Camp Dork

Pack of Dorks #2

by Beth Vrabel

Lucy and her pack are back, in this sequel to Beth Vrabel’s heartwarming and humorous debut, Pack of Dorks. Sheldon convinces Lucy, Sam, April, and Amanda to join him at a weeklong sleep-away summer camp—Camp Paleo: Live Like a Caveman. Like cavemen, they’re going to have to make do without air conditioning or a heated pool. They’ll learn archery and dig for fossils. And Grandma’s coming too; she’s taking a job as lunch lady for the camp next door.

At the last minute, Sam backs out to go to a gymnastics training camp instead. Lucy wonders why she misses him so much—it’s not like he’s her boyfriend or anything. Why does the word “boyfriend” make her blush, even when she’s only thinking it? She needs a distraction. Enter Mr. Bosserman, the grouchy camp leader who won’t budge on the caveman aspect of the camp. The old man needs some softening up, and Lucy knows just the person for the job: Grandma.

One successful match made, Lucy starts to see potential lovebirds everywhere. And setting up couples keeps her from facing the question tickling the back of her mind: Is she in love with Sam? But when the wrong campers fall for each other, the pack falls apart, all under the watchful eye of a super secret blogger who’s been writing about the camp’s activities Gossip Girl–style. Even worse? A thief is targeting everyone but Lucy, setting her up to look guilty. Soon Lucy again finds herself alone, left to fix the messes she’s made and face her own feelings. If she fails, the pack may be splintered for good.

Genres: Realistic Fiction, Middle Grade, Contemporary, Childrens, Juvenile

240 pages, Hardcover

First published May 3, 2016

About the author

Beth Vrabel is the author of Cyblis-nominated Caleb and Kit, ILA award-winning A Blind Guide to Stinkville, JLG-selection A Blind Guide to Normal, and The Reckless Club and Pack of Dorks series. She can't clap to the beat nor be trusted near Nutella. Beth loves traveling around the country to meet with young readers and writers, sharing a message of grit, resiliency and heart.

Reviews

[Mark Buxton · Rating 4 out of 5]

My name is Lucy, and I'm proud to be a dork. I didn't really want to come to this caveman, fossil camp, but Sam dared me. However, he went off to a gymnastics camp, and my parents wouldn't let me back out. I thought things would still be okay with the rest of our pack going, but I've managed to mess everything up. My best friend, April, wants to hang out with snobby Kira, but I think she'd make a perfect girlfriend for Sheldon. I'm great at bringing people together, Sam told me so, but now everybody hates me. I've said mean things to April, lied to Jer, and people think I've stolen a bracelet, necklace, and laptop. What am I doing? Why can't April act like she used to? Everything is all mixed up. I've got to make things right, but what if it all blows up in my face? Again!

This book addresses the difficulties of friendship and growing up. The first book created the pack of dorks to help outcast kids support each other, but even dorks must change! The problems faced by Lucy are normal, but she learns there are some things beyond our control. Most readers can identify with her feelings of abandonment and wanting things to stay the same. Hopefully, readers will learn a lesson along with Lucy. The book includes a snooty girl with free insults for Lucy, although Lucy later learns that things aren't what they see. The innocence of the characters is a nice change from many of the books I normally read. The kids aren't geniuses with amazing talents or maturity. They're typical new-to-be fifth graders. I still enjoy Lucy's free-spirited grandmother who provides support and advice for Lucy. She's not afraid to speak her mind or do what makes her happy. Overall, I can recommend both books in the series to any fourth or fifth graders.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ever been to summer camp? How about summer camp caveman-style, while the campers next door get tech time, fancy snacks, and air conditioning?

In this sequel to Pack of Dorks, Lucy’s time at camp nudges her on a journey of self-discovery. Lucy explores her feelings about her new best friend who transforms physically and socially, the flush of emotions when she thinks about boys – especially Sam, and her compulsion to arrange couples in neat and tidy relationships. All this while she struggles to get a decent supper and keep everyone from hating her!

My favorite thing about this book is the dialogue. As I read, I could really hear the kids interacting… their different voices, noisy sound effects, and gurgles of bodily functions… just like kids I know.

Lucy and her friends are real – kind of like a younger Breakfast Club, where stereotypes and prejudices only get you so far. Like the Brat Pack, Lucy and her Pack of Dorks find that facing the truth about yourself and others is the real prize.

While my reading tastes skew older (like the 40-something mom I am), I enjoyed Lucy and her friends. Author Beth Vrabel offers insightful nuggets that can drive even grown-ups to make some changes in how they view and treat others.

https://randombookmuses.com/2016/05/0...

[Avery Brown]

when I read this book from start to finish, I thought that Lucy changed a lot in the past 2 weeks at camp, For example, in the beginning, when grandma dropped her off, she was waiting for her friend to com to her instead of Lucy going to them. There friends did come to her at that point.
When April got the grapefruit concussion, she was really mad at Lucy, but Lucy was saying sorry to her, and being really nice about what she did and that she will never do it again.
At the end of the book, Lucy and April had a really good relationship. they were trying to find out who stole the sneakers, makeup kit, and laptop. they used there brains and found that it was Jessica.
Lucy was very shy in the beginning of the book, but at the end, she was being closer with her friends.

[Beth Griffin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lucy and her pack go to summer camp in this fun sequel to Pack of Dorks. Middle graders will relate to the awkward and amusing antics of Lucy as she struggles to deal with her feelings on boys, her friends, and finding herself all while staying at Camp Paleo where kids are forced to live like cavemen. I highly recommend this to middle graders for a highly entertaining summer read.

[Sarah Threlkeld · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book got off to a slow start, but once the pack made it to camp the action picked up and I ended up finishing the book in a day. yes, Lucy can be a tad oblivious, but she's still likable and endearing because you know she has people's best interests at heart. Vrabel does an excellent job of creating moments and characters that feel authentic to the tween experience.

[Iya · Rating 5 out of 5]

good

[Ava Augustine · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book Camp Dork by Beth Vrabel was a very inspiring book. There were ups and down in the book which made the book feel like a roller coaster. There were ups and downs with most of the characters as well, which caused many emotions between all of them. But overall I think that the ups and down taught all of the characters how to treat people with respect and making sure that you are making sure that everybody has a place and feels welcomed.

[Michelle (FabBookReviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Camp Dork, the sequel to Beth Vrabel's well-received middle grade debut, Pack of Dorks, readers are taken on another candid, true-to-life and altogether touching adventure with fourth-grader Lucy. In book one, Park of Dorks , we first encounter Lucy as the popular girl in elementary school- that kid that just seems to be cool and have other cool and seemingly popular friends. Are Lucy and her friends the nicest people? Are Lucy's popular friends that most caring friends? Well...not exactly, but Lucy doesn't get a true taste of just how brazenly cruel her once-close friends are until everything turns on her, and she's forced to face her own prejudices and mistreatment of other outcast kids in her class.

When we meet Lucy again in Camp Dork, she seems to have things under control- well, as under control as can be for her! Her small but tight group of newer friends (self-appointed pack of dorks) are planning to attend a week-long summer sleep-away camp. While Lucy is not entirely on board- what if she misses her parents, her new baby sister and embarrasses herself by being seen as immature?- the thought of her pack going together (and her grandma coming along to work at the camp) seems enough to convince her.

At the very last minute, however, her now-closest-of-the-pack friend Sam cancels when he is invited to a first-class gymnastics camp. And, unfortunately, things don't get too much better for Lucy from there. While the camp itself is way less than impressive and Lucy can't get a handle on things, some of her pack seem to be...flourishing. They are making friends, excelling at sports, and kind of (unintentionally) leaving Lucy in the dust. Could it be that Lucy is, once again, going to be alone? Out of her pack and having to fend for herself like a lone wolf? Lucy makes some serious errors in judgement when she tries to control her friends and force her pack to stay together: by badmouthing select campers, spreading rumours on 'who likes who', and spilling very personal details about her friends. Like a freight-train, you can see Lucy barreling down a destructive path; you want to reach out and just shout STOP! Vrabel, however, manages to maintain an endearing and honest emotional- and heartfelt- quality to Lucy: she is young girl who makes mistakes, but her honesty and self-reflexiveness allow for her to slowly but surely admit to her wrongdoings, and then sincerely try to make amends.

Vrabel has done a solid job over the course of the two books creating an open, gutsy, imperfect, earnest and funny character in Lucy. Her narrative voice rings as believable, and the mistakes she makes, and the unfortunate meanness of other kids- and how she tries to make things better- will be keenly felt by readers. While there are some secondary storylines/plot turns as well as characters over the course of the two books that feel slightly commonplace, or supporting characters that feel too simply one-dimensional, on the whole, the Pack of Dork titles are poignant and affecting, and Vrabel's writing is clear and resonant. You cannot help but hope for the best for Lucy and her pack. I hope we get more (mis)adventures of Lucy, Sam and the pack in future books!

Readers who enjoy the work of authors such as Joanne Rocklin, Carol Weston, Heather Vogel Frederick, or those looking to try out middle grade titles that touch more openly on growing pains, making mistakes and learning to be true to oneself, might especially appreciate the Pack of Dorks titles. I would definitely suggest beginning with Pack of Dorks before diving into Camp Dork: reading the introduction to Lucy (and her family), and about her fall from popularity, serious slip-ups, standing up to bullies, and growth are pretty key to getting into the rhythm of Camp Dork.

I received a copy of Camp Dork courtesy of Sky Pony Press in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and comments are my own.

[Mallory Crombie · Rating 4 out of 5]

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[M&M Crazypants12 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great

This is a good book the plot is pretty LITTY but the ending is sav I liked it very much

[Tonja Drecker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book can be read as a stand alone without any problem.

Lucy unhappily agrees to go to camp with her friends and when Sam, the one who instigated the whole plan, backs out to go to a more elite camp, the entire trip seems to be jinxed. Especially when the camp 'the pack of dorks' end up in a rustic, cheaper camp while the neighboring one is elite pure.

This is a cute story about first boy tingles, middle school drama at camp (and we know how much drama that can be!), learning to fit in and learning to stand up for yourself. Add a lovely group of friendship and all the problems that can include, and it's a perfect summer camp story for kids 9 and up.

Lucy gets caught up in all sorts of messes of her own doing. her bad decisions--one after the other--make matters much worse. She goes against others without thinking and opens her mouth when she should keep it shut. The author does a fantastic job of showing how a young girl and easily be swept into a mountain of mess, while not necessarily being a 'bad person' herself. The struggle of balancing life choices and their consequences comes through crystal clear in a way kids will have no trouble understanding or relating to. Because let's face it--middle school is hard but camp is even worse. Especially when you are in the pack of dorks.

The characters each have their very own personality, making them come to life as if they were sitting there in the room. However, it's the dialogue which really brings this story to life. Lucy and her friends are placed in a difficult situation which not only kids but even adults understand. And her mistakes aren't that far off from ones many of us have made in the past to some degree. The life lessons are clear, while remaining down to earth and sometimes humorous too. There's just a ton to like in these pages.

It's a fun read with lots to give and will leave the reader with a few things to think about after the story comes to a close.

I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Barbra · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sequel to Pack of Dorks, this nerd squad is now going to Camp Paleo. When Lucy finds herself missing Sam she decides to try her hand at matchmaking. The problem is she is not very good at it and eventually alienates the people she most cares about. She also finds herself being set up as the camp thief. This fun story about friendship and fitting in will appeal to ages eight to 12. This series would also be great for reluctant readers.

[Yapha · Rating 4 out of 5]

(3.5 Stars)

Lucy, Sam, April, and friends from Pack of Dorks are back in this sequel. They are heading off to Paleo Camp for the summer and face new challenges in their friendships. A realistic look at the ups and downs of middle grade relationships. It would be a fun book to read while at sleepaway camp. For fans of the first book, grades 4 & up.

eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss

[Emma M]

A real life connection maker, shows really a kids point of view and actions. Between life mess ups, lying, crushes, friend fights, it captures the horrible time when you have no one to talk to or even be friends with. It is that time where someone backs out at the last minute. I you like drama filled kids story's, you will love this one!

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Camp Dork is the second book in the slightly-cringily-named Pack of Dorks series, though it would be fine as a standalone. I didn't love the characters, and the plot twists will be predictable for older readers, but the target audience should be entertained by this summer camp story.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book was good, It was very detailed and I like how Beth Vrabel used diologe to explain how Lucy was feeling. it had a mix of social issues like friendship. I thought it was very good.

[haeun ! · Rating 3 out of 5]

— rtc
— so this was realistic. but also frustrating. and i don’t read children’s fiction to want to scream into my pillow. april and lucy were so frustrating, emphasis on lucy. i also won’t lie and say i wasn’t upset about sam and lucy. but it was realistic and surprisingly mature for these kids to go to. i just wanted something fluffier and got a lot more relationship development than i wanted. also wanted more sam. i love him. if i had a best friend like him in fifth grade, i’d probably also get nervous around him.

[romina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really entertaining and funny! I picked it up at the library with low expectations but it turned out better than I thought! Many times it had me laughing and wasn’t hard to finish. The only complaint I had was it was a bit unrealistic for fourth graders, but I know how hard can it be to write povs of younger kids. Good book!

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again another great pack of dorks book. The main character learns that while some people will always be known as certain things, that's not bad but it's also not bad to show who you really are despite who everyone else thinks.

[Viola Sung · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very quirky and sweet story.

[Kylie Abecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember how fickle friendships were in primary school. This book truly highlights how easy things change.

[Marcia Van Camp]

Eldest read

[Kuon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story about people called Lucy, April, Sam and Amanda. They are far away from their parents and live outside. The part I liked was when they were going on adventures.

[Dr. T Loves Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

What it's about: Lucy's friend Sheldon convinces the Pack to sign up for sleep-away summer camp, Camp Paleo, where campers live like cavemen and go on fossil digs. It's not really Lucy's thing, but she figures it will be bearable since Sam will be there.

But when Sam ends up with a schedule conflict, Lucy finds herself feeling stranded in the woods with a grumpy camp owner and a painfully chipper camp counselor.

As Lucy's summer heads further and further off the rails, and the people she knows start showing sides of themselves Lucy's never seen, she just wants to go home. But when she is accused of theft, it looks like Lucy might get sent home - or maybe sent to jail!

Will the Pack come back together to help Lucy in her time of need? Or will the call of the wild leave Lucy by her lonesome?

What I thought: Vrabel's writing is smooth, and Lucy feels very realistic as a character. Even though the situations Lucy ends up in border on the absurd, they also feel like something that is not completely out of the realm of the daily.

One issue I had with this book (and the next in the series) is how many times it seems like Lucy needs to learn that she is not the center of the universe, and that other people have feelings and motivations and are not just props or obstacles in her journey. But reflecting on it, I suppose that might be one of the most realistic elements of the entire series.

Why my chosen shelves: mystery: there are thefts at camp and Lucy must figure out who has framed her; romance: some characters decide to start relationships;

Why I rated it like I did: 3.5 stars - After everything Lucy went through and supposedly learned in the first book, I was a little disappointed by how unaware she seems in this next book. Lucy is once again focused on herself more than anyone else, much to her own detriment.

[Emmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for book club with my niece. :)

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fourth grade has come to an end, and Lucy and her "pack" of friends (minus Sam) are off to Camp Paleo, where they will live like cavemen for the summer. Lucy is nervous about camp to begin with, even though her grandmother will be nearby working for the neighboring technology camp, and her feelings about the place worsen when she notices her best friend, April, starting to act differently around the other campers. Lucy decides the way to make her mark at camp is to play match-maker - first for her grandmother, who begins dating camp director Mr. Bosserman, and then with her fellow campers. Unfortunately, not everyone wishes to be paired off the way Lucy imagines, and soon she is in a fight with all of her friends old and new. Though I quite liked Pack of Dorks, this sequel is just not as strong. Some of the individual scenes are very tightly constructed and well-written, but the links between them, and the overall plot structure are weak and hard to follow. The characters are also lacking. College-age camp counselor Jessica calls the kids "camper wampers" in a way that is just completely unbelievable, while Lucy seems to have no core personality, but rather reacts to things based solely on how they will further the plot. There is also the issue of the characters' ages, which is really confusing. These kids are entering fifth grade, but Lucy describes herself as an almost twelve year old. Unless she was held back in school - a fact never established by the story - there is no way this math works. And whether they are nine or twelve, all of the characters sound like mini-adults, which makes it even harder to figure out the intended audience. Unless you have die-hard fans of the first book in your family, or in your library, you can definitely pass this one up.

[Ella Zegarra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Original de: El Blog del Gato - El Extraño Gato del Cuento

Camp Dork sigue teniendo la frescura y sentido del humor que tanto me gustó del primer libro. Retrata muy bien de quienes están a punto de entrar a la adolescencia, sobre todo en como manejan los problemas que cada vez son más adultos, como el saber donde encajar, si es que lo hacen, o el romance que está empezando a asomarse, así no quieran que eso suceda.

Puedes sentir bastante claro como los niños están a muy poco de dejar de serlo, y duele un poquito (sobre todo si tienes hermanos chiquitos que estan más o menos en la misma edad )



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[Sara-Zoe Patterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as the first one. The writing isn't as solid, and the premise feels a little forced. There's still good friendship problem things to talk about. You definitely have to read these in order. 4th, 5th