Recent Reads: Secrets of Camp Whatever by Chris Grine

Source: From Oni Press in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

Secrets of Camp Whatever by Chris Grine 

Series: Camp Whatever Volume 1
Publisher: Oni Press
Publication Date:  January 1, 2021

 

Format: Ebook


Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

Perfect for fans of Lumberjanes and Brain Camp, there’s more than mosquitos at Camp Whatever and Willow will need to face truths about herself and her family as summer camp dread goes head to head with the supernatural.

Eleven year-old Willow doesn't want to go to her dad's weird old summer camp any more than she wants her family to move to the weird old town where that camp is located. But her family—and fate itself—seem to have plans of their own. Soon Willow finds herself neck-deep in a confounding mystery involving stolen snacks, suspected vampires, and missing campers, all shrouded in the sinister fog that hides a generation of secrets at Camp ... Whatever it's called. 

Review: 

What a great start to a middle grade graphic novel series. The Camp Whatever series is about a girl named Willow and her friends and the fantastical creatures and magic they find while at summer camp. In this first installment, Willow is not happy about camp at all becuase she often feels different because she is deaf and wears hearing aids. Once arriving at camp Willow makes some friends and finds out some really cool things about Nowhere, where the camp is located. It is especially cool becuase there are magical creatures hidden everywhere. 

I liked this story, it was fun, action-packed, and had a wonderful fantasy theme. The characters are interesting and the drama and situations the kids are put in are intense but manageable. I always like middle grade in a graphic novel format, but I felt like there was a lot of telling versus showing in this one. Lots of dialogue, which is needed at times, but given the chance to draw things as well, you have more options.  The illustration was super vibrant with bold colors and detailed images. 

At the beginning of the book, it seems like Willows deafness will be a running theme, and while it comes up a few times it is not her whole personality and I appreciate that. I found that at times I resonated more with the other characters like Elric and Violet because sometimes Willow was mean and very quick to jump to conclusions. While she is often right, she comes off as a bit rude at times. While there is probably a reason for that response, the book doesn't really talk about it at all in a way that would make it a productive theme.

Overall, this was a fun start to a series. If you like middle grade and fantasitcal creatures, sometimes a little spooky, this might be for you. I have book 2 so I will post a review on that soon.