What do you think?
Rate this book
Dead Weight: Murder at Camp Bloom
A hilarious story of a diverse group of young sleuths who band together to solve a murder mystery while at a weight-loss camp.
Deep in the Oregon wilderness sits Camp Bloom, a weight-loss camp where "overweight" teens can "get in shape." Jesse would rather be anywhere else, but her parents are forcing her to go. Noah isn't sure if he wants to be there, but it's too late to turn back. Tony is heartbroken at the thought of giving up his phone and internet. And Kate...well, she likes the hikes, at least. As far as these four teens are concerned, it's just another boring summer.
Until one night, when Jesse and Noah witness a beloved counselor's murder. The body's gone by the next morning, but a blurry photo leads to one clue—the murderer is one of the camp's staff members!
But which one? As Jesse, Noah, Kate, and Tony investigate, they quickly discover that everyone's got their secrets...and one of them would kill to keep theirs hidden.
Deep in the Oregon wilderness sits Camp Bloom, a weight-loss camp where "overweight" teens can "get in shape." Jesse would rather be anywhere else, but her parents are forcing her to go. Noah isn't sure if he wants to be there, but it's too late to turn back. Tony is heartbroken at the thought of giving up his phone and internet. And Kate...well, she likes the hikes, at least. As far as these four teens are concerned, it's just another boring summer.
Until one night, when Jesse and Noah witness a beloved counselor's murder. The body's gone by the next morning, but a blurry photo leads to one clue—the murderer is one of the camp's staff members!
But which one? As Jesse, Noah, Kate, and Tony investigate, they quickly discover that everyone's got their secrets...and one of them would kill to keep theirs hidden.
176 pages, Paperback
First published April 25, 2018
8 people are currently reading
434 people want to read
About the author
Terry Blas
49 books36 followersTERRY BLAS is an illustrator and writer based in Portland, Oregon. He is the writer behind the auto-bio comics Ghetto Swirl and You Say Latino (featured on NPR, OPB, Vox.com and Cosmo.com.)
Terry’s work has appeared in comics Bravest Warriors, Regular Show, The Amazing World of Gumball, Adventure Time, and Rick and Morty.
His first graphic novel, Dead Weight: Murder at Camp Bloom, is a murder mystery set at a weight loss camp. Dead Weight has been named by YALSA as a 2019 Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Readers.
His latest graphic novel, Hotel Dare, a love letter to his childhood memories in Mexico, will be in stores June 2019.
Terry’s work has appeared in comics Bravest Warriors, Regular Show, The Amazing World of Gumball, Adventure Time, and Rick and Morty.
His first graphic novel, Dead Weight: Murder at Camp Bloom, is a murder mystery set at a weight loss camp. Dead Weight has been named by YALSA as a 2019 Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Readers.
His latest graphic novel, Hotel Dare, a love letter to his childhood memories in Mexico, will be in stores June 2019.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 174 reviews
August 10, 2019
All the stars! Dead Weight was so much fun and I enjoyed it tremendously. The art is beautiful and brightly colored, with a varied cast of characters that fit so many different representations. Of course, the book takes place at a weight loss camp, so many of our characters are plus-sized, but it's never depicted in a body-shaming manner in the slightest. There's also a ton of queer and POC rep, and everything's done so casually; despite having all of these different characters' personalities, identities, and appearances, the real focus is on the murder mystery and the friendships the kids form as they hunt down the killer.
September 4, 2018
Reading
Dead Weight
reminds me of
Nancy Drew
and the
Hardy Boys
because of the mystery and sleuthing theme. The story of the four teenagers in the Camp Bloom, a camp for those who have weight issues, is quite interesting to read and the "accidental" bond between these teens will make readers happy.
I wasn't expecting anything before I read this because based on the cover, I thought the story could be childish or too juvenile. But the expression, "Don't judge the book by its cover," strongly represents this graphic novel. So if you enjoy reading mystery and detective type of stories, Dead Weight is a great addition to your list.
I wasn't expecting anything before I read this because based on the cover, I thought the story could be childish or too juvenile. But the expression, "Don't judge the book by its cover," strongly represents this graphic novel. So if you enjoy reading mystery and detective type of stories, Dead Weight is a great addition to your list.
July 11, 2025
Imagine Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys put on some weight and get sent to fat camp. Four campers uncover a murder and determine they can't trust any of the counselors. Don't worry the fat camp junior detectives are on the case. A fun, all ages mystery that is inclusive and LGBTQ+. Maybe we'll see another case next summer.
March 23, 2018
4 stars.
Thank you so much, Netgalley, for sending me an ecopy of this graphic novel for review!
I went into this wary, because I was worried about the representation, but I'm excited to say that everything was handled pretty well! We have a bunch of fat characters, a few queer ones, and a few who are poc, and I loved how their story wasn't about what they identify as, considering they're investigating a murder.
Knocking off a star because I wish some of the characters were more fleshed out.
I found this to be wildly fun, fast paced, and funny. I hope to see this maybe eventually become a series, but I'm also happy with the potential ending.
Thank you so much, Netgalley, for sending me an ecopy of this graphic novel for review!
I went into this wary, because I was worried about the representation, but I'm excited to say that everything was handled pretty well! We have a bunch of fat characters, a few queer ones, and a few who are poc, and I loved how their story wasn't about what they identify as, considering they're investigating a murder.
Knocking off a star because I wish some of the characters were more fleshed out.
I found this to be wildly fun, fast paced, and funny. I hope to see this maybe eventually become a series, but I'm also happy with the potential ending.
March 19, 2018
I received a copy from Oni Press through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Four teenagers are dropped off at Camp Bloom, a weight-loss camp, and are hesitant for different reasons. One kid is torn up about being separated from technology while another is irritated that her family is sending her there to lose weight. It's just another boring summer when Jesse, one of the teenagers, sneaks off to eat candy and play games on her phone. She's followed by one of her peers because she dropped something and they both witness the murder of everyone's favorite counselor. Thanks to some blurry pictures taken on Jesse's phone, they learn that the killer is a member of the staff. With no adults to trust, they enlist two of their peers and begin to look for clues together.
This is such a fun murder mystery set at a weight loss camp. I wasn't sure what to expect when I read the synopsis and saw that the setting was a weight loss camp, but it was handled really well. The counselors seem supportive. One of the staff members is running a side business selling junk food. The campers are encourage to share their thoughts and such as well as join activities. It was realistic to see a character who wasn't overweight but was there because they viewed themselves as such and see the others reactions. I loved seeing the four main characters bond and become friends as they worked to solve the mystery.
It's such a heartwarming graphic novel that I wish it was around when I was a teenager. It's good to have stories like this around, especially for kids who can relate to the characters and need to see positive messages like this. It's fun, positive, and shows a variety of characters and how there's always something beyond the surface. I also love the art style, and I enjoyed seeing the concept art and how the panels were brought to life at the end. I look forward to check more work out like this in the future.
Four teenagers are dropped off at Camp Bloom, a weight-loss camp, and are hesitant for different reasons. One kid is torn up about being separated from technology while another is irritated that her family is sending her there to lose weight. It's just another boring summer when Jesse, one of the teenagers, sneaks off to eat candy and play games on her phone. She's followed by one of her peers because she dropped something and they both witness the murder of everyone's favorite counselor. Thanks to some blurry pictures taken on Jesse's phone, they learn that the killer is a member of the staff. With no adults to trust, they enlist two of their peers and begin to look for clues together.
This is such a fun murder mystery set at a weight loss camp. I wasn't sure what to expect when I read the synopsis and saw that the setting was a weight loss camp, but it was handled really well. The counselors seem supportive. One of the staff members is running a side business selling junk food. The campers are encourage to share their thoughts and such as well as join activities. It was realistic to see a character who wasn't overweight but was there because they viewed themselves as such and see the others reactions. I loved seeing the four main characters bond and become friends as they worked to solve the mystery.
It's such a heartwarming graphic novel that I wish it was around when I was a teenager. It's good to have stories like this around, especially for kids who can relate to the characters and need to see positive messages like this. It's fun, positive, and shows a variety of characters and how there's always something beyond the surface. I also love the art style, and I enjoyed seeing the concept art and how the panels were brought to life at the end. I look forward to check more work out like this in the future.
October 1, 2019
I read this to get in the mood for Halloween and it worked. It was the perfect mixture of spooky and cute drawings, exactly what I needed!
The group of main characters was very diverse and I really like their interactions and how they came together to solve the murder. I also really liked how the story was set in a summer camp because it's definitely something different. I didn't love the idea of it being a fat camp but that's just because it's something I personally don't like, not because it was fat shaming in any way. I especially liked how Jesse was happy in her own body, I loved her confidence and positivity.
If you're looking for a cute spooky graphic novel, you might want to check this out!
The group of main characters was very diverse and I really like their interactions and how they came together to solve the murder. I also really liked how the story was set in a summer camp because it's definitely something different. I didn't love the idea of it being a fat camp but that's just because it's something I personally don't like, not because it was fat shaming in any way. I especially liked how Jesse was happy in her own body, I loved her confidence and positivity.
If you're looking for a cute spooky graphic novel, you might want to check this out!
July 23, 2023
Dead Weight: Murder at Camp Bloom, is a hilarious story of a diverse group of young sleuths who band together to solve a murder, while at a weight-loss camp.
This story reads like a murder mystery, meshed with a slasher film.
It was camp, fast-paced, and the art was great as well... It was a good camping experience. Y'know— despite all the dead counselors littered around...
This story reads like a murder mystery, meshed with a slasher film.
It was camp, fast-paced, and the art was great as well... It was a good camping experience. Y'know— despite all the dead counselors littered around...
March 15, 2018
This review is also posted in my blog :
https://onewordtoomuch.wordpress.com/...
Thank you to Net Galley for a free copy of this book in trade for an honest review.
Well, this is sure is different from the other graphic novel I’ve ever read. It’s funny, mysterious, and makes you curious how 4 different teenager who don’t really like or know each other could solve this problem. There are at one point that those teenagers seem to be falling apart, but they become friends in the end. Their adventure is like the Famous Five, minus the dog.
The more reason to read this graphic novel:
• It’s set in a fat camp. The main characters are fat, but it’s a positive kind of fat. They have their own attitude and not afraid to show their color. I think it shows a positive massage: don’t let your body make people judge you, but who you are is more important. There are some references to LGBT as well.
• The story is intriguing. Somehow the plot is quite twisty too, with some false clues that leave the readers wandering, who’s the killer? Are we on the right track here?
• Illustration style – totally love it! I like the expression on each character and how they bear themselves. Each character facial expression really suits the story. Shock, contempt, fear, nervous, happy, sad is all pictured in a good comical way. Rarely that I found this kind of expression on a graphic novel. In the end of the book, there’s an extra part where the study of the characters is shown. I also like the bright coloring and the straight bold lines.
https://onewordtoomuch.wordpress.com/...
Thank you to Net Galley for a free copy of this book in trade for an honest review.
Well, this is sure is different from the other graphic novel I’ve ever read. It’s funny, mysterious, and makes you curious how 4 different teenager who don’t really like or know each other could solve this problem. There are at one point that those teenagers seem to be falling apart, but they become friends in the end. Their adventure is like the Famous Five, minus the dog.
The more reason to read this graphic novel:
• It’s set in a fat camp. The main characters are fat, but it’s a positive kind of fat. They have their own attitude and not afraid to show their color. I think it shows a positive massage: don’t let your body make people judge you, but who you are is more important. There are some references to LGBT as well.
• The story is intriguing. Somehow the plot is quite twisty too, with some false clues that leave the readers wandering, who’s the killer? Are we on the right track here?
• Illustration style – totally love it! I like the expression on each character and how they bear themselves. Each character facial expression really suits the story. Shock, contempt, fear, nervous, happy, sad is all pictured in a good comical way. Rarely that I found this kind of expression on a graphic novel. In the end of the book, there’s an extra part where the study of the characters is shown. I also like the bright coloring and the straight bold lines.
Recommend for those who love mystery and crime genre, graphic novel with good illustration and a good story with a twist at certain turn.
March 15, 2018
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley
This was a really fun little murder mystery with some great characters. I was somewhat worried about how they would handle the whole 'fat camp' thing, but I think that overall it was a really great setting and showed that there are many reasons people are fat and some of them might want to lose weight but some of them don't. If you like Lumberjanes then I think you will enjoy this title as well.
Also there was a really great panel that made me laugh, but I don't want to post it because it spoils who the murderer is. But anyway the kids were asking how the murderer dragged someone's body through the woods and they were like 'well they weigh a lot less now' and that just made me laugh because I always say 'if you're fat then you're harder to kidnap' and I guess that also applies to being dragged through the woods by a murderer lol
This was a really fun little murder mystery with some great characters. I was somewhat worried about how they would handle the whole 'fat camp' thing, but I think that overall it was a really great setting and showed that there are many reasons people are fat and some of them might want to lose weight but some of them don't. If you like Lumberjanes then I think you will enjoy this title as well.
Also there was a really great panel that made me laugh, but I don't want to post it because it spoils who the murderer is. But anyway the kids were asking how the murderer dragged someone's body through the woods and they were like 'well they weigh a lot less now' and that just made me laugh because I always say 'if you're fat then you're harder to kidnap' and I guess that also applies to being dragged through the woods by a murderer lol
April 10, 2018
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.
OMG, OMG, OMG, this was even better than I had hoped/dreamed it would be. I had heard about this one through twitter earlier, and I was already hyped. And then I spotted it on Netgalley.
Meet Jesse, Noah, Tony, and Kate. 4 teenagers stuck in fat camp. Yep, fat camp. But this year will be a whole lot more than losing weight, there is a murderer walking around, what is their plan, who is going to die next? These kids are going to solve it and find out who the murderer is!
I just love how the story was written. How directly from the start I had the feeling something was up. There are all sorts of hints thrown around even before the murder actually happens! I just adore that, sometimes books just go happy go lucky and then BOOM, murder. But now it was even more exciting as I was already trying to figure out the whodunnit from the start. :P
The four characters? I have to say Jesse was my absolute favourite (fashion girl, plus I just had a laugh how she had both her phone and candy hidden), followed by Noah (so shy and cute), Kate (what is up with this girl, she is hiding something and I love her strong attitude), Tony (addicted to the net + I just adore how hard he is trying to lose weight). I loved how these 4 got together and became very close very fast. How, even though they were scared as hell, they still went on to solve the mystery and who is doing all these things, and why!
I also liked that we find out more about the background of these characters. We find out something about each character, about how they got to be at the camp, how they got fat and how they feel about it.
Plus there is something else happening between two characters that just made me squeal in happiness.
The murders? The whodunnit? The mystery of why and how? It was terrific, and I did have some suspects, but in the end it wasn't until x scene that I knew who it should be, who the murderer was. So when another scene happened I was pretty much whispershouting (due to me being sick/throat hurting/lung infection) for our group to tackle that person and not fall for their tricks! Though I hadn't expected it to be because of that reason (or well, I hadn't expected those people to do x and y (and given the reaction of everyone, they also didn't expect it)). I could kind of understand the reasoning of the murder, it must have hurt that person a lot to find that out. :( Then again, that doesn't make murder OK to do. Murder is never OK. But I can imagine why that person spiralled out of control.
As you can see I am dodging expertly around all the topics, I just don't want to spoil anything, I want people to go into this one fresh without much information about everything. This book is just too awesome and I want people to experience the same feelings I had while I was reading.
The art is just perfect! I just adore how the artist(s) drew the characters, who, instead of so many other comics, don't look at all alike in their weight problems. You have chubby, fat, very much overweight, and everything in between. Plus I just love the designs of the characters, it fits so well with their personalities. And I love seeing the camp and the surrounding area.
The ending was both sad but also a happy one, and it also had me laughing when we found out that about Kate. :P
All in all, I could rave for a bit longer about this one, probably for hours. :P But I will just keep it at this and will recommend this book to everyone. Read this!
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
OMG, OMG, OMG, this was even better than I had hoped/dreamed it would be. I had heard about this one through twitter earlier, and I was already hyped. And then I spotted it on Netgalley.
Meet Jesse, Noah, Tony, and Kate. 4 teenagers stuck in fat camp. Yep, fat camp. But this year will be a whole lot more than losing weight, there is a murderer walking around, what is their plan, who is going to die next? These kids are going to solve it and find out who the murderer is!
I just love how the story was written. How directly from the start I had the feeling something was up. There are all sorts of hints thrown around even before the murder actually happens! I just adore that, sometimes books just go happy go lucky and then BOOM, murder. But now it was even more exciting as I was already trying to figure out the whodunnit from the start. :P
The four characters? I have to say Jesse was my absolute favourite (fashion girl, plus I just had a laugh how she had both her phone and candy hidden), followed by Noah (so shy and cute), Kate (what is up with this girl, she is hiding something and I love her strong attitude), Tony (addicted to the net + I just adore how hard he is trying to lose weight). I loved how these 4 got together and became very close very fast. How, even though they were scared as hell, they still went on to solve the mystery and who is doing all these things, and why!
I also liked that we find out more about the background of these characters. We find out something about each character, about how they got to be at the camp, how they got fat and how they feel about it.
Plus there is something else happening between two characters that just made me squeal in happiness.
The murders? The whodunnit? The mystery of why and how? It was terrific, and I did have some suspects, but in the end it wasn't until x scene that I knew who it should be, who the murderer was. So when another scene happened I was pretty much whispershouting (due to me being sick/throat hurting/lung infection) for our group to tackle that person and not fall for their tricks! Though I hadn't expected it to be because of that reason (or well, I hadn't expected those people to do x and y (and given the reaction of everyone, they also didn't expect it)). I could kind of understand the reasoning of the murder, it must have hurt that person a lot to find that out. :( Then again, that doesn't make murder OK to do. Murder is never OK. But I can imagine why that person spiralled out of control.
As you can see I am dodging expertly around all the topics, I just don't want to spoil anything, I want people to go into this one fresh without much information about everything. This book is just too awesome and I want people to experience the same feelings I had while I was reading.
The art is just perfect! I just adore how the artist(s) drew the characters, who, instead of so many other comics, don't look at all alike in their weight problems. You have chubby, fat, very much overweight, and everything in between. Plus I just love the designs of the characters, it fits so well with their personalities. And I love seeing the camp and the surrounding area.
The ending was both sad but also a happy one, and it also had me laughing when we found out that about Kate. :P
All in all, I could rave for a bit longer about this one, probably for hours. :P But I will just keep it at this and will recommend this book to everyone. Read this!
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
April 6, 2018
This is a cute enough murder mystery, set at a Fat Camp. The kids are diverse, which is a plus, plus there is LGBTQ representation included. And, as with any good mystery, there are lots of red herrings thrown in, to make you think you have figured out the mystery, including one that made it look like it might have been done by one of the teens that is trying to solve the murder.
Realistic, cute, funny, and not all the kids are obsessed with losing weight, such as the main character, Jesse, shown here.
And while I enjoyed reading how the mystery was solved, and I enjoyed all the kids, I didn't love it. It was good, but not great.
But, then, I might not be the target market.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
Realistic, cute, funny, and not all the kids are obsessed with losing weight, such as the main character, Jesse, shown here.
And while I enjoyed reading how the mystery was solved, and I enjoyed all the kids, I didn't love it. It was good, but not great.
But, then, I might not be the target market.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
May 1, 2018
This review also available on THE LITERARY HUNTRESS
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
This graphic novel was such a pleasant surprise! I expected a lot of fun based on the premise, but I didn’t expect to have this much fun, even loving it this much. It has a vivid artwork, intriguing mystery, but also a plot within. The characters are also well-developed and all in all, instead of weighing the story down, these elements work together really well to make this amazing graphic novels. Can’t wait for the next installment!
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
This graphic novel was such a pleasant surprise! I expected a lot of fun based on the premise, but I didn’t expect to have this much fun, even loving it this much. It has a vivid artwork, intriguing mystery, but also a plot within. The characters are also well-developed and all in all, instead of weighing the story down, these elements work together really well to make this amazing graphic novels. Can’t wait for the next installment!
April 16, 2018
Dead Weight is a unique, well-written and diverse graphic novel with a great mystery and awesome characters.
Camp Bloom is a weight-loss camp for teens in the Oregon wilderness. One night, Noah and Jesse witness the murder of a beloved counsellor by a masked murderer. However, the body soon disappears. But, thanks to Jesse’s hidden phone, a blurry picture reveals that the killer is one of the camp counsellors! Noah and Jesse recruit fellow campers Tony and Kate to help solve the mystery and they soon learn that everyone at Camp Bloom has something to hide.
The characters are well-written, relatable, and diverse. It’s wonderful to see black, Latina, and gay characters whose personalities aren’t centred around their differences or their weight. Moreover, the diversity is not forced but fits the characters and the storyline perfectly. Although the setting is a weight-loss camp, there is a lot of body positivity and it’s great to see characters whose body types are rarely represented.
My favourite is Jesse, the Latina fashionista who doesn’t want to be at weight-loss camp. Tech-loving Tony and outdoorsy Kate are also great characters. While I like shy and sweet Noah, he could have been better developed. I also would have liked some more development for the counsellors given how important they are in the narrative.
The mystery is interesting, well-paced, and fun. The book had me guessing until the end and the reveal is surprising and satisfying. The takedown of the murderer is hilarious.
The illustrations are simple but wonderful and nicely coloured. All fat people do not look the same and I love that the illustrator ensures that there are a range of bodies represented.
I was sceptical about the setting being a weight-loss camp but I like how everything turned out. Some characters want to lose weight for their own benefit, others question the need to change while some characters take a sad approach to their weight loss. The counsellors also seem genuinely interested in the well-being of their campers.
Dead Weight is an entertaining and diverse read. I absolutely loved it! I would definitely purchase this book. It’s a perfect read for all ages. It’s so unique and different and I wish there was a book like this when I was a teen. I really hope that the authors continue this series because I can’t wait to read more from this team!
Thank you to NetGalley and Oni Press for this book in exchange for an honest review.
Camp Bloom is a weight-loss camp for teens in the Oregon wilderness. One night, Noah and Jesse witness the murder of a beloved counsellor by a masked murderer. However, the body soon disappears. But, thanks to Jesse’s hidden phone, a blurry picture reveals that the killer is one of the camp counsellors! Noah and Jesse recruit fellow campers Tony and Kate to help solve the mystery and they soon learn that everyone at Camp Bloom has something to hide.
The characters are well-written, relatable, and diverse. It’s wonderful to see black, Latina, and gay characters whose personalities aren’t centred around their differences or their weight. Moreover, the diversity is not forced but fits the characters and the storyline perfectly. Although the setting is a weight-loss camp, there is a lot of body positivity and it’s great to see characters whose body types are rarely represented.
My favourite is Jesse, the Latina fashionista who doesn’t want to be at weight-loss camp. Tech-loving Tony and outdoorsy Kate are also great characters. While I like shy and sweet Noah, he could have been better developed. I also would have liked some more development for the counsellors given how important they are in the narrative.
The mystery is interesting, well-paced, and fun. The book had me guessing until the end and the reveal is surprising and satisfying. The takedown of the murderer is hilarious.
The illustrations are simple but wonderful and nicely coloured. All fat people do not look the same and I love that the illustrator ensures that there are a range of bodies represented.
I was sceptical about the setting being a weight-loss camp but I like how everything turned out. Some characters want to lose weight for their own benefit, others question the need to change while some characters take a sad approach to their weight loss. The counsellors also seem genuinely interested in the well-being of their campers.
Dead Weight is an entertaining and diverse read. I absolutely loved it! I would definitely purchase this book. It’s a perfect read for all ages. It’s so unique and different and I wish there was a book like this when I was a teen. I really hope that the authors continue this series because I can’t wait to read more from this team!
Thank you to NetGalley and Oni Press for this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 10, 2018
*thank you to Netgalley and Oni Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review*
4 stars.
This was better than I had expected. But saying that Im not really sure what I was expecting, but it was a really enjoyable middle grade read. I liked the artwork. It was kinda simple but detailed enough, the colours were just right and most importantly, the artwork matched the story. For me thats a huge deciding factor in if I will enjoy the graphic novel or not. Another positive is that some of the characters were gay, which I think is great for a middle grade book. I'm so crossing my fingers that there will be a sequel, the end left it open for one so I'm hoping. The idea of teens going to a fat camp and having it turn into a murder scene isnt what you would normally expect for summer vacation. But 4 teens get together to try and work out who the killer was after 2 of them accidently witness the murder. It's a fun read for all ages and I would recommend it.
4 stars.
This was better than I had expected. But saying that Im not really sure what I was expecting, but it was a really enjoyable middle grade read. I liked the artwork. It was kinda simple but detailed enough, the colours were just right and most importantly, the artwork matched the story. For me thats a huge deciding factor in if I will enjoy the graphic novel or not. Another positive is that some of the characters were gay, which I think is great for a middle grade book. I'm so crossing my fingers that there will be a sequel, the end left it open for one so I'm hoping. The idea of teens going to a fat camp and having it turn into a murder scene isnt what you would normally expect for summer vacation. But 4 teens get together to try and work out who the killer was after 2 of them accidently witness the murder. It's a fun read for all ages and I would recommend it.
April 4, 2018
I laughed my way through this whole book. Set at a summer fat camp, a group of teens play detective while trying to solve the mystery of who murdered one of the camp counselors. The loved the four main characters the most, but some of the background characters where amusing as well. My favorite part of all would have to be the stunning illustrations. The colors were vibrant and layered, tying it all together perfectly. I cant wait to see what else this author and illustrator will do... maybe another volume in the series? Here's to hoping.
I received this from #NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I received this from #NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
June 16, 2024
Great art work. Interesting story. Relatable characters.
February 11, 2018
Dawn of a New Day?
This is a teenage, sleuth-squad, summer camp, mystery adventure. Just like they've been writing since Pee-Wee Harris was a Boy Scout in 1922. But, I'm pretty sure I don't remember Pee-Wee sharing adventures with Black, Latino, and gay/lesbian companions. As I say, dawn of a new day. Fine by me.
The main appeal here is that the emphasis is on the forming of a friendship among four new campers who have to, (and want to), work together to solve a murder they witnessed at their fat camp. They just are who they are and none of that figures in the plot or even much as a matter of background. The four kids have distinct personalities, and they have to make an effort to mesh to form a functioning team, but none of the kids are used as symbols or signifiers for any particular agenda. They are just a mixed bag of regular kids.
So, as it should be, the question becomes - are these kids worth following and is the mystery decent? I thought the answers to both questions are "yes". The setup is that the kids are at a summer fat camp. There are about a hundred campers and about nine staff members. Our four future heroes don't really know each other until circumstances force them together. Two of the kids happen to witness a murder in the camp woods. They get some grainy phone camera photos. The next day a counselor is missing, but there's no body and no one suspects anything is out of place. The two kids turn to a third kid who's sort of techy geek to check out the photos and a fourth kid who is woodsy enough to try to find clues at the forest crime scene. There's our team. For various reasons each wants to solve the crime and so they start to work together. The rest is clue following, lurking, spying, and investigating. There's a socko and satisfying action finish that wraps everything up.
The bottom line is that all four kids ended up being engaging, and each took a step closer to finding his or her hero within. The mystery was fair enough for this sort of book, with decent suspects, motives, and clues. The drawings were crisp, if a bit on the cartoony side, and well colored and rendered. Of importance to me, it was always clear which character was which, and the drawings were expressive and crisp so the action was always clear. I thought this was a fine and entertaining middle grade mystery with good pacing and energy and a gungho sort of vibe. A nice find.
(Please note that I received a free advance will-self-destruct-in-x-days Adobe Digital copy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
This is a teenage, sleuth-squad, summer camp, mystery adventure. Just like they've been writing since Pee-Wee Harris was a Boy Scout in 1922. But, I'm pretty sure I don't remember Pee-Wee sharing adventures with Black, Latino, and gay/lesbian companions. As I say, dawn of a new day. Fine by me.
The main appeal here is that the emphasis is on the forming of a friendship among four new campers who have to, (and want to), work together to solve a murder they witnessed at their fat camp. They just are who they are and none of that figures in the plot or even much as a matter of background. The four kids have distinct personalities, and they have to make an effort to mesh to form a functioning team, but none of the kids are used as symbols or signifiers for any particular agenda. They are just a mixed bag of regular kids.
So, as it should be, the question becomes - are these kids worth following and is the mystery decent? I thought the answers to both questions are "yes". The setup is that the kids are at a summer fat camp. There are about a hundred campers and about nine staff members. Our four future heroes don't really know each other until circumstances force them together. Two of the kids happen to witness a murder in the camp woods. They get some grainy phone camera photos. The next day a counselor is missing, but there's no body and no one suspects anything is out of place. The two kids turn to a third kid who's sort of techy geek to check out the photos and a fourth kid who is woodsy enough to try to find clues at the forest crime scene. There's our team. For various reasons each wants to solve the crime and so they start to work together. The rest is clue following, lurking, spying, and investigating. There's a socko and satisfying action finish that wraps everything up.
The bottom line is that all four kids ended up being engaging, and each took a step closer to finding his or her hero within. The mystery was fair enough for this sort of book, with decent suspects, motives, and clues. The drawings were crisp, if a bit on the cartoony side, and well colored and rendered. Of importance to me, it was always clear which character was which, and the drawings were expressive and crisp so the action was always clear. I thought this was a fine and entertaining middle grade mystery with good pacing and energy and a gungho sort of vibe. A nice find.
(Please note that I received a free advance will-self-destruct-in-x-days Adobe Digital copy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
February 19, 2018
The characters in this graphic novel were well developed given the short length. The mystery aspect played out nicely moving the plot along at a good pace. Fans of the cozy mystery genre would enjoy this. The art style was clear and beautifully done. So much diversity in this story! As a plus size lady I enjoyed the fat camp aspect and the body positivity showed. I want more graphic novels like this! *ARC provided by NetGalley.
June 3, 2024
3.5 stars
A solid standalone graphic novel. A bunch of teens at a weight-loss camp (some willingly, some not) are making the best of their summer when they find a popular counselor murdered. Suspecting the culprit is among the staff and deciding they can't trust anyone, they band together, hoping to solve the murder before anyone else is killed.
This was, simply, good. It stands alone--no need to read anything else, and the story wraps up in one volume--and the art is bright and expressive. Despite the setting, there's little to no body-shaming; in fact, I found myself wondering why it was set at a weight-loss camp specifically because it would have worked the same, and you could keep all the same characters, at a generic summer camp. The changes would have been minimal and (mild non-murder spoilers) .
Don't get me wrong, I'm glad that with a setting and topic that could very easily go sideways into shaming and being handled badly that it didn't do that, but that makes the choice stand out and it's weird. Part of me spent the entire reading process waiting for something to happen/go wrong/be handled badly/be actually relevant to its specific setting, which just isn't a fun way to read a book.
A solid standalone graphic novel. A bunch of teens at a weight-loss camp (some willingly, some not) are making the best of their summer when they find a popular counselor murdered. Suspecting the culprit is among the staff and deciding they can't trust anyone, they band together, hoping to solve the murder before anyone else is killed.
This was, simply, good. It stands alone--no need to read anything else, and the story wraps up in one volume--and the art is bright and expressive. Despite the setting, there's little to no body-shaming; in fact, I found myself wondering why it was set at a weight-loss camp specifically because it would have worked the same, and you could keep all the same characters, at a generic summer camp. The changes would have been minimal and (mild non-murder spoilers) .
Don't get me wrong, I'm glad that with a setting and topic that could very easily go sideways into shaming and being handled badly that it didn't do that, but that makes the choice stand out and it's weird. Part of me spent the entire reading process waiting for something to happen/go wrong/be handled badly/be actually relevant to its specific setting, which just isn't a fun way to read a book.
September 27, 2018
In this age of body positivity, I expected this to be a fresh take on the traditional sad fat kid story. Sadly, it wasn't. Weight loss for "health reasons" was still promoted as an acceptable thing, and the idea of a fat camp wasn't really portrayed as anything bad.
I also thought the mystery was a little too "aha, big reveal!" I read a lot of mysteries and this one was just okay. It makes me sad that I didn't really like it bc I've met Terry Blas and they seem like a really nice person, and I think the characters had a lot of potential, it just missed the mark for me.
I also thought the mystery was a little too "aha, big reveal!" I read a lot of mysteries and this one was just okay. It makes me sad that I didn't really like it bc I've met Terry Blas and they seem like a really nice person, and I think the characters had a lot of potential, it just missed the mark for me.
July 15, 2024
⚠️This review has been edited, you will be reading a finalized copy of my review, some sentences may have been changed⚠️
☆ ☆ ☆ 3.5 stars= that’s pretty good, I might recommend it to you, but I probably won’t be thinking about it again
A nice graphic novel, with a murder mystery, fast paste and fun! I think from the start I was able to guess the ending. I think like must graphic novels I have read that it would be better for elementary schoolers.
Decimal:
Nothing changes with the decimal there, It just means I like it a bit better than a 3 star book!
☆ ☆ ☆ 3.5 stars= that’s pretty good, I might recommend it to you, but I probably won’t be thinking about it again
A nice graphic novel, with a murder mystery, fast paste and fun! I think from the start I was able to guess the ending. I think like must graphic novels I have read that it would be better for elementary schoolers.
Decimal:
Nothing changes with the decimal there, It just means I like it a bit better than a 3 star book!
February 16, 2018
As the title suggests, a murder takes place at a fat camp for kids.
As always, the first part is taken up with character introductions, though some of them aren’t all that well done. I thought Gwen would be my early favorite, despite the fact I usually don’t like nurses, but she turned out to be a disappointment for a number of reasons, especially the smoking. And she’s not very smart either, considering she’s always doing things she shouldn’t right where the kids can see her. Hello? You’ve got forest all around you! In the end I liked the outdoorsy girl most of all, but wow, that was a gory murder scene, especially for a graphic aimed at kids.
This is actually well plotted, and well done, more logical than most police procedurals. If I had been able to tell all the camp counselors apart—too many of them to keep track—I might have solved the murder myself. In retrospect, the clues were there, which is more than you can say for most mystery novels nowadays. On the other hand, “talking villain syndrome” strikes hard.
“Trying to get back to my birth weight.” Okay, that was funny.
There’s plenty of extras. I particularly enjoyed the story of how it all came about. Knew one of the writers had to be a mystery fan, and thankfully she read the right ones, considering what she said about plot. Also well done is the description of the final coloring process, explaining the lighting coming from the fire.
“Well done, yearbook staff.” Even the creator bios are fun.
As always, the first part is taken up with character introductions, though some of them aren’t all that well done. I thought Gwen would be my early favorite, despite the fact I usually don’t like nurses, but she turned out to be a disappointment for a number of reasons, especially the smoking. And she’s not very smart either, considering she’s always doing things she shouldn’t right where the kids can see her. Hello? You’ve got forest all around you! In the end I liked the outdoorsy girl most of all, but wow, that was a gory murder scene, especially for a graphic aimed at kids.
This is actually well plotted, and well done, more logical than most police procedurals. If I had been able to tell all the camp counselors apart—too many of them to keep track—I might have solved the murder myself. In retrospect, the clues were there, which is more than you can say for most mystery novels nowadays. On the other hand, “talking villain syndrome” strikes hard.
“Trying to get back to my birth weight.” Okay, that was funny.
There’s plenty of extras. I particularly enjoyed the story of how it all came about. Knew one of the writers had to be a mystery fan, and thankfully she read the right ones, considering what she said about plot. Also well done is the description of the final coloring process, explaining the lighting coming from the fire.
“Well done, yearbook staff.” Even the creator bios are fun.
April 16, 2018
Thanks to Oni Press and NetGalley for my free copy!
My review of Dead Weight, Murder at Camp Bloom By Terry Blas, Molly Muldoon and Matthew Seely.
Murder at fat camp! We follow teens, Jesse, Noah, Kate and Tony around for what seem's too short amount of time. Who are they looking for? The killer! Eye witness to their camp Counselors death, they are on the case.
Let me back up for a second, I need to add that, some of the characters are either Gay or Lesbian! Why do I need to back up and make sure you know that? BECAUSE! I love the fact that Oni Press is raising the bar, yes we have read and seen many Gay characters in books, but this is by far my favorite, so I wanted to share it. :)
And so begins a daring game of Who done it?! Checking off Camp Counselors one by one, we follow this amazing group of kids around a fat camp. I really loved this book! I loved that the characters are on the big side ( I myself am proudly a big girl). The story line is funny and it literally kept me laughing at each joke and dry sense of humor. The book is funny, mysterious and keeps you on your toes. I really enjoyed it and hope Oni Press makes a second book!
Our review is 5/5 stars!!! We couldn't get enough of this Graphic Novel! The illustrations are great, characters are awesome! Give it a read!
My review of Dead Weight, Murder at Camp Bloom By Terry Blas, Molly Muldoon and Matthew Seely.
Murder at fat camp! We follow teens, Jesse, Noah, Kate and Tony around for what seem's too short amount of time. Who are they looking for? The killer! Eye witness to their camp Counselors death, they are on the case.
Let me back up for a second, I need to add that, some of the characters are either Gay or Lesbian! Why do I need to back up and make sure you know that? BECAUSE! I love the fact that Oni Press is raising the bar, yes we have read and seen many Gay characters in books, but this is by far my favorite, so I wanted to share it. :)
And so begins a daring game of Who done it?! Checking off Camp Counselors one by one, we follow this amazing group of kids around a fat camp. I really loved this book! I loved that the characters are on the big side ( I myself am proudly a big girl). The story line is funny and it literally kept me laughing at each joke and dry sense of humor. The book is funny, mysterious and keeps you on your toes. I really enjoyed it and hope Oni Press makes a second book!
Our review is 5/5 stars!!! We couldn't get enough of this Graphic Novel! The illustrations are great, characters are awesome! Give it a read!
April 23, 2018
I was looking for something fun to read and I chose this graphic novel because I was intrigued by the drawings and the title. As I expected this comic book is actually fun to read thanks to its dose of black humor (we’re talking about murder here). Obviously, the thing I appreciated the most is the body positivity that is a very relevant topic, even more nowadays, in a historic period in which everyone talks about body shaming without really knowing what body shaming actually is. The diversity is what makes this book really interesting and I’m not only talking about the huge presence of different ethnic and sexual orientations, but also social status. On the campus people became friends despite how rich or popular they are: they’re all on the same level there, and that’s a truly important message for the younger people (and not only) that live in a society based on appearance (and honestly, I feel kind of sad every time I find myself thinking that it’s still important to remind people that we all have value for who we are, and not for what we have or what we like or how we look). Anyway “Dead Weight” is a nice book, a short and funny story with very nice drawings and a variety of funny characters that will make you smile.
February 14, 2018
Dead Weight: Murder at Camp Bloom is a fun (as fun as murder can be) romp through a murder mystery with teens at the helm of solving it. The story takes place at Camp Bloom, a weight loss camp for teens. Some of the campers know each other and are familiar with the place, but others are new. Four of the characters make fast friends, especially when a couple of them witness one of the counselors getting murdered. But that's not all--as the group starts to put the clues together, even more mystery and mayhem emerge.
This was a great cozy mystery in comic book form. The only part about it that was a little muddled for me was that three male characters that become central to the murder mystery are a bit indistinguishable from each other, not because they look alike, but because they aren't in many pages before they appear as an important part of the story overall.
I would love to see more stories from these teens. They could probably find a lot of trouble to get into...
*Book provided by NetGalley
This was a great cozy mystery in comic book form. The only part about it that was a little muddled for me was that three male characters that become central to the murder mystery are a bit indistinguishable from each other, not because they look alike, but because they aren't in many pages before they appear as an important part of the story overall.
I would love to see more stories from these teens. They could probably find a lot of trouble to get into...
*Book provided by NetGalley
February 15, 2018
What a great start to, what I hope becomes, a great series. The group of friends in here is the perfect blend of misfits. The authors do a great job of providing enough detail so that you understand enough of the character to build a version in your mind that will stick with you after the story ends. The artwork I'd also the perfect fit. While this is definitely a kids series, I would probably recommend it to kids who are a little bit older, possibly preteen, depending on the child. The reason for this is that there is murder involved and, at least in one case, the children don't always handle it well. This would be better understood by older children generally but it really does depend on the child. Overall, a very cute and quirky mystery graphic novel for kids that anyone could enjoy.
I would like to thank the publisher, authors, and Netgalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
I would like to thank the publisher, authors, and Netgalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 5, 2018
***I received a free copy of this title in exchange for my honest opinion.*** For fans of Lumberjanes and Nimona comes this standalone comic about a diverse group of “fat camp” attendees who witness a murder, only to have the body disappear and a faked note saying the counselor had in fact gone home in a hurry. To find justice for their murdered camp counselor and prove what they are capable of, the group pulls together to solve the crime, even as more counselors start dying. I loved the art and the characters. The mystery was fairly classic, with clues sprinkled throughout the beginning and plenty of red herrings to keep readers guessing. Beyond a simple murder mystery, diverse issues such as obesity, homosexuality and effect of your culture and ethnicity on your lifestyle are discussed, without them veering into “diversity for diversity’s sake” territory.
March 13, 2018
Wasn’t quite sure what I was expecting from this book. At first I thought this was geared toward a younger audience, but after the first couple pages, I realized this was more of a teen / adult comic. This was a little bit of a blend of Scooby Doo plus Nancy Drew goes to fat camp.
The book centers around four kids who find themselves having witnessed a murder at their fat camp. They need to figure out who did it and learn to trust each other in the process. The demographics of the children are widely diverse, ranging from Latino to homosexual to your standard white boy. The pace of the story is good and even though there aren’t that many of possible suspects, the mystery aspect of the story isn’t bad.
The artwork was well done and fit the theme of a “campy” story perfectly.
Again, wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I picked this up, but was very pleasantly surprised.
Thank you NetGalley and publisher, Oni Press, for the opportunity to read this ARC.
The book centers around four kids who find themselves having witnessed a murder at their fat camp. They need to figure out who did it and learn to trust each other in the process. The demographics of the children are widely diverse, ranging from Latino to homosexual to your standard white boy. The pace of the story is good and even though there aren’t that many of possible suspects, the mystery aspect of the story isn’t bad.
The artwork was well done and fit the theme of a “campy” story perfectly.
Again, wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I picked this up, but was very pleasantly surprised.
Thank you NetGalley and publisher, Oni Press, for the opportunity to read this ARC.
February 17, 2018
Dead Weight is a mystery as much as a graphic novel. A murderer is at fat camp. Four campers team up to solve a murder when they stumble on a counselor's body. I love the art in this graphic novel. The diverse group of campers are drawn so well that each personality comes alive with the art alone, reminding me a little bit of Gravity Falls and Lumber Janes. I noticed as I was reading that I had distinctive voices decided for each character in my head all shaped from the artist's depiction. The mystery behind the story is good and keeps you guessing. One of the most enjoyable non-superhero comics I have ever read. I have my fingers crossed for a long run on the series. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from Netgalley.
March 16, 2019
I mean, a murder mystery set in Oregon wilderness with a diverse cast of characters and super colorful art? Yeah, this was bound to be something I would enjoy.
Dead Weight takes place at a weight loss camp and is is a quick romp featuring horrible camp counselors and a cast of Mystery Machine POC that are determined to figure out the end to a camp version of Clue.
There were a few side characters outside of the main gang that I had hoped would be more developed once introduced, but all the more reason for more stories in the future!
Dead Weight takes place at a weight loss camp and is is a quick romp featuring horrible camp counselors and a cast of Mystery Machine POC that are determined to figure out the end to a camp version of Clue.
There were a few side characters outside of the main gang that I had hoped would be more developed once introduced, but all the more reason for more stories in the future!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 174 reviews