Moon Madness

April 1, 2024
After returning to summer camp, besties Maggie and Nora start to drift apart as new friends and the supernatural come between them. After last year's vampire situation, Maggie eagerly anticipates the next twist Camp Sylvania might throw at them, but Nora doesn't want anything to do with the paranormal. She can't help but be jealous of Maggie's friends from last year--and when Nora gets a cool bunkmate, Maggie likewise takes it as a threat to their friendship. The camp itself has undergone a New Age revamp, with the new director emphasizing the importance of chemical-free skin care products, primal-screaming workshops, a raw, vegan diet--and a glowing liquid called moon water. Then one camper goes missing, and others start to notice excessive body hair growth. Maggie and Nora will have to reconcile before their friendship and the summer go to the dogs--or is it werewolves? The girls' differing reactions to the previous summer's events and their strained friendship, along with the parental relationships portrayed, the new director's genuine care for the campers, and the host of puberty references, make for a compassionate and complex presentation of tween life. Humor and clear storytelling in the narration (which alternates between the two protagonists) balance the heartfelt messaging, creating an easily digestible read. Maggie reads white; Nora is cued Latine. Final art not seen. A fun summer romp with honest portrayals of friendship woes and the pitfalls of well-meaning adults. (map, camp invitation) (Fiction. 9-13)

COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

June 1, 2024

Gr 4-7-Murphy is back with a second spooky camp adventure, this time cowritten with Maldonado. Camp Sylvania is being run this summer by Hippie Dippie Luna Lupowski, who promises new and returning campers the joys of "living naturally," much to the dismay of campers whose acne creams and deodorants are confiscated. Veteran campers Maggie and Logan are psyched their friends Nora and Jesse are attending, but Nora seems more interested in crushes and clothes, and Jesse quickly disappears from camp altogether. Something weirdly paranormal is happening, with campers disappearing and others displaying wolflike qualities. Maggie and Logan take it upon themselves to begin sleuthing while enlisting the help of the camp ghost, Howie Wowie. The authors weave the awkwardness of first crushes, acne breakouts, and puberty into their fast-paced spooky story, rich with witty language and humor. Family and friend dynamics are addressed well, with siblings, stepparents, and friend jealousies resolved satisfactorily. Middle grade readers will easily find characters and situations to identify with and will revel in this campy romp. VERDICT A speedy but satisfying read that should appeal to a wide range of readers who want the perfect combination of scary, clever, funny, and quick.-Michele Shaw

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2024
Camp Sylvania, no longer a "fat camp" and (hopefully) vampire-free (Camp Sylvania, rev. 7/23), is now under the direction of Luna Lupowski, lover of all things New Age, who makes the campers toss their toiletries and sunscreen in favor of mystical water charged by the moon. This year Maggie brings her best friend, Nora, along, and she's thrilled they'll get to experience camp together. Maggie can't wait to search for the paranormal, but Nora's perfect summer involves befriending edgy bunkmate Claire and going to the dance with a boy. Of course there is something weird going on: a camper disappears after an animal tore apart his cabin, and others develop an excessive amount of body hair. It's up to Maggie and Nora to solve the mystery, while the really scary thing is that their friendship is growing apart. The first book's fat-liberation themes are here exchanged for a message about accepting the bodily changes that come with puberty. Nora and Maggie take turns as narrators, their engaging voices giving insight into both sides of their middle-school friendship drama. Snappy dialogue and gentle poking fun at New Agey-ness (workshops include "Primal Screaming 101" and "Water Has Feelings Too!") add to the humor. Bodie Shanis

(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

July 1, 2024
Camp Sylvania, no longer a "fat camp" and (hopefully) vampire-free (Camp Sylvania, rev. 7/23), is now under the direction of Luna Lupowski, lover of all things New Age, who makes the campers toss their toiletries and sunscreen in favor of mystical water charged by the moon. This year Maggie brings her best friend, Nora, along, and she's thrilled they'll get to experience camp together. Maggie can't wait to search for the paranormal, but Nora's perfect summer involves befriending edgy bunkmate Claire and going to the dance with a boy. Of course there is something weird going on: a camper disappears after an animal tore apart his cabin, and others develop an excessive amount of body hair. It's up to Maggie and Nora to solve the mystery, while the really scary thing is that their friendship is growing apart. The first book's fat-liberation themes are here exchanged for a message about accepting the bodily changes that come with puberty. Nora and Maggie take turns as narrators, their engaging voices giving insight into both sides of their middle-school friendship drama. Snappy dialogue and gentle poking fun at New Agey-ness (workshops include "Primal Screaming 101" and "Water Has Feelings Too!") add to the humor.

(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)