Secrets of Camp Whatever

In a town called Nowhere, scary creatures are all part of the local folklore residents tell to folks passing through. None of it could possibly be true . . . or could it? Willow and her family just moved to Nowhere, and she's not thrilled. She's also not thrilled about having to spend the week at Camp Whatever, especially after she hears about a camper who went missing years ago. Willow, who is Deaf, quickly makes friends with other new kids at the camp (and bristles at the camp director, who is ableist about her Deafness), but when she starts seeing odd things at all hours, she realizes all the strange stories she's heard just might be true! Grine's bright, colorful artwork contains just the right amount of spookiness, with easy-to-read lettering well positioned within each panel. He playfully and gently incorporates some common horror movie tropes, and the story features a refreshingly inclusive group of campers and staff. A cute and creepy comic ideal for middle-graders hungry for breezy scares.

A young girl unwillingly goes to a camp filled with fantastical creatures. After they inherit an old family property and move to the strange town of Nowhere, Willow, a purple-haired middle schooler, is sent off to Camp Whatever. Rumors of the eeriness and potential dangers of the camp (not to mention the possible haunting of their new home) begin as soon as Willow and her family set foot in a local diner. Unenthused Willow feigns being scared--but even that isn't enough to change the minds of her somewhat apprehensive parents, due in part to her father's fond childhood memories of attending said camp. When Willow arrives, she soon realizes that the outrageous tales are not unfounded. Her camp experience quickly becomes one filled with adventure, friendship, mystery--and a permanent, creepy fog. Grine's protagonist is daring and bold, and the cast of characters is diverse in both ethnicity and mythical makeup. The narration is straightforward and easy to follow, making it suitable for reluctant readers. The color illustrations are sharp, vivid, and eye-catching and serve to convey the personalities of characters while helping to telegraph the mood of the story. Willow, who is Deaf, uses hearing aids and sign language; she is cued as biracial, with a Spanish-speaking Latinx mother and White-appearing father. Just the right amount of chills for tweens who enjoy supernatural suspense. (Graphic horror. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.