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Camp

by Elaine Wolf (Goodreads Author)

3.73 of 5 stars 3.73 · rating details · 80 ratings · 39 reviews

Every secret has a price.

For most girls, sleepaway camp is great fun. But for Amy Becker, it's a nightmare. Amy, whose home life is in turmoil, is sent to Camp Takawanda for Girls for the first time as a teenager. Although Amy swears she hates her German-immigrant mother, who is unduly harsh with Amy's autistic younger brother, Amy is less than thrilled about going to camp...more

Hardcover, 256 pages

Published June 15th 2012 by Sky Pony Press (first published June 1st 2012)

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Jul 27, 2012 Cindy Hudson rated it 3 of 5 stars

When Amy’s Uncle Ed buys Camp Takawanda for Girls in Maine, her dad signs her up for the eight-week summer program even though she doesn’t want to go. Amy’s mother, who is unemotional with Amy, is even harsher with her younger brother, who has autism. Amy knows she needs to stay home to run interference between the two of them, and because Charlie is closely bonded with her.

But when summer comes Amy finds herself on a bus from her home in New Jersey to the woods of Maine, and right away she know...more

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Jun 26, 2012 Erin rated it 3 of 5 stars

An engrossing story about a girl named Amy who comes from a family with a strict immigrant mother, (described as German but actually Jewish), tons of silence and secrets and a mentally challeneged brother. The story takes place in the early 1960's...Amy's uncle buys a girls sleepaway camp and her parents decide to send her for the summer. Unfortunately, she becomes a scapegoat for the camp bully who dreams up an "initiation" where Amy is victimized. The rest of camp is tolerable but Amy is alway...more

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Jun 06, 2012 Paul Hankins rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: june-2012-reads, young-adult-edgy, young-adult-fiction, young-adult-focus-on-mental-illness, young-adult-loss-and-grief-healing, young-adult-issue-don-t-miss, young-adult-social-issues, bullying-theme

Every secret has its price. . .

I am coming out to call Elaine Wolf's CAMP the sleeper hit of the YA genre in 2012. Elaine Wolf has been actively advocating for bullying awareness in the various social media forums. And she has quietly promoting her book, CAMP, while befriending readers at Facebook and Twitter.

Here is a book that isn't coming out to big fanfare. No cardboard cutouts or billboards. It's a quiet kind of promotion. From reader to reader. On the day I received my copy, I noted that...more Every secret has its price. . .

I am coming out to call Elaine Wolf's CAMP the sleeper hit of the YA genre in 2012. Elaine Wolf has been actively advocating for bullying awareness in the various social media forums. And she has quietly promoting her book, CAMP, while befriending readers at Facebook and Twitter.

Here is a book that isn't coming out to big fanfare. No cardboard cutouts or billboards. It's a quiet kind of promotion. From reader to reader. On the day I received my copy, I noted that a couple of my reader friends from Facebook had also received theirs. I am waiting for those friends to finish this book so that we can discuss it at length.

Remember those films from the 80's like LITTLE DARLINGS and MEATBALLS? reads much like these. And like so many more. While one might be tempted to categorize this book by it cover as a coming-of-age story, there is much more to CAMP than this.

Amy Beckman is invited to attend the camp that has just been purchased by her uncle, a darling of the extended family with his good looks, lovely wife, and up-and-coming socialite daughter. While the Beckmans don't have the same resources--or even the means to afford eight weeks at a camp on the lake in Maine--they are able to accept an invitation "benevolently" extended by Amy's uncle.

While at the camp, Amy faces an initiation which will remind readers of the horrors presented in Robert Lipsyte's RAIDERS NIGHT. What follows are a series of taunts by a bully that is written by Wolf in such a way that will be eye-opening and discussion ready regarding tactics and ploys used by bullies to gain and keep an upper hand over their victims.

But as much as this is a book about summer camps, it is also a tender book about familial relationships, loss and grieving, and the sometimes difficult navigation of maternal relationships. Here, I would liken CAMP to films like ORDINARY PEOPLE and TERMS OF ENDEARMENT.

Readers will want more from Amy as she attends the camp and more from the potential confrontation that might come at the end of the eight-week experience, but Wolf handles this in a way that allows the reader to see the real scope of the book and what Wolf is leaving with readers.

Ladder this one up with the films presented within the review and new YA titles like Jo Knowles's SEE YOU AT HARRY'S.

I hope that readers continue to find their way to CAMP during this reading season and that they might share this title after their eight-week summer break/reading season to share this with their students in the fall. CAMP is a discussion-worthy title on the subject of bullying and it should be included in ladders that include anthologies like DEAR BULLY.

Keep the conversation going. I am excited to see if I am correct about my assessment of Elaine Wolf's book. I don't need to be right about this. But it would be nice for Elaine, for the book, and for the ongoing conversation that needs to continue in regard to bullies, bullying, and the victims of this oft-unrecognized social ill.(less)

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Jun 12, 2012 Micki rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: bullying, young-adult, mother-daughter-relationships

I had the most fortunate accidental meeting of author Elaine Wolf on Facebook through a mutual friend (none other than Mr. Paul W. Hankins), that has resulted in a developing friendship of mutual respect and support. Elaine is the author of CAMP, a brand new YA novel which she graciously sent to me complete with autograph!!

Although I couldn’t get to reading CAMP right away, my daughter Keri snatched it up and read it in a matter of hours (she devours books almost as fast as I can get them into...more I had the most fortunate accidental meeting of author Elaine Wolf on Facebook through a mutual friend (none other than Mr. Paul W. Hankins), that has resulted in a developing friendship of mutual respect and support. Elaine is the author of CAMP, a brand new YA novel which she graciously sent to me complete with autograph!!

Although I couldn’t get to reading CAMP right away, my daughter Keri snatched it up and read it in a matter of hours (she devours books almost as fast as I can get them into her hands) and loved it. I started reading it on Sunday and finished it last night in the wee hours of the morning. It was worth losing sleep over.

From the book jacket:

A coming-of-age novel about bullying, mothers and daughters, and the collateral damage of family secrets.

Every secret has a price.

For most girls, sleepaway camp is great fun. But for Amy Becker, it’s a nightmare. Amy, whose home life is in turmoil, is sent to Camp Takawanda for Girls for the first time as a teenager. Although Amy despises spending summers at home with her German-immigrant mother, who is unduly harsh with Amy’s autistic younger brother, Amy is less than thrilled about going away to camp. At Takawanda she is subjected to a humiliating “initiation” and to relentless bullying by the ringleader of the senior campers. As Amy struggles to stop the mean girls from tormenting her, she becomes more confident. But then her cousin reveals dark secrets about Amy’s mother’s past, setting in motion a tragic event that changes Amy and her family forever.

Camp is a compelling family drama that will resonate with a wide teenage readership. It will be a strong addition to recommended reading and summer reading lists, and it is appropriate for anti-bullying programs. Mostly, though, Camp is a mother-daughter story for mothers and daughters.

Here are my thoughts:

The afore mentioned Mr. Paul W. Hankins says he thinks CAMP will be the “sleeper hit” of 2012, and I think he’s absolutely right about that. I hope word of this well written debut YA novel spreads very quickly so that multitudes of people read it and share it, particularly via social media. We all know the power of social media.
A couple of days ago, Elaine posted a picture on her Facebook of a display table her book was on at the Barnes and Noble where she was doing a book signing. One of the books on that table was The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne. After reading Elaine’s book, I see why both books were on the same table. I don’t want to give too much away from either book, but I will say I see a common thread among both books: huge secrets kept under the guise of protection that lead to devastating truths. I also see a quite obvious pairing with Dear Bully: 70 Authors Share Their Stories edited by Megan Kelley Hall and Carrie Jones.

The main focus of this story is how the narrator Amy Becker deals with despicable bully Rory at sleepaway camp (Camp Takawanda) and finds sanctuary in new friend and ally Erin. But the story runs much deeper than that. There is also the undercurrent of the classic mother/daughter struggle at play here, but with a twist: Amy’s mother is a German immigrant with a past too painful to share with her daughter, which drives a deep wedge between them. As I read the final chapters of CAMP, and the secrets revealed themselves, I thought of Maxine Hong Kingston’s The Woman Warrior, which chronicles a similar mother/daughter struggle complicated by a secret past from another land.

Mother/daughter relationships are complicated (I have three lovely daughters, by the way) and beautiful and sometimes hard. I think this book can create and provide a path for more open communication between mothers and daughters. We mothers most likely have things in our pasts that we may not want to talk about with our daughters, which is probably an indication that we really should.
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Sep 07, 2012 Liz Ridley rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-fiction

Elaine Wolf’s CAMP is a classic coming-of-age tale that recalls the work of Judy Blume in her prime with its likable (and refreshingly “real”) heroine, 14-year-old Amy Becker, who faces the challenges of adolescence with courage and aplomb. Amy has a strict German-immigrant mother, a kind but ineffectual father, and a younger brother with special needs, but Amy’s real trouble begins when she spends the summer at a girls’ camp in Maine run by her uncle, where she endures savage bullying, humiliat...more

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Jul 03, 2012 Sarah (YA Love) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: bullying, june-release, young-adult-lit, historical-fiction, read-in-2012, grief

Review originally posted at Y.A. Love

Camp by Elaine Wolf is a quiet book that will resonate with many readers. It’s a fast read; I read it within a couple hours of starting it. The story keeps a steady pace and held my interest from beginning to end.

Amy Becker doesn’t have a cozy life at home, at least when it comes to her mother. From the very beginning of the book, Amy’s mother struck me as cold and distant. Amy does, however, have a very close relationship with her brother who, even though it...more Review originally posted at Y.A. Love

Camp by Elaine Wolf is a quiet book that will resonate with many readers. It’s a fast read; I read it within a couple hours of starting it. The story keeps a steady pace and held my interest from beginning to end.

Amy Becker doesn’t have a cozy life at home, at least when it comes to her mother. From the very beginning of the book, Amy’s mother struck me as cold and distant. Amy does, however, have a very close relationship with her brother who, even though it’s not stated, I believe has autism. Her father tries to be loving and involved, which is why he signs Amy up for summer camp, but he can’t always do this completely since he’s often “siding” with Amy’s mother. It’s a tense atmosphere in the Becker home. Amy’s mother isn’t thrilled about Amy attending summer camp because her husband’s brother is running it. This raised my first red flag because her reaction wasn’t typical; it was quite guarded and cautious. Despite all of this, Amy doesn’t want to attend camp, mostly because she worries about her brother.

Poor Amy is at a disadvantage as soon as she gets to the bus leaving for camp. Her aunt and uncle sent a list of things to bring, and it said nothing about clothes from home, so she’s in her camp uniform. Lots of giggling from other campers ensues. At this point in Camp, the reader gets to see more of Amy’s insecurities. Amy’s mother is very concerned about appearances, so it was considered appropriate that Amy attend camp appropriately. For a girl who didn’t want to attend camp in the first place, this is a horrible way to start that experience. On the bus ride to camp, quite a bit of foreshadowing is included to give us an idea of the bullying Amy’s going to face.

The bullying in Camp is a prominent theme in Elaine Wolf’s novel, but it wasn’t the primary focus because all of it ties to Amy’s relationship with her mother. It is important to note, however, that the majority of Camp takes place during Amy’s stay at summer camp and how she deals with Rory. There were so many times while reading that I became angry because of what Amy goes through. It was a good kind of angry though because my feelings were a direct response to the story. Rory has some serious and disturbing issues which influence her actions. On the other hand, I just wanted Amy to get a backbone and stand up for herself. This is where her relationship with her mother ties in. Amy’s “bullied” by her mother on a regular basis. Her mother fixates on Amy’s appearance and weight. She makes comments about Amy needing to lose weight, especially if she wants boys to pay attention to her. Amy feels like she can’t do anything to make her mother happy, and almost the entire time she’s at camp she’s “hearing” her mother’s criticisms and judgments. How can Amy possibly stand up to Rory when she can’t stand up to her mother?

Camp becomes more complex as serious family secrets are revealed, mainly about Amy’s mother. We get more insight to her background and why she’s so cold. The only problem I had with this, is that many of the major secrets are revealed at the end of the book. I know, it makes sense for secrets to be revealed at the end, but the way they were revealed didn’t work for me. Without spoiling the book, something goes on with Amy’s mother and the Beckers which instigates the revelations. It felt like this portion of the book was rushed, or like some parts were added to the story for convenience (primarily regarding Amy’s mother). These are my only qualms with Camp.

Camp by Elaine Wolf is definitely a book that should be read and discussed. It’s intense, surprising, and chock full of emotion. It could easily be added to units on bullying and/or familial relationships.(less)

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Jun 15, 2012 Cara rated it 5 of 5 stars

I love this book! CAMP is so well written, and it's a great story. I couldn't put it down. But CAMP is more than just a terrific read; it also highlights the serious problem of bullying that is so prevalent in camps and schools. As a psychotherapist and a director of a group practice that specializes in working with teenagers and their parents, I see many teens who have been bullied. Wolf's description is right on - no more is it just "You're fat and your mother wears combat boots." The psycholo...more

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Jun 09, 2012 Seniorcitizen rated it 5 of 5 stars

WOW! WHAT A GREAT SURPRISE!

A few days ago, someone gave me a copy of Elaine Wolf’s new novel, CAMP, and told me I’d love it. I was skeptical, because the inside flap of the book says “Young Adult” and “a mother-daughter story for mothers and daughters to share.” Well, I haven’t been a young adult for nearly 50 years and I am neither a mother nor a daughter. I am a man in my late sixties, and I loved this book.

Wolf is a great storyteller and CAMP is a great story. I couldn’t put it down. And who...more

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Jun 21, 2012 Ellen rated it 5 of 5 stars

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, thei...more

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May 26, 2012 Jodie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: own, arc

You know when you come across one of those books that really makes you stop and think about not only your life, but the way the world is? A book that grabs you and shakes you down to your core. Shakes hard. It's rare, unique, and to be treasured. That is exactly what I found in Camp.
When I first decided to review Camp, I figured it would be some fluffy book about a mother/daughter adventure and a big bonding experience. What I found was far from that. Camp doesn't skim on issues at hand, but...more

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Jul 11, 2012 Linda rated it 5 of 5 stars

When we think of bullies, many of us tend to think of big, strong boys physically harming (or threatening to physically harm) other boys. We forget that girls bully, too – often employing far more psychological tools in the process.

In “Camp” author Elaine Wolf tackles the topic of bullying – along with family dysfunction, teenage angst and budding sexuality, secrets, lies and adultery. Somehow Wolf manages to effortlessly and sensitively wrap all of these extremely difficult issues into a riveti...more

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Aug 31, 2012 Mrs Mommy Booknerd http://mrsmommybooknerd.blogspot.com rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: review-for-mmbbr-s

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 an...more

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Jun 12, 2012 Kathy Bridge rated it 5 of 5 stars

NOT JUST A COMING OF AGE STORY...
CAMP weaves together a narrative where the fibers of love and truth get entwined with those of hate and deceit. There are no true villains in this story of bullying and buried secrets because the author affords the reader insight into the motivation behind each character’s actions. The 'Madmen" 1960s setting points out the universality of many life-altering issues we are still dealing with five decades later. I wish my daughter and I could have met Amy back when...more

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Oct 16, 2012 Courtlyn rated it 3 of 5 stars

Camp was about a young teenage girl who got sent away to a camp for the summer where she was bullied by one of the camp members. I liked this book, and it made me realize how cruel some people can be, and go to the extreme. There was a lot of sexual content, and maybe I'm naive but when I was 14, that was the last thing I was thinking about.
When her brother died, that was the saddest part, her poor mother had to deal with not only losing her daughter and her first husband but then a second chil...more

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Nov 06, 2012 Susan P rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: committee, ya-fiction

Against her wishes, 14-year-old Amy is shipped of to summer camp in Maine. She is reluctant to go b/c she doesn't want to leave her younger brother, Charlie, who is autistic. Amy's mom is cold and unemotional, and Amy is worried that Charlie will suffer without Amy to look after him. Once she gets to camp her fears are confirmed. Amy becomes the target of Rory, another girl in cabin, who for whatever reason decides to go out of her way to make Amy's summer miserable. I got a little annoyed with...more

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Feb 09, 2013 Marcia rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya

I heard about this book in an email from the author, touting it as a good choice for school summer reading lists and the anti-bullying curriculum. This book was a big miss for me. Too many sensationalized story ideas crammed into 200 pages, writing that was forced and choppy, no flow. I read to the end only because I had to see how the author could wrap this up. Bullying at summer camp is only a small part of this story with an icy mother-daughter relationship more the core. Throw in a mentally...more

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Nov 07, 2012 Vicki rated it 4 of 5 stars

There’s been so much publicity the last few months about bullying, I was really excited to read this book. I was never bullied and don’t remember anyone else being bullied in school. But that was a very different time.

This was an interesting book, the author did an amazing job of giving the reader a look into what it’s like to be the bully, and to be the one who is being bullied. Amy reacted like I assume most children being bullied do. They lose what confidence they had and become more introver...more

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Jul 03, 2012 Kelli (I'd So Rather Be Reading) rated it 4 of 5 stars

What a well-written coming-of-age story! I do so love a first-person narrative, especially in this kind of novel. Camp is set in the 1960's, something that I really enjoyed. It was neat to get a glimpse of family life back then. The family dynamics were intriguing, especially considering Amy's mother's immigrant history.

I really felt for Amy. She feels responsible for her younger brother, Charlie, who is autistic. Their parents are not exactly models of the best way to care for and treat an au...more What a well-written coming-of-age story! I do so love a first-person narrative, especially in this kind of novel. Camp is set in the 1960's, something that I really enjoyed. It was neat to get a glimpse of family life back then. The family dynamics were intriguing, especially considering Amy's mother's immigrant history.

I really felt for Amy. She feels responsible for her younger brother, Charlie, who is autistic. Their parents are not exactly models of the best way to care for and treat an autistic child. Often, they escalate Charlie's tantrums simply by their own inappropriate reactions to his behavior. Mrs. Becker is the worst. I sometimes got the feeling that she didn't love Charlie, or Amy at all. In an era where children were supposed to be seen and not heard, having an autistic child was terribly hard, I'm sure. Especially one who throws fits and screams out, thus drawing unwanted attention every time the family is in public. Amy is the only member of the family who can calm Charlie down, and he really depends on her.

Amy's mother is so hard on her: she is constantly wanting Amy to be perfect. She won't let her eat dessert, for fear that Amy will become overweight. She makes Amy dress up, more than other girls her age, and that makes Amy stand out (which she hates). Nothing Amy does seems to be good enough: not her friends, her grades, her posture, even the way she eats is criticized by her mother. Her mother even makes Amy account for her use of toiletries! She was just a tough cookie. I could tell that there was something more going on with Mrs. Becker, but I didn't learn exactly what until the end of the story.

Amy only thought her life was tough before camp. She is set apart from the other girls before they even get on the bus to leave for camp. The other girls laugh at Charlie and the way he clings to Amy, not wanting her to leave. The ringleader, Rory, is the worst, and sets out to make Amy's eight weeks of summer camp miserable. Amy's cousin Robin is at camp, but she quickly takes sides with Rory, thus leaving Amy all to herself. Amy does make a few friends, and they develop a plan to get Rory's behavior discovered by the camp owner (who also happens to be Amy's uncle) and have Rory sent home.

I really liked the interwoven stories in Camp. Not only do you have Amy's story, but there are bits and pieces of the other girls' lives that I really enjoyed. And Mrs. Becker's history was my favorite part of the novel. All of this intrigue kept me interested and in fact, led me to finish the book in a day.

My one problem with Camp was the pacing. There was a lull in the middle of the story, then in the last fourth of the book, or so, everything seemed to happen at once. I would have liked to see more of Amy's years between camp and high school. I think that would have really fleshed out the story, and shown change and character growth.

Overall, I really enjoyed Camp. I think it would be an excellent book for mothers and daughters to read together. It covers the relationship between mothers and daughters, relationships between siblings, and the effects of grief and bullying. I would definitely read Elaine Wolf again!(less)

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Oct 16, 2012 Estelle rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, young-adult, summer, 2012-new-releases, tissue-box

Review originally posted on Rather Be Reading Blog

Take any kumbaya notions of summer camp and forget them because Amy Becker’s experience is anything but.

Instead of a summer making friends and playing tennis, she is the butt of the biggest bully’s jokes. And sometimes more than jokes, incidents that could qualify as sexual harassment. Rory is probably one of the bitchiest characters I have ever met in the literary world. She has no respect for her equals, for her elders, and never thinks before...more Review originally posted on Rather Be Reading Blog

Take any kumbaya notions of summer camp and forget them because Amy Becker’s experience is anything but.

Instead of a summer making friends and playing tennis, she is the butt of the biggest bully’s jokes. And sometimes more than jokes, incidents that could qualify as sexual harassment. Rory is probably one of the bitchiest characters I have ever met in the literary world. She has no respect for her equals, for her elders, and never thinks before she speaks. Her actions and her attitide were absolutely disgusting and I was beyond revolted by her treatment of Amy and the other campers.

The kicker is that Amy didn’t want to go to camp in the first place. Her dad’s brother, Ed, just bought the camp and was allowing Amy to attend when all she wanted to do was stay home with her mentally disabled brother, Charlie. Her mom is pretty detached and judgmental and Amy feels like she is the only one that Charlie can count on. But her dad wins this battle and Amy is off to camp for the summer of her life.

In the words of Cher from Clueless: As if.

Various events at camp (not just Rory’s behavior) cause Amy to remember many events of her childhood that she has kept buried and the mysteries of her mom’s behavior start to make sense. For so long Amy has heard about the “hard life” her mother has had to endure but she can only focus on the way her mom always has to look perfect, her hurtful scrutinizing, and her lack of love for both her and her brother. It’s heartbreaking to see how her mother’s history has created this wedge between them, and the events of the summer only cause that wedge to grow bigger and deeper.

Set in 1963, Wolf plants a few early seeds in the novel that give way to the secrets in Amy’s family but I never guessed what would have had happened or what would unfold to the Beckers. Uncle Ed, his wife, and snobby daughter are no help either. The amount of anger and how hurtful these people can be is beyond anything I have ever experienced. No wonder everyone felt so alone. (Acting like Amy’s mom and dad brought up their son to be mentally disabled just broke my heart in a million pieces.)

By the time Camp wraps up I was left to wonder if the author had inserted too much pain and drama into the lives of these four people. In any other book I would have said a definite yes but Wolf weaves the stories together in such a way that it just works. She’s brave not to sugarcoat the bullying and summer camp, which for more reasons than one, becomes a turning point in Amy’s life – for good and bad. I was also left to wonder if those who are treated badly and go through traumatic events are almost justified in their ugly treatment of others. It creates quite a dichotomy when the victim feels both compassion and hate for the antagonist.

The sheer cruelty and truth exposed in Camp make it a difficult read. Anyone with half a heart would not want anyone to go through anything like this, but Wolf brings important issues to the forefront and has created a coming-of-age story that, at times, reminded me of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn with survival instincts that brought to mind Lord of the Flies. Impressive character development make Amy a character to root for, and Camp impossible to put down until you reached the final word.
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Jul 27, 2012 Deirdre rated it 5 of 5 stars

I really loved CAMP. Although listed in the Young Adult category,this book is just as interesting to the adult reader. It pulls you in and keeps you moving along. Bullying is such a 'hot button' topic today and CAMP will help everyone understand what our young people have to deal with far too often. I also found CAMP to be one of those books that can't be put down; too hard to stop reading so just keep going. I honestly feel this book has a wonderful message to share.

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Jun 05, 2012 Chris rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: goodreads-arc

I received this book through a goodreads arc giveaway. It has been a long time since I have read a book that I couldn't put down and Camp is one of those books that got me hooked within the first few pages.

Elaine Wolf has a wonderful way of writing that takes you back to your teenage years, making it easy to feel what Amy, the lead character, is going through.

This book also is a wonderful story about families and understanding each family member as a person.

The book has a totally unexpected endi...more

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Jan 31, 2013 phoebe rated it 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book! I picked it up because of my love of camp, even though I knew this wouldn't be a happy camp story. I actually couldn't put this book down. I started caring about the characters very fast, and by the end of the book had grown to love, or in some cases, hate them. The twists at the end were amazing, and I didn't see them coming at all. This is an amazing book and I really really really recommend it!

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Aug 18, 2012 Cathy Blackler rated it 4 of 5 stars

A true page turner about the horrors of bullying, the pain of secrets, and the price of silence. When Amy is sent away to camp she has no idea how the experience will affect her and members of her family; a family full of painful secrets. Amy's strained relationship with her mother is further tested & it is not until a tragedy inflicts further pain on the pair that they move towards each another, rather than away.

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Apr 25, 2013 Meredith rated it 2 of 5 stars

I thought I would love this book cause I'm a sucker for YA and I love camp.

But this was one of those cases where I probably would have if I was actually in the intended audience (middle school) but because I'm not it felt like a long PSA against bullying.

And because the main character hated camp so much, it was hard to relate since I was a supreme camp-loving dork as a youth.

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Oct 01, 2012 Amanda Gelardo rated it 5 of 5 stars

A real Page Turner!!! Read it in just about 8 hours which is a hard feat with 3 handicapped children, but it was just that Awesome!! You feel like you are one with the main character, Amy Becker. Hard book to put down....and have tissues ready, and lots of them!!! Recieved this book for free through Goodreads First Reads!!!!

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Jun 04, 2012 Donna rated it 5 of 5 stars

Camp is a compelling story of a teenage girl who faces a challenging experience during her first summer at sleep away camp. It deals with bullying, a complicated mother-daughter relationship and family secrets. A great summer read that will keep you in suspense and your fingers quickly turning each page.

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Aug 21, 2012 Rosemary rated it 5 of 5 stars

Senstive and engrossing story of a mother-daughter relationship and of the pain of being different when y ou are young. As a mother I am grateful that there is more awareness of bullying in our society, but we have a long way to go. Camp, as a book that could help young people learn empathy, makes a contribution.

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Jul 10, 2012 Kya Aliana rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was a beautifully written book. The storyline was brilliantly haunting and dealt with so much it was a lot to take in. I never wanted this book to end, so I tried to make it last as long as I possibly could, though it was rather hard to put the book down! I absolutely love this book and I cannot wait to read more by the author, Elaine Wolf.
The way she writes is insanely gripping, and will capture your heart from the first page. I could really feel what her characters were going through and...more

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Jul 12, 2012 Jennifer rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: cancer, juv-realistic-fiction, tween-fiction, ya-realistic-fiction

I thought this book was a bit of a mess. The author tried to do too many things and lost the focus along the way. Not a favorite.

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Aug 26, 2012 Christina Farley rated it 5 of 5 stars

Wolf has done an excellent job at weaving an lovely tale while dealing with the age-old issue of bullying.

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About Elaine Wolf

Known as "the anti-bullying novelist," I write about what really goes on behind the closed gates and doors of our camps and schools. The issues I explore in CAMP and DANNY'S MOM are those I am passionate about and know well.

I was a camper and camp counselor for many summers. When I entered "the real world," I taught in public schools in California and New York -- and then I became a district langu...more

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avg rating	preview: Camp Goodreads rating: 3.73 (80 ratings)
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