Book Review: Camp Confidential Series

Attention, Summer Campers!

Summertime. To me, it used to mean long days at the pool, drippy ice cream cones with sprinkles, and riding my bike up and down the street with my BFF, Nicole. Oh yeah, and one 4th grade summer — after begging, pleading, and bargaining with my mom — I went to gymnastics camp. Finally! It was going to be going to my very first sleepaway camp. With one condition — my mom was a chaperone. Ahh, yes. Well, that’s a story for another time . . .

Anyhow, in this great new series I recently discovered, Camp Confidential by Melissa J. Morgan, I got to flashback to my days at gymnastics camp. But this time, the stories are totally better!

I just finished the first book, Natalie’s Dilemma (which you can read online right here!). In it, Natalie is an 11 year-old NYC city chick who is more interested in fresh sushi than fresh air. She can’t believe her mom has sentenced her to Camp Lakeview (aka Camp Lake-Puke) in the middle of nowhere, where she has to exist alongside disgusting bugs, not to mention clean toilets as a daily chore. (Yech!) However, she meets some pretty cool girls and has some equally cool experiences, really bonding with her bunkmates. But then we find out she has a secret she’s been hiding from everyone.

SPOILER ALERT: Close your eyes and skip down to the spoiler-free zone if you don’t want to know Natalie’s secret!

It turns out her dad is a famous Hollywood action-movie star! (Hello — not the worst secret in the world!)

SPOILER-FREE ZONE RESUMES HERE: I really liked this book, and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series. Each book (there are 20) is told from a different character’s point of view. So Book #1 is about Natalie, #2 is about Jenna, #3 is about Grace, and so on. It kind of reminds me of The Baby-sitters Club series (by Ann M. Martin), how they rotate characters throughout the books. It also reminds me of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (a YA series by Ann Brashares), because the girls go their separate ways during the school year, but always come back together at camp.

Some of the online reviews had me laughing too. I especially liked:
“this book rocks my socks!”
and
“OMG I totally luved this book so much. Best series ever!”

Have you read this series? If so, let me know what you think. Also — I’m dying to hear any juicy camp stories! Are you going to summer camp this year? What’s been your worst camp experience ever? What are the most popular types of summer camp? And what’s your DREAM summer camp? (Not sure about that last one: check out this summer camp personality quiz on our Allie Finkle site!)

Happy camping! (Okay, I’ll stop now.)

— Ratha, STACKS Writer

Comments

[Comment #1]

i have read Natalie's Secret and Jenna's Dilemma, and they were both soo good! I am reading them all in order. I reccomend these books to kids who love Summer Camp stories :)

-iheart13friends

[Comment #2]

I love these books! I just got the brand new 21st one on my birthday on Friday. It's called Reunion. Also, the 22nd one (Extra Credit) is either coming out very soon or already out. I can't remember. Anyway, LOVE THESE BOOKS! I'm so glad they're being recognized on here.

[Comment #3]

i'm reading natalies secret i've anorthere one but i forgot the name. grace rox.

[Comment #4]

read the allie finkle" s rules for girls books: book one moving day, book two new girl,and book three drama queens!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Comment #5]

I love these books! they are jsut the best books in history! I love love love them so very very very much!!! and Madison do you want to be BFF's??

[Comment #6]

we have fun

[Comment #7]

the best thing is be happy dont worry

[Comment #8]

Cookiecream3, what do you mean BFF's? I don't have an account on this site.

[Comment #9]

I am a huge camp confidential fan - really ! The girls are all so caring and nice and the guys are just awesome. I read like, 18 of the books already! I just finished the 20th book, Suddenly Last Summer, and it's kinda sad. Did anyone else read it? I like a lot of the girls, but I gotta say that i like Candace the most. Yes, I know, the girl who reaps every phrase Candace, but she's really sweet and nice and there's a different side to her, as we see in Freaky Tuesday. I can't wait to read the next book, Reunion.

[Comment #10]

That's weird! I just got a lot of these books at my public library, and I LUV them！:) But i didn't know there were TWENTY-TWO. gosh, I have a lot of catching up to do！

[Comment #11]

I totally agree with you, Nelle! Candace was always funny when she repeated everything people said (Kinda reminded me of my litte sis), but it was cool to see WHY she did that in Freaky Tuesday.

[Comment #12]

I just read the first book, natalie's secret and I totally loved it! My guess is that the books get better and better! Everyone should read these books!

[Comment #13]

I totally could not put down Hide and Shriek! So exciting and scary! Absoulutely fab. So who's your favorite chracter?

[Comment #14]

These books are awesome, and my friends and I love reading them rogether. If I could date a guy from the book, I'd love that chance. Logan is so sweet and so is Reed.

[Comment #15]

22 (extra credit) comes out on september 3, 2009! this one is going to be so cool! Camp goes hollywood!

[Comment #16]

This is so cool books are awesome!!!!! any pne want to talk

[Comment #17]

i mean any ONE want to talk

[Comment #18]

I bet # 22 is going to be awesome!!!

[Comment #19]

I love this series. I am on the 20th book and I don't want the series to end!!!!!

[Comment #20]

what is your favorite book

[Comment #21]

OMG i luvv these books:) im only on best boyfriend forever. I cnant really pick a favorite character cause i like all of them so much!! but i like natalie a lot and alex. and my favorite book is second times the charm.
-michellyy

[Comment #22]

loveeeeeeeee these books!!! I'm on Alex's Challenges!!!

[Comment #23]

i like Jenna and alex!

[Comment #24]

i love this series so much just after reading the first 1 (natalies secret)
so im ordering th rest from my libraRY!!!!!!

[Comment #25]

In the UK these books are published as summer secrets and there aren't as many bks yet. And they all have different titles. BUt they are all the same, and everyone luvs them. They are sooooo good. There is a summer secrets website, and u can find out more about Alyssa and valerie, natalie, jessie, chelse, and everyone else. and there are lots of fun stuff like camp games and songs. Its really neat. These books are gr8!