Hello, bookworms!
Happy Wednesday, what are you currently reading? I am still trying to get back on track with my reads after the Sanremo week, but I am in the middle of a lot of interesting books. I can't wait to talk about them more in the upcoming days, so stay tuned for that, as usual.
Today, instead, I am here to talk about our pick for the February NelyaPritt's Middle Grade Chronicles article. After having read and loved both Wretched Waterpark and Vampiric Vacation in 2022, how could we not read Camp Creepy by Kiersten White? We simply had to, and we will be reading Menacing Manor later this year as well, just so you know.
But without any further ado, let's get this review started.
About the book
Title: Camp Creepy
Series: Sinister Summer Series #3
Author: Kiersten White
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Publication date: January 3, 2023
Pages: 288
Plot, as stated on Goodreads
The third book in the middle-grade series that's part Scooby-Doo, part A Series of Unfortunate Events, and entirely genius! Follow the Sinister-Winterbottoms on their most outrageous adventure yet, when they find themselves at a normalsummer camp! After leaving the Sanguine Spa in pursuit of Edgaren't, the kids find themselves at a mysterious summer camp, Camp Creek. There are lake games and happy counselors, and there's even a tie-dye cabin. It's all very… normal. But if Theo and Alexander know one thing, it's that normal doesn't always mean good. When everyone around her starts acting strange, Theo wonders if maybe the fumes from the tie-dye cabin are seeping into their brains, and she resolves to investigate what's really going on at Camp Creek. The third book in New York Times bestselling author Kiersten White's Sinister Summer series continues the adventures of the Sinister-Winterbottoms and their aunt, who never saw a discount vacation destination she didn't love.
My rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Review
This was one of my most anticipated releases of the year, and Kiersten White did not disappoint. This series is quickly becoming an all times favourite of mine, and I wish more people would read it, because it truly deserves the world, and it keeps getting better and better.
Since we are talking about the third volume, there might be spoilers from the first two books, but obviously not from Camp Creep itself; however, I will try my best to keep this completely spoiler free. Enter at your own risk, I don't guarantee anything.
Now, onto our review. As usual, my favourite thing about this book were the characters: I love Theo and Alexander so much, and I was so happy to see that the secondary characters had more space as well, in this specific instalment. Each and every member of the gang holds a special place in my heart, and I cannot wait to see them all face the adventure that awaits them in Menacing Manor, which I am now anticipating even more than before. I am curious to see how Kiersten White manages writing all these characters together, but I think it's safe to say that she will do a great job, because this series is just *chef's kiss*.
Another thing I love about this series is the atmosphere, and how the author succeeded in creating one of the hardest combo, as far as I am concerned: gothic vibes and summer vibes. When you read gothic books or watch gothic media, there's always a winter/autum setting or at least feel. In this series, you can definitely tell it's summer, but there's this underlying spoopy gotich-like vibe that I really enjoy. I need more books like this series, to be honest.
The plot was extremely engaging as well, and the pacing was perfect. Had I not been reading the book with Juls and Syl, I would have probably finished it in one sitting. I liked the twists, even though I predicted them (I think children will be surprised), and I am loving the direction the main plot is going towards. I love me a series in which there are individual mysteries in each book, while a bigger mystery gets slowly revealed until the very end. I don't know what I'll do once this series is over, but that's a problem for Pritt of the future.
The writing style was on point as always: I love the word plays, the fun tone but serious topics and the inclusion of explanations of words that feels natural and not like the author is trying to teach the children. I believe that this series is one of the most target audience appropriate things I've ever read, I don't know how else to describe it.
And talking about the topics discussed: I think that the Sinister Summer Series is one of those series in which children are depicted as they truly are, and everyone will find a character to identify with. It's a bit like the Wayward Children series, in this sense. I also love that each characters has some "flaws" that are depicted as both good and bad, as they are in real life: yes, anxiety can be debilitating, but caution in certain situations can be life saving. Yes, anger can make someone blind, but there are instances in which you have to healthily live it. In general, I love how this series encourages children to live and sort through their emotions, instead of keeping everything bottled up inside of them. Kudos for you, Kiersten.
As I said, I cannot wait for the fourth book to come out, even if book five will then come out in January of next year. I don't know how I'll manage the wait, to be honest. In the meantime, I highly recommend reading the first three books, regardless of your age. Especially if you liked Wednesday the series, or the Addams Family in general, any form of Scooby Doo content and/or A Series of Unfortunate Events. You won't regret it.
This is going to be all for today, I'll talk to you soon with a Reading the Rainbow review!
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