Secrets of Camp Whatever (2021), Volume 2

May 1, 2022

Gr 4-6-On Willow's 13th birthday, she reunites with the enigmatic and vampiric Elric to follow magical clues toward a dark prophecy about to be fulfilled. Her hair is now blue (by design), and she has developed a sudden ability to read Gnomish runes. She enjoys spending time with her friends Violet, Emma, and Rand, but cannot help but suspect the local Mr. Person's connections to gnomes and magic, also called "spelling." The vast majority of scenes in this contemporary fantasy story consist of talking heads either delivering exposition dumps, responding to them, or explaining them to other characters. The execution lacks style, with similar facial expressions and bland backgrounds and underwhelming layouts. Some magical creatures and a brief final act showdown provide some much-needed conflict and stakes. New readers may miss that Willow is deaf and wearing hearing aids until she uses her deafness to her advantage in the latter half of the story. VERDICT Start with book one, if you must, or take the character Violet's advice and read other books.-Thomas Maluck

Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 15, 2022
Things take a dark turn for a tween in a magical world. Willow and her friends from summer camp return in this sequel to Secrets of Camp Whatever (2021), and the stakes are even higher. With a new enemy, a spell book, and a revealed connection to a family lineage, Willow has much more on her plate in this installment. Picking up after her otherworldly experiences at camp, readers meet blue-haired Willow as she is pulled even further into the paranormal world of Nowhere thanks to a century-old prophecy. Along the way, she comes face to face with supernatural creatures, some of whom turn out to be friendly, while others are foes. Thankfully, her friends, each with their own powers and passions, become a major help to Willow as she tries to unravel the mysteries. Grine's dialogue is as accessible as before, with panels and speech bubbles that are easy for readers to follow while maintaining interest through pleasing variety. The illustrations are clean, vibrantly colorful, and appealing. Though there is a more menacing tone this time around, it is balanced by touches of humor and the soft pastel color palette. Willow is deaf and uses hearing aids; the first volume cued her as White and Latine. Most characters read White, and one of Willow's friends is Black. An engaging, spooky adventure for existing fans and new readers alike. (Graphic paranormal mystery. 8-12)

COPYRIGHT(2022) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

March 15, 2021
Grades 4-7 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.

COPYRIGHT(2021) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.