Hear No Evil

Rustic Knoll Bible Camp #1

by Mary L. Hamilton

Summer camp is no fun for Brady McCaul. The girl with the cute dimples thinks he’s immature and childish. The camp bully targets him with cruel taunts and teasing, and flips Brady’s canoe to keep him from winning the race. But worst of all, his mom won’t let him come home. She doesn’t want him living with her anymore. Brady wonders if even God cares about him.

Can Brady figure out what he did to earn Mom’s rejection and change her mind by week’s end? Or will he have to live with his workaholic dad, the guy who left when Brady was seven?

All seems lost until a surprising secret changes everything.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Fiction, Childrens, Christian, Middle Grade

228 pages, Paperback

First published November 3, 2013

About the author

Author Mary L. Hamilton grew up at a youth camp in southeastern Wisconsin, much like the setting for her Rustic Knoll Bible Camp series. Her experiences during twenty years of living at the camp, as well as people she knew there, inspired many of the events and situations in her novels.
Mary began her writing career with articles for inspirational magazines and church take-home papers. She also wrote a Christmas play entitled Homespun Angel before she turned to writing novels.
Mary also writes adult mystery/suspense novels under the pen name M L Hamilton.
Although a native of Wisconsin, Mary has lived most of her adult life in Texas where she met and married her husband and raised three children. But while her feet may be in Texas, a large part of her heart will always be in Wisconsin.

Reviews

[Lisa Godfrees · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genre: Middle-grade contemporary

Kind of like an episode of The Love Boat except you're at Christian Camp and the love interest is God.
Premise:
Brady's mom drops him off at a Christian camp where he knows absolutely no one, including God. As she's leaving, she drops a bomb on him. He's not welcome to come back home, and the father who has been absent in his life since he walked out the door years ago is coming to get him at the end of the week. Ouch.

Theology: Tons

The church camp is a great and believable setting. While there's a lot of theology in the book--forgiveness, the difference between knowing God and having a relationship with God, trusting God when your earthly parents aren't trustworthy--it's wrapped up in lessons from the camp sermons but filtered through the lens of a 13-year old boy. It's a nice dose of Christianity, even evangelism, without being too in-your-face for young readers, although non-Christians might think it's too much.

Rating: G

Good clean fun, no language issues, no kissing, although the background to Brady's mom's motivations deals with real-world adult issues that may be new territory to some younger readers.

Writing:

Well written, well woven. The story sucks you in and floats you along. You really feel for the main character, Brady. I shed a tear for him. (I'm a crier though).

Hear No Evil is perfect for its intended audience (8-12 year olds) but a strong enough story so parents can enjoy the book along with their children.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the Publisher in exchange for my honest review.

[Annette O'Hare · Rating 5 out of 5]

Admittedly, I have always been a fan of tween fiction…can’t get enough of it. Mary Hamilton’s debut book, Hear No Evil, didn’t fail to keep me entertained. The book begins with poor Brady McCaul being left at church camp where he knows absolutely no one. And to make matters worse his mother informs him that she no longer wants him living with her and her new husband and won’t be returning for him. His estranged father will pick him up at the end of the week. The book deals with bullying, having a handicap, pre-teen crushes and how God is with you during all the storms of life. Mom’s reason for leaving him isn’t revealed until the very end, leaving the reader in suspense through the entire novel. I have been to church camps in east Texas and Mary’s descriptions of the smells, sights and sounds were spot on. In conclusion, I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good story about trusting God when there’s no one else you can trust.

(I received a complimentary copy of this book from the Publisher in exchange for my honest review)

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect book for kids who either want to go to church camp or already enjoy going. I loved reading this book! It is a gripping story about a boy who is left at church camp. Emotionally it will tug at your heart strings, I almost cried reading it! But, emotion aside Mary writes a beautiful story, sharing Brady's first experience at camp. She masterfully weaves theology into her writing without the reader feeling like they are being given a sermon. I applaud her for an excellent book!! I loved her characters and can't wait to read Book 2. My daughter is 8 and I believe she would LOVE to read this book. I plan to make it our next bedtime story book we read together.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the Publisher in exchange for my honest review.

[Teresa Pollard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a seriously AWESOME novel for young people (or really for anybody)! I was up until 2:30 this morning reading it. I couldn't put it down! Brady is taken to camp by his mom, and on arrival told he won't be allowed to come home when the week is over, but will be picked up by his father, who has never paid any attention to him at all! With these words ringing in his ears, he meets his fellow campers and the staff of the Bible camp! Can a single week change his life? Mary has done an amazing job of capturing all the emotions and realities of a week at camp for a young teen. I was transported back to my own experiences at Eagle Eyrie. This is a must-read for teens!

[Katie Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary Hamilton weaves a gripping tale right from the beginning. I felt such sorrow for Brady from the very first pages, and my concern for how he was going to fix his problem kept me reading until the end. I definitely recommend it to others!

[Dave Hand · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mary Hamilton has forced me to rethink the teen genre with her debut novel "Hear No Evil." As a writer, I have held that good writing transcends audience and that readers of all ages should appreciate good writing for what it is, not because it is directed at a specific demographic. Hamilton weaves a tale of an unfortunate young man, Brady, who faces a coming-of-age moment at Summer Bible camp while, at the same time, coming to grips with his salvation. Hamilton interweaves scriptural references at critical plot junctions to not only provide Brady with the insights he needs, but also to help the reader contextually follow the protagonist's development. Helping Brady on this journey are a collection of characters from the wise minister to the camp counsellor to Brady's bunk mate and even a potential first romance.
While these facets help tell the story, the book's real success comes from Hamilton's use of voice to get the reader into Brady's mind and heart as he makes his realizations and completes his journey. It takes skill to write in the voice of a thirteen-year-old boy convincingly and Hamilton demonstrates this skill. It is because of this skill that I now appreciate the teen genre.
Hear No Evil is an outstanding first novel and I look forward to the next book in the series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

[Rodger Fields · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brady has a problem, a family problem, an embarrassing I-don’t-want-to-talk-about-it and I-don’t-know-what-to-do-about-it problem. Dumped at a Bible Summer Camp where he knows no one, he doesn’t really buy into this God thing, either.

Given his situation, Brady is reluctant to trust and rely upon anyone: parents, counselors, friends, or God. Despite his funk, though, Brady discovers a special friend the first day, challenged by a handicap of his own. Brady needs friends because he quickly encounters a bully as well, and issues escalate. Friendships and beliefs are forged and strengthened by Brady’s trials but he eventually faces a problem that can’t be solved by following the rules. Brady reaches the end of his rope and his life won’t ever be the same.

The camp is populated by a delightful ensemble of eclectic characters, from a nurse with a penchant for fishing to a quirky Camp Director who introduces God with a sketch pad. As a reader, I thoroughly enjoyed the journey as Brady struggled to stand by his friends and define his beliefs.

I highly recommend it.

Brady Reviewer’s notes: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the Publisher in exchange for my honest review.

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from the author in a Goodreads giveaway.

Because I didn't have the opportunity to attend a Bible camp--or any summer camp--as a child, I was curious and thought this book would show me the inside story. It did, and much more.

Brady's situation left him at camp without a home or parents he felt he could rely on. His feelings toward God were that "God would never call his name."

The story is full of the rivalry found when any bunch of kids get together, and it's not just in sports or games. One of the kids is downright mean, just as there's always at least one in the crowd in real life. And Brady has enough trouble making friends. But one of the campers is blind and sees much more about relationships than Brady does at first.

Some of the scenes teach moral lessons and contain quotes from the Bible because, after all, the setting is a Bible camp. It's a good story and also contains action and adventure.

I recommend this novel, especially to kids and to parents who want to prepare them for attending a Bible camp or general summer camp and get a feel for what to expect from camp life and fellow campers. The story also offers Christian guidance for kids who feel abandoned by parents or have difficulty with peer relationships.

[Terri Wangard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thirteen-year-old Brady is dropped off at Bible camp with his mom’s words ricocheting in his mind. “I don’t want you living with me anymore.” His dad will pick him up at week’s end. His dad, who never even bothered to send him a birthday card.

Talkative Steven is one of his cabinmates. Steven is blind, and at peace with his life. He latches on to Brady as his guide, being the friend Brady needs.

He brought his trumpet along, and Steven pleads for a song. Soon Brady’s playing every night at lights out. His cabin counselor says he has a real gift; he’s awesome. But one of the other boys constantly harasses him, calling him Loser. Before the week is over, Brady needs to learn forgiveness.

Evening worship talks emphasize God’s love for each individual. Brady can’t accept that. His own parents don’t seem to love him. All he can think about is what he must have done to make Mom reject him. How can he change her mind?>

Hear No Evil is a well-paced story with appeal for boys and girls, and you don't have to be a kid to enjoy it.

[Sydney Avey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never attended a Bible Camp, but I know the teens in our church who attend have life changing experiences. I found the premise of this first book in the series engaging. A mom who drops a kid off at camp and tells him right off she won't be picking him up draws you right in. There was the expected bully to make Brady's life miserable, but the mystery over what was going on with mom kept me reading, and guessing.

I appreciated that the spiritual content was natural, not preachy. The counselors were not over-involved; they provided emotional support in appropriate doses. Brady is a believable 13 year old boy. Young teens should be able to relate to his experiences on the baseball field and wrestling the rowboat, as well as the internal wrestling he has to do over his family situation.

[Marji Laine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actually my daughter read this. Her review is below:

Here No Evil by Mary Hamilton spurred me on 'til the last page. The story was about a boy who was dropped off at a summer camp and then finds out that he can't go back home. This book offered excitement, intrigue, and the need to trust God even when He seems far away. I liked feeling like I was at the camp with Brady and how even the seemingly hopeless kids were redeemed. I also enjoyed the author's picture of God as the Savior in the darkness. The story was great, and I will enjoy reading more of the author's work.

-Brittany, age 14

We were blessed to receive a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Deb Garland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mary Hamilton’s first book, Hear No Evil, isn’t your typical tween book. Bible camp fun is the backdrop that brings together likeable, but naughty at times, characters who are learning how to deal with some tough kid issues like bullying, living with a handicap, and adjusting to a single parent’s remarriage. Each boy or girl has their own story to tell about God’s redeeming love…stories parents and tweens won’t want to miss!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the Publisher in exchange for my honest review.

[Joanne Sher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mary L. Hamilton has written a book that will hold the interest of any kid - and their parents!

A boy is sent away to Bible camp - and the last thing his mother says to him is "I don't want you living with me." Add teasing from another camper, and a crush on a girl who seems to think he's childish, and you've got plenty of conflict for this "typical" kid.

Some great twists here, and realistic dealing with some pretty serious issues - and a great Christian message to boot.

I enjoyed this book very much.

[Peggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Debut author Mary L. Hamilton delivers a page-turning story for tweens and young teens, set at a Christian camp. Interesting characters and a well-developed plot, plus a few twists and a nail-biter scene on the lake add up to a good read for any age, boy or girl. They'll be clamoring for the sequel!

[Ann Wilds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary Hamilton's debut novel is an entertaining and inspiring story of a young boy's struggle with abandonment and loss. Set at a summer camp, he discovers that he is not as alone as he believed and that truth is not always what it seems. Though listed for the middle grade reader, it is a timeless story of God's unwavering love that will resonate with all ages.

[Lill Kohler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary Hamilton has done a wonderful job of reaching into the emotional tug-of-war teens and tweens struggle with in this day and age. I felt she did an incredible job of directing the reader as she took the main character, Brady, toward a victorious freedom from those struggles. This is definitely a must read for everyone.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. Loved the characters; they were believable and portrayed real junior high age personalities. It made me laugh and cry! What happens next?! Hope there's a sequel.

[Linda Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this novel so much! I am surprised how much I liked it. This novel is about a tween boy whose mom takes him to spend a week at a Christian summer camp. Unfortunately right before she leaves him there she tells him she doesn't want him living with her anymore and that his estranged father, from whom she's divorced, will be the one to pick him up in a week. This boy is devastated. He's used to living with his mother and his father has neglected him far too long, so he doesn't want the change.

Life at summer camp is as you would expect - it is set up to entertain young people. There's a girl's section and a boy's section and a lake, and because it is a Christian camp, there's a chapel. The boy gets a new best friend who happens to be blind. They adjust to each other well. The boy brought his trumpet with him and is quite talented at playing Amazing Grace.

Okay, I've told you enough now and sure don't want to get into spoilers... but here's what I can say - this book has a wholesome storyline about camp life, a lot of action with great personalities involved, and a meaningful Christian message that will be good for anyone to read.

This book is the first in a series of three books. I'm interested in reading the other two books as well - that's how enjoyable this first novel was. I hope the author will write and publish more.

[Jamii · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book for free through GoodReads First Reads. I thought this sounded like a great read when I entered the giveaway. Not what I've been reading lately but I'll give any genre a chance. Let me start by saying that this book was incredibly well written. It had a few different story lines that worked well and interweaved easily. I never once asked myself "what's the point of this plot piece? Why is this in here?" Even if you weren't exactly sure of the reason for something that was happening, you knew that it did indeed work with the overall theme of the book. I must say that the mother/son relationship took an unexpected turn, which until that point I was really angry about the whole situation. The characters are all well written and well rounded. What I got from this book is that, life isn't always easy and sometimes it gets harder before it gets easier but try to understand why things are going the way they are and try and focus on what is good in life and the rest will normally come around. Even if you aren't a person of religion I think this is a book you should consider reading, it teaches you that you are never alone, even if it may seem that way sometimes.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hear No Evil is the first in author Mary Hamilton’s Rustic Knoll Bible Camp series. Even though this book is targeted to teens, I as an adult thoroughly enjoyed it. The story took me back to my own days at summer camp. The memories of the scent of pine and the acrid smell of a campfire’s smoke lingered with me throughout the reading of the entire book.

Summer camp is supposed to be a fun experience, but young Brady finds himself dealing with unexpected rejection by his mom when she tells him he will be living with his dad from now on. The author adds peer pressure, loneliness, and the consequences of bad choices to the plot to concoct an entertaining tale that teaches life lessons.

Brady’s musical talent is a facet of his personality that contributes to his character. The camp counselor serves as an excellent role model as he strives to exemplify Christian solutions to problems. The teens interact in a realistic manner and their emotions are well portrayed, from anger to isolation to the flutter of romantic feelings.

I would recommend this book to any young person who likes to read about realistic situations among teens played out in an outdoor setting.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.

Mary Hamilton did a fantastic job with this teen book. There are some hard-hitting issues - divorce, alcoholism, abuse - deftly braided into a Christian book that doesn't seem overly preachy. The real-life issues are presented in a way that evokes sympathy from those that have not experienced it, as well as a twinge of remembrance from those that have.
My heart went out to Brady from page 1. He knows his mom is acting strange, but he doesn't know why. Once they arrive at Rustic Knoll camp, he learns that he is to move in with his dad. From this point on, he is angry, confused, and hurt. It's not until the end when he discovers why his mom made this decision.
I really enjoyed this book. Within the first few pages, I was hooked! I started reading at my lunch break, and I hated putting it down to go back to work. I am looking forward to book 2 in August!

[Shari Howe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read for Teens and Adults

This book is written for teens, but I enjoyed it too! It deals with issues that are often part of the daily life of teens; bullying, parent problems, peer relations, and misunderstandings. The author has done a great job of writing a book that teens can relate to and also learn from. The camp counselor is a good role model and the camp director does a good job of helping the main characters learn valuable lessons in self control, accepting responsibility for ones own actions and accountability, to name a few. I would recommend this book to teens as well as those who work with them. I loved summer camp as a teen, so maybe that’s part of the reason I enjoyed this book so much! This is the first book in this series; with the second book being Speak No Evil and the third book due out the summer of 2015.

[Michelle Kaderly Welsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brady's first time at camp doesn't start off so well since his mother seems to be ditching him for no reason. Working through his fear, anger, and hurt,Brady discovers the mystery which sent him to camp. While he gets himself into some trouble, he makes a powerful discovery which helps him find the answers and peace that he seeks.

Anyone who has ever felt unloved and deserted will relate with Brady, who even wonders if God cares about him. I remember being in such a dark place, which isn't any fun. I think the author did a good job with this, keeping it suspenseful and making me want to continue reading to see how it worked out. I will recommend this book to my own kids and to the MG and YA readers I know.

[Ginger Solomon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mary Hamilton's Hear No Evil, a YA (young adult) novel, touches on a young teenager's view of his circumstances. It was an interesting story with several applications which could be applicable to all of our lives. One that struck me the most -- and is the hardest to realize at times -- is that God loves us no matter what, and circumstances are not always as they seem to us when we are in the midst of the storm.

I highly recommend this novel to anyone aged 12 and over. Although it is written for younger readers, it has plenty of lessons for the rest of us.

***I received this book from the author/publisher for the purpose of review. The above is my honest opinion.***

[Rondi Olson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brady's mother drops him off at summer camp with the devastating announcement that she won't be picking him up, and he won't be living with her and her new husband anymore. Feeling confused and rejected, Brady only wants to be wanted.

This book reminded me a lot of the Sunday school readers we used to get each week as kids, one exciting adventure after another, with a goodly amount of old-fashioned gospel sprinkled in.

I think kids with some church background will really enjoy this book. A child unfamiliar with the Bible may find some of the content confusing, but it is a decent introduction to the material in a reader-friendly format.

[Kelsey Bryant · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really good book for pre-teens and teens. The message is one that many kids need to hear: God loves them and hears them. Many other values were woven in, too.

The story proceeded as swiftly and enjoyably as a week at summer camp! Mary Hamilton wrote in a very convincing perspective of a young teen boy; Brady felt as realistic as the boys his age who I know in real life. The campground of Rustic Knoll was likewise well described, and the camp experiences are true to what I know. Camp is a place that often changes your life, and Brady's week was no exception!

[J-mag Guthrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I discovered that one of the characters is blind, my interest was piqued. I really liked the part about forgiveness and how it "works". It's one of those things that few people really portray well. I'm not in the target demographic but I enjoyed the whole of the story and would recommend it to families as well as youngsters. I'm a firm believer that parents should be able to discuss books with their kids and this is a great book for that.

[Angela D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating and Heartfelt: A Middle-Grade Gem

Even though I'm not the target audience for Mary Hamilton's Hear No Evil, I decided to dive into her work and was pleasantly surprised. This charming story follows a young teenager grappling with a host of challenging issues that middle-grade students face every day. Themes like divorce, parental separation, bullying, and feeling abandoned by adults are woven into the narrative, making the protagonist's journey deeply relatable and poignant. From the very first scene, I was emotionally invested in her story. If you have a middle-grade child in your life who could use some positive encouragement, Hear No Evil is an excellent gift that will both entertain and inspire them.

[J.P. Choquette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book with great characters and a fun and very realistic look at what it must be like to go to sleep-away camp. I say, "must be like" as I've never been, but it's obvious the author has.

This fun book is full of summertime adventure and positive lessons, but not in a smarmy way. Instead, the author tackles important, hard subjects head-on but with grace. Really well written, I'm looking forward to reading more by this talented author.

[Lillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very good story about a boy feeling rejected, trying to fit in, and the relationships he forms at Bible Camp. I think the perfect audience would be preteens and young teens, although it held my attention all the way through. I am going to recommend it to two of my bookworm granddaughters.