Review: What's the mystery behind Night Camp?
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 01 24, 2012
Cross-posted from Papyrus Independent Author Reviews: ([...])Shane finds himself faced with the prospect of attending summer camp again. To spite his parents he chooses the worst-sounding camp possible, but will his rash action come back to bite him?"Night Camp" is a book probably aimed towards 9 - 12 year olds and would make a good reader for boys in particular. Shane and his cousin Brad end up in a camp where all the activities are at night and the campers sleep during the day. The tabloid-wielding Brad becomes convinced that camp leaders, Colin and Trevor are actually vampires and in convincing Shane, commences an investigation to find proof and a way out of what has now become a very dangerous camp experience.This story was a lot of fun and written well for the target age group. The simplicity in style didn't blunt the intrigue at all and I found myself eagerly anticipating how the author was going to resolve the mystery. Additionally, you did get some insight into Shane as a main character: his reactions to feelings of abandonment, his discomfort around girls and his growing unease about the decisions he was making.Young children do like to get a bit of a scare and I think this book delivers without becoming too sinister or alternatively, too watered down. I think the younger set will get a kick out of it. There may even be a lesson or two in there, but I didn't feel like I was being bludgeoned to death with them which is always appreciated.Is it for adults? It clearly isn't the target audience, but I certainly didn't resent the experience, so I think adults could enjoy it. There are many moments of embarrassment felt by the characters which might seem a little silly to an adult, but I think the author has done a good job writing from a child's point of view. If the reader can appreciate the story from that same point of view I believe it loses that silliness.I don't read children's fiction often, but this was a fun visit. I hope this story can make its way into the hands of children so that they can experience the anticipation, creepiness and overall enjoyment of reading "Night Camp".