Dan vs Nature / Don Calame - 2**

[Book Concierge]

Dan vs Nature – Don Calame
2**

Dan is a 16-year-old student whose main interest is creating graphic novels. His best friend, Charlie, is a super-bright geek interested in photojournalism. When Dan’s Mom announces her engagement to her latest boyfriend – a dentist named Hank – Dan is unhappy but resigned. When Mom gives him a “survival week” experience to share (and bond) with Hank, Dan and Charlie concoct a plan to scare Hank away. But they weren’t counting on a bear stalking them ….

This sounded like a decent premise for a YA novel but Calame’s reliance on scatological humor and descriptions that only a 13-year-old boy will find funny just lost me. I couldn’t believe that Dan and Charlie would remain BFFs through all this; I didn’t buy Dan’s “true love” for Erin; I really didn’t believe in the totally inept adventure outfitters (especially Max (view spoiler)[ running off into the woods to kanoodle with Barbara when the rest of his party – including Barbara’s daughter – were out in the wilderness with no life skills (hide spoiler)]); he is, after all, responsible for their safety.

It should have been a fast read, but it didn’t hold my attention, and as I was reading while we were on a long cross-country trip, it took me a full week to finish it. I think my nephew would have liked it when he was in his early teens; at eighteen, I think he’s matured beyond this stage.


(NOTE - I apologize if this is a repeat post. I couldn't find it ... but Goodreads was so wonky yesterday, I may have posted it...)