Camp Can't: The Complicated Life of Claudia Cristina Cortez

Claudia Cristina Cortez

by Diana G. Gallagher, Brann Garvey (Illustrator)

Claudia is really looking forward to camp this year, even though she has to watch her annoying neighbor on the bus ride. Shes got it all planned out. Claudia knows exactly how shell impress the camp staff so shell be asked to be a junior counselor. But the second she gets to her cabin, things start going wrong.

88 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2007

About the author

Diana G. Gallagher was an American author who wrote books for children and young adults. She also wrote the space opera The Alien Dark (1990), but was best known for her tie-in work for television properties including Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Charmed, Star Trek and The Secret World of Alex Mack, among others.

She was also a prolific filk creator, winning Pegasus Awards in 1986 and ’94. Gallagher won a Hugo Award for Best Fan Artist in 1988 under the name Diana Gallagher Wu. She sometimes also wrote under the name Diana Burke.

Born in 1946, in Paterson, New Jersey, she lived in Florida with her husband, the writer Martin R. Burke, who predeceased her in 2011. Gallagher was married four times; her third marriage was to author William F. Wu (divorced 1990).

Gallagher died December 2, 2021 of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at 75 years of age.

Reviews

[Scarlet · Rating 4 out of 5]

4th CHOICE BOOK
This book was pretty good. I liked it because the camp that she was at reminds me of a field trip my grade went to! The main character, Claudia faced a lot of problems with mean girls and bullies while she was at the camp. Claudia really wants to become a junior counselor next year but she has a hard time passing her long swim test. The long swim test is where you need to swim 10 laps without touching the ground. Claudia passed everything else. She just had to pass that one test. I liked this book! I rate it 8/10.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! This is the first book I've ever read from The Complicated Life of Claudia Cristina Cortez. It's such a fun and easy read. I really enjoyed the fun text and illustrations as well. I think Claudia is a really good role model for kids to read about because she's kind and mature and has a good head on her shoulders. All the books in the series are fun and interesting to read, and the storylines are never boring.

Highly recommend if you like easy and fun realistic fiction books.

[Lynnette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy these middle school characters and their adventures. The characters are plausible and fun and these books are inspiration for my own stories.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute book, good for upper elementary, through 5th grade or so. I liked how it was pretty realistic about how the heroine reacted to bullies or mean girls--basically let them get away with things. The format was a little Wimpy-Kid-esque, which the kids probably will like but I got tired of the random boldface. One thing that seemed odd was that at the camp described, kids were not allowed to leave their cabins, even to use the bathroom, between lights out and reveille. What are they supposed to do if they have to go? Boys can just aim into the woods, but the girls are out of luck!

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great high-interest, low reading level book for my students in fifth grade. Lot's of little drawings to help with comprehension. Not the deepest story ever, but good enough. I was annoyed by the bold-face print and font changes, but my students do that kind of thing all the time, so they think it is completely normal.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute little book. Amazon says it is for ages 8 to 13. I am not really sure what kids that age usually read, but I found this book enjoyable. Kids who enjoy going to camp should like this book. The book shows the importance of overcoming your fears, and always doing your best.

[Mayte Rivera · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is a mice book and its funny. you learn new things about Claudia and she is funny the things she says. this is good funny book and i do recommend this book to people.