The story is engaging, but it was far too depressing for my tastes. I'm still a sucker for a happy ending, and I love when the villains get the justice they deserve. That doesn't happen in this novel. ( )

It was really hot last night. Without air conditioning, i didn't think I'd be able to sleep. About 11:00 p.m., lying on my bed under the ceiling fan, I picked up my copy of CAMP, opened it, and started reading. Two hours later, I finished.

I read a lot, but I bet the last YA book I read was with my own daughters, several long decades ago, so I'm no expert in this genre. And, as I expected, there was a simplicity of prose and plot. But there's nothing simple about the characters in this book, their actions, or their emotions. In addition, the well-rendered camp setting brought me back to my own camp experiences, and those of my daughters, enriching the story and adding an additional layer of thoughtfulness.

By the way, thanks to that ceiling fan and a very satisfying read, I slept just fine.

( )

I'm a sucker for camp books or movies. So when I passed this book in a bookstore -- with its single word title and the cover's dark forest scene with the hint of light just further on -- I knew I'd probably be reading it soon.

Camp turned out to be a young adult coming-of-age story that takes place, mostly, at a summer camp in Maine. Our heroine Amy has a pretty dysfunctional family, and although camp offers her a chance to get away from them, she'd much rather be at home where she's comfortable. But her parents ship her off to camp, where she finds she's the new kid. For about two-thirds the book, Amy must match wits against the vicious prima donna of the camp, who bullies Amy mercilessly and generally gets away with it.

So the book's a YA story about bullying? Well, not really. Even though there are a few opportunities to wrestle with various forms of teasing and bullying throughout the book, the whole camp experience turns out to be just something Amy has to live through, rather than do something about. (The book, then, becomes Amy's discovery of her mother's secrets and how similar the two females are.) In essence, the "camp" part of Camp suggests that if you're experiencing misery in your life, just find a way to get through it. Amy never finds her "inner strength" at camp, she never asks friends for help, she never seeks out counselors or other responsible adults who might help. The book's finale does allow the reader to question whether Amy's withdrawal is the better choice, but there are some significant events after camp finishes that change the equation.

When reading this book, I was reminded of Judy Blume and Robert Cormier's stories. It's generally fine for tweens or early teens, although there are a few sexually-suggestive moments (Amy doesn't understand them, and they're not explained). It's a decent read, but it would likely be better when read with a group, so readers can discuss the options Amy had at any given point in the story. I would have rated it higher if the camp part of the story meshed more significantly with the "family secrets" introduction and conclusion.

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LT Haiku:

Camp provides for one
Girl the opportunity
For self-awareness. ( )

Wow. I am still reeling. I am also having a hard time articulating how this story affected me. Wolf captures the darker, less talked about world of teenage girls and bullying in her novel CAMP. Wolf tells a story of how relentless bullying affects a young woman while she is attending a summer camp. Wolf subtly gives us the back-story of many of the characters, giving the reader a better understanding of all sides. This story is deep and complex. CAMP is so much more than just teenage bullying and camp. It is about family, secrets, history, friendships, marriage and tragedy. Often sad and sometimes tragic Wolf writes an emotionally driven story that is a must read for all. I rate it 4.5 stars and think that this novel will stick with me for quite some time. ( )

T ( )