Fat Camp Commandos

Fat Camp Commandos

by Daniel Pinkwater, Andy Rash (Illustrator)

Fed up with the systematic jeering and abuse at Camp Noo Yoo, where frantic parents send their pudgy little darlings in the hopes that they will shed a few of those socially unacceptable pounds, Ralph and Sylvia Nebula and their friend, Mavis Goldfarb, hop a bus back to Pokooksie. There, they seek revenge. Revenge on their parents. Revenge on Dr. Frizzbender, founder of Anti-Fat Day. And revenge on Richard "Dick" Tator, the overweight and overbearing owner of Camp Noo Yoo.

Genres: Fiction, Childrens, Humor, Middle Grade, Juvenile, Kids, Young Adult

Library Binding

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Daniel Manus Pinkwater is an author of mostly children's books and is an occasional commentator on National Public Radio. He attended Bard College. Well-known books include Lizard Music, The Snarkout Boys and the Avocado of Death, Fat Men from Space, Borgel, and the picture book The Big Orange Splot. Pinkwater has also illustrated many of his books in the past, although for more recent works that task has passed to his wife Jill Pinkwater.

Reviews

[Joshua Gross · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have enjoyed Daniel Pinkwater's books since I was a kid, but I usually just read his longer, more in-depth books for older children. It would be easy to write this book off as a simple chapter book for young kids with a silly title, but the book turned out to surprise me. Two fat kids, Ralph and Sylvia, are sent off to fat camp by their easily-influenced parents. There they meet Celtic witch Mavis, who encourages them to break out of the camp with her and get their revenge on everyone who wants to discriminate against fat people. It effectively pointed out the rampant extremism in the country, and how the population on a whole turns against certain groups of people and make them second-class citizens because they feel that they are in the wrong. Daniel Pinkwater points out the reality of fad diets and the importance of valuing yourself for who you are, and that's there's a difference between being what everyone wants you to be and being normal and healthy. Ralph, Sylvia, and Mavis enjoy getting their revenge on the people that make them feel bad for being fat, but they eventually find it to be far more rewarding to become involved in their local theater group and be around people who accept them for the way they are. I could also tell just by reading some of the other reviews that there are lots of people in the world who completely missed the point of this book, outraged that Daniel Pinkwater would suggest it's ok for children to be as fat as they want to be. I was delighted that Daniel Pinkwater is still writing books for children that help them to think outside the box, question mainstream beliefs, and encourage them to be happy with themselves.

[Shelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

My daughter and I giggled and were often open mouthed in surprise at some of the hysterical but crude comments made about overweight children and adults. The moral of the story was clearly a positive one about how people focus to much on weight in regards to character. Also, that crazy diets and exercise programs can do more harm than good. Small improvements in a person’s life long term is more beneficial than crash dieting and the results will more likely stay. Daniel Pinkwater did this all subtly while cracking me up in the process.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I laughed, I cried, I LOVED it! This is the kids version of his "Afterlife Diet" and I am thrilled to see an author teaching our kids the truth about the diet industry and truly loving who you are. I have loved Pinkwater since I was a kid and now I know why. He is a true "cultural infidel" as Jimmy Buffet would say.

[Cher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two kids at fat camp rebel against the very notion of such a thing, with hilarious results. A totally liberating and adorable story suitable for both children and adults.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful book about three children (brother and sister Ralph and Sylvia Nebula and their friend Mavis Goldfarb), who are sent to a weight loss camp and then decide to escape and embark on a mischievous campaign against society's fat shaming. It's a very quick read, with cute illustrations. A lot of fun!

[Traci · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this aloud with Emily

[Rudy Seifert · Rating 2 out of 5]

A slight, fun book from DP, who describes himself as "circumferentially challenged".

[Miriam Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got triggered by the shit in the beginning but so glad I held fifth because this is a great fat positive book for youth with classic Pinkwater snark!

[elstaffe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pull quotes/notes
"'Look.' Mavis Goldfarb said. 'One in five kids in America is overweight, and one in TWO adults is. The scientists are still trying to work out exactly why this is so - they don't have a clue of what to do about it.'
'Everybody goes on a diet?' I asked.
'Except diets don't work,' Mavis said.
'Practically nobody loses weight on one, and practically all those who do gain it back. The odds are more than ninety-nine to one that if you are fat now, you're going to be fat later.'
'How do you know all this?' I asked
Mavis Goldfarb.
'I read books, bub.'" (38)

"'Will you be taking revenge on your parents for sending you to that camp, Miss Mavis?' old Shermie asked.
'You know me well, Shermie,' Mavis Goldfarb said. 'But they are digging up fossils in Olduvai Gorge. I was thinking of taking revenge on society in general'
'Very good, Miss Mavis,' old Shlermie said. 'And will your little friends be joining you in terrorizing ordinary citizens to awaken them from their fat-prejudice?' Mavis Goldfarb looked at us. 'What do you say? Do you want to help me give a mental hotfoot to the people of Pokooksie?'
Sylvia and I looked at each other. 'We are pretty cheesed-off at our parents for letting Dick Tator talk them into sending us to that living hell.'
'They will be among the victims,' Mavis said.
'We're not going to kill anybody?' I asked.
'No. Nothing like that. This is psychological war.' Mavis said.
'Count us in!' Sylvia and I said." (40-42)

"That very day, we went to the Burns and Numble Giant Bookstore and visited the diet book section. We also visited the dessert cookbook section. We sort of mixed them together, so it went: The Last Diet Book You Will Ever Need, and next to it Secrets of Swiss Chocolate Cakes and Pies, and then The Very Last Diet Book You Will Ever Need, which was shelved beside One Thousand and One Cookie Recipes. After that This Is Really, Really, Really the Last Diet Book You Will Ever Need, and then The Illustrated Encyclopedia of French Pastry (Mavis Goldfarb has that one at home). On the same shelf was I Swear to God, This Is the Last Diet Book You Will Ever, Ever Need, I Promise, and cuddled up against it was Creampuffs and Éclairs Made Simple.
Bookstores can be educational. We learned that if you read the titles of diet books, one after another, you realize they are stupid and couldn't possibly work—otherwise why would there be so many of them? Burns and Numble has hundreds. We also learned that dessert cookbooks have beautiful photography." (42-43)

[Erin Reilly-Sanders · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not too sure what to think about this one. Yes, it's funny. Yes, it's an easy, quick read. But it's sort of half humourous story and half treatise on how being fat is okay. I think I like the idea of telling kids to feel confident and be happy in who they are, but the combination of moralistic info like that fat doesn't mean un-athletic and not fit, into funny story is a little odd. Maybe I would have liked an author's note for kids who have been sent to fat camp or feel fat or their parents feel they are fat. Obesity is a concern that I take pretty serious, although I agree with most of what the author purports. On the other hand, while he features the kids running and moving and being active, which is great, he continues to feed them the same "bad" diet. While health is not about eating "shredded carrots" everyday, starving oneself, and finding no satisfaction in food, healthy meals can be filling and enjoyable. A more balanced message, if there is to be a message in such a short book, would have been appreciated.

[Jennifer Heise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sent to Fat Camp (which is really a moneymaking scheme for a local gym teacher and his family) by their easily-influenced parents, a brother and sister pair escape with a friend they meet there and spend the rest of the summer combatting the fatphobia of their town; eventually, however, they end up getting involved in an organization where they feel comfortable being themselves (partly because everyone in the organization has to pretend to be fat). Funny, classic Daniel Pinkwater.

[Destiny Phabmixay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hahaha!This book is so hilarious that crack myself up.I think you should read this book,because I'm thinking that it is about many parents wanting thier kids to lose some weight.But this is all I gotten but if I keep reading then I can tell you the rest.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this little book! It is a scrumptious Pinkwater book about loving yourself no matter your size. Totally fun read, too!

[smiggles (ILY) but i really dont]

i added it off of nathans profile

[louisa]

Good times whose point is widely missed. Seriously, read the first several oblivious reviews on the work.

[Haven · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very cute book that talks about being comfortable with who you are - and still making sure you're healthy.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Malcolm says, "I liked the song that Officer Pup sang; it was really funny. I like that chickens were at camp."

[Stven · Rating 3 out of 5]

Little more than a trifle, but a pleasant read from the often hilarious Mr. Pinkwater.

[Zana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious. Fun. Informative.

Required reading.