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Cartboy #2
Cartboy Goes to Camp
This is the laugh-out-loud sequel to L. A. Campbell's Cartboy and the Time Capsule. Hopelessly hapless Hal Rifkind, a.k.a. Cartboy, is off to summer camp. And not just any old camp, but history camp. Campers have to learn how to churn butter, plant maize, and carry water from the stream―or they get punished for not doing their chores. What else could possibly go wrong for Cartboy? Read Hal's journal to find out! Filled with photos, drawings, and timelines, Hal's journal chronicles his hilarious adventures at Camp Jamestown―where nothing has changed in 400 years.
- GenresHumor
224 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2014
4 people are currently reading
49 people want to read
About the author
L.A. Campbell
7 books1 followerL. A. CAMPBELL grew up in Park Ridge, New Jersey, and attended the University of Colorado, graduating with a degree in journalism. She started her own ad agency, which won awards for work on such brands as Comedy Central and New York magazine. Cartboy and the Time Capsule is her first book. She lives in New York City with her husband and two children.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/lacamp...
http://us.macmillan.com/author/lacamp...
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
March 19, 2019
Cartboy Goes to Camp is a weak story full of stereotypes. The clip-art images were amusing, reminiscent of the Life of Fred series, but the formatting was weird and the plot was not well done. It even claims to center around history, but there are so many inaccuracies, as well as some totally sketchy Native American appropriation, that I cannot recommend this.
August 25, 2016
Full disclosure: I have not read Cartboy and the Time Capsule, the first book in the Cartboy series.
The middle-grade doodle-filled journal-style genre is generally not my favorite genre, but it's by no means my least favorite, either. And I've read enough of the characters, both male and female, in the genre by now to have an idea of which ones are better than others.
Cartboy Goes to Camp is not one of my favorites. I found it less funny and less relatable than others, while Cartboy's parents were even more frustrating to me than most middle-grade novel parents (and that's saying something!). But what I liked least about Cartboy Goes to Camp were the illustrations. Most of the books in this genre use "hand-drawn" doodles or illustrations, to give the books that kid's journal feel. Cartboy Goes to Camp includes some hand-drawn pictures and timelines, but it also includes stock photos and clip-art. I would have liked the book so much more if all the illustrations had been hand-doodled, like the timelines. (In my copy, the stock photos even had watermarks on them, though hopefully that was just because I was reading a galley.)
For kids who have read all the other middle-grade doodle-y journal books, Cartboy Goes to Camp will give them something to read until the next entry into the popular genre appears. But if they haven't, I'd recommend Alvin Ho (by Lenore Look), Desmond Pucket (by Mark Tatulli), or Kate the Great (by Suzy Becker) instead. The bestselling Diary of a Wimpy Kid ranked only 2-stars for me as well, but I'd also recommend that series over Cartboy.
Note: I received a digital galley of this book from NetGalley.
The middle-grade doodle-filled journal-style genre is generally not my favorite genre, but it's by no means my least favorite, either. And I've read enough of the characters, both male and female, in the genre by now to have an idea of which ones are better than others.
Cartboy Goes to Camp is not one of my favorites. I found it less funny and less relatable than others, while Cartboy's parents were even more frustrating to me than most middle-grade novel parents (and that's saying something!). But what I liked least about Cartboy Goes to Camp were the illustrations. Most of the books in this genre use "hand-drawn" doodles or illustrations, to give the books that kid's journal feel. Cartboy Goes to Camp includes some hand-drawn pictures and timelines, but it also includes stock photos and clip-art. I would have liked the book so much more if all the illustrations had been hand-doodled, like the timelines. (In my copy, the stock photos even had watermarks on them, though hopefully that was just because I was reading a galley.)
For kids who have read all the other middle-grade doodle-y journal books, Cartboy Goes to Camp will give them something to read until the next entry into the popular genre appears. But if they haven't, I'd recommend Alvin Ho (by Lenore Look), Desmond Pucket (by Mark Tatulli), or Kate the Great (by Suzy Becker) instead. The bestselling Diary of a Wimpy Kid ranked only 2-stars for me as well, but I'd also recommend that series over Cartboy.
Note: I received a digital galley of this book from NetGalley.
April 11, 2016
I was on the fence about the first Cartboy story, which is an attempt to cash in on the Diary of a Wimpy Kid craze, but Cartboy Goes to Camp put me solidly in the ‘dislike’ camp. From the pointless bullying to the clueless parents, I’m pretty sure that if I were to recommend this book to a child, their parents would assume I hated them.
So Cartboy’s Dad forces him to Camp Jamestown, where the counselors are all totally oblivious losers (and not in a fun way) and the camp motto is – I kid you not – ‘Where Nothing Has Changed for 400 Years.’
Point of inquiry: Not a single adult during the revision and submission and editing process thought that, maybe, just maybe, there might be something off with that name and motto?
I mean, it’s probably a good thing there were no African-American campers in the story, because how was the author planning to reconcile their presence with that history-deaf motto? Really, a book that’s trying to be all Yay! History! loses a lot of points when both the camp name and the camp motto are pretty insensitive when viewed in light of the actual historical record.
Honestly, if there were a third book in this series, I would be concerned that its plot involved learning about World War II by taking a trip to a resort named after a concentration camp. Because that is how absolutely tasteless Cartboy Goes to Camp is.
You know, I was kind of shocked by the recent ‘George Washington’s Happy Slaves’ book (not the actual title). After reading Cartboy Goes to Camp, I now sort of understand how the Happy Slaves book made it to publication. Not recommended.
So Cartboy’s Dad forces him to Camp Jamestown, where the counselors are all totally oblivious losers (and not in a fun way) and the camp motto is – I kid you not – ‘Where Nothing Has Changed for 400 Years.’
Point of inquiry: Not a single adult during the revision and submission and editing process thought that, maybe, just maybe, there might be something off with that name and motto?
I mean, it’s probably a good thing there were no African-American campers in the story, because how was the author planning to reconcile their presence with that history-deaf motto? Really, a book that’s trying to be all Yay! History! loses a lot of points when both the camp name and the camp motto are pretty insensitive when viewed in light of the actual historical record.
Honestly, if there were a third book in this series, I would be concerned that its plot involved learning about World War II by taking a trip to a resort named after a concentration camp. Because that is how absolutely tasteless Cartboy Goes to Camp is.
You know, I was kind of shocked by the recent ‘George Washington’s Happy Slaves’ book (not the actual title). After reading Cartboy Goes to Camp, I now sort of understand how the Happy Slaves book made it to publication. Not recommended.
July 29, 2014
Cartboy Goes to Camp is a typical camp / parents trying to force their goals down your throat point of view of a young kid but has the bonus of being told in the journal style with humorous drawings to carry the story along. I was given this book in exchange for an honest review so I did not read the first book in the series. It is pretty obvious from the beginning that Cartboy is already made fun of at school for carrying his books in an old lady cart. Appears to be another of his day's ideas.
I like books that actual kids can relate to & just from some of my own childhood memories, I could relate to Cartboy. He gets with a "not so popular" crowd at camp. Some luckily are devoted to the idea of the camp. Cartboy just can't seem to fit at first plus his -# 1 bully is of course at camp! Bla.
Our main character is disappointed in everything as well as himself before it's over, but there is a good ending that makes all the bad worth going through to find true friends, connect with dad, & rid the bully.... A good hearted and discovery type adventure.
I like books that actual kids can relate to & just from some of my own childhood memories, I could relate to Cartboy. He gets with a "not so popular" crowd at camp. Some luckily are devoted to the idea of the camp. Cartboy just can't seem to fit at first plus his -# 1 bully is of course at camp! Bla.
Our main character is disappointed in everything as well as himself before it's over, but there is a good ending that makes all the bad worth going through to find true friends, connect with dad, & rid the bully.... A good hearted and discovery type adventure.
January 3, 2015
Grades 4-7. I love these books as much as the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. 6th grader Hal Rifkind has big plans to sleep in and play RavenCave all summer, but his Revolutionary War re-enacting father has other plans. Camp Jamestown! It's a historical camp where kids learn what the first Colonists and Native peoples did to survive. It means an early wake-up time, gruel for breakfast and lots of wood-chopping. And no air-conditioning. Ugh! Nothing could be worse.
Except that Hal's bully, Ryan, is also being made to attend camp because he failed History. Ryan thinks it's Hal's fault and is determined to ruin anything that might be remotely good.
Hal's bunkmates think there might be something better than tug-of-war and leather beading. A diary from one of the town's settlers hints that some valuable pearls may have been buried somewhere in the camp.
Except that Hal's bully, Ryan, is also being made to attend camp because he failed History. Ryan thinks it's Hal's fault and is determined to ruin anything that might be remotely good.
Hal's bunkmates think there might be something better than tug-of-war and leather beading. A diary from one of the town's settlers hints that some valuable pearls may have been buried somewhere in the camp.
August 20, 2015
This book was on my granddaughter's summer reading list and she read it and enjoyed it and so did I. The timelines were interestng and funny. The drawings were cute also. The bully was characteristically mean and got his just deserts by being sent home early, although in my opinion not early enough.
She felt the 'whizzing' was inappropriate, but she is only nine, and has been somewhat sheltered. Also, the continued farting. She thought Cora asking Cartboy to the dance was funny.
She felt the 'whizzing' was inappropriate, but she is only nine, and has been somewhat sheltered. Also, the continued farting. She thought Cora asking Cartboy to the dance was funny.
April 27, 2015
This book is a combination Diary of a Wimpy Kid, mystery story and has some history thrown in. Hal is forced by his parents to go to Camp Jamestown a history camp that his father also attended. The boy who bullies him at school also winds up at this camp. I would give this book a 2.5 if I could. The story just didn't work for me.
June 21, 2014
Fun with clever photographs and timelines. I didn't read the first one in the series but I hope to soon! I know my library needs both because I can think of lots of boys, and girls, who will like Cartboy!
August 29, 2014
This is a silly story about a boy whose dad forces him to go to a pioneer camp where all of the activities are things done many years ago. It is meant to be funny, and sometimes it actually was. Evan said he is very glad that's not the kind of camp he went to this summer!
May 28, 2015
Very cute and I can see why kids might like it but I found it a little obnoxious. Fans of Wimpy Kid would probably enjoy it.
August 26, 2015
Better than the first one - better plotting. Still not laugh out loud and the ending feels a bit abrupt.
October 21, 2015
Perfect for grades 4 - 7 who loved "Wimpy Kid".
October 22, 2015
it is good for people who like comedy, the story is about a boy trying to find a treasure in camp with his new friends
January 22, 2016
Asher (8yo) read.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews