suggests she's Chinese-American, but Archie (and most of the rest of the kids) seems to be default white.A summer-camp story that's just right for summer reading. (Fiction. 9-12)

COPYRIGHT(2019) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

May 17, 2019

Gr 3-7-Camp Shady Brook, also known as Camp Shady Crook, is not as nice as the publicity makes it seem. The cabins, the lake, and all the activities are meant to attract wealthy campers but the facility leaves something to be desired. What place could be better for Archie Drake, scam artist extraordinaire, to find his marks? Back at home he's a nobody, but at camp everyone thinks he's related to a billionaire. Using his powers of persuasion, Archie can trick almost anyone out of their pocket change. As a self-proclaimed Robin Hood, he only targets wealthy attendees and not scholarship campers like himself. When new camper Vivian shows up and catches onto his schemes, the two rivals form a partnership while continuing to compete. Vivian is not looking for friends and would rather trick others before they can trick her. When they realize there may not be a camp to return to next year, the two must find a way to use their deception for good and to save the camp. While Archie and Vivian aren't always likeable, readers will become invested in following their schemes and wondering how-and if-they will redeem themselves. VERDICT A fun, fast-paced tale recommended for most middle grade collections, especially where camp novels are popular.-Marissa Lieberman, East Orange Public Library, NJ

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.