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The Camino Club
After getting in trouble with the law, six wayward teens are given an ultimatum: serve time in juvenile detention for their crimes, or walk the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route across Spain over the summer holidays with a pair of court appointed counselor/guides. When it becomes clear the long walk isn't really all that much of an option, they set out on a journey that will either make or break who they are and who they are to become.
292 pages, Paperback
First published October 5, 2020
7 people are currently reading
1519 people want to read
About the author
Kevin Craig
24 books237 followersKevin is the author of eight novels: SUMMER ON FIRE (MuseItUp Publishing, 2011),SEBASTIAN'S POET (Musa Publishing, 2012), THE REASONS (Musa Publishing, 2013), BURN BABY BURN BABY (Curiosity Quills Press, 2014), HALF DEAD AND FULLY BROKEN (Curiosity Quills Press, 2015), PRIDE MUST BE A PLACE (MuseItUp Publishing, 2018), THE CAMINO CLUB (Duet Press/Interlude Press, 2020), and BOOK OF DREAMS (Duet Press/Chicago Review Press, 2022).
Kevin is a 6-time winner of the Muskoka Novel Marathon’s Best Novel Award. They are also a passionate and accomplished playwright. They've had twelve plays produced.
Kevin is a 6-time winner of the Muskoka Novel Marathon’s Best Novel Award. They are also a passionate and accomplished playwright. They've had twelve plays produced.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
November 1, 2020
A fast paced read. Three POV’s, easy to tell apart. Likable characters. Diversity in color and sexuality. This is a book I stumbled upon on NetGalley and just wanted to try. Because the premise seemed really interesting. Six Canadian teens who walk the Camino de Santiago in Spain instead of going to juvie for the crimes they committed.
From the start this story got my attention. The writing is direct and blunt with a lot of dialogue and banter in it. Although some of the teens seem surly at first, they are all likable. Despite their differences they bond, even with their counselors/guides Gil and Meagan and fellow walkers Bastien and Kei who they meet, walking the Camino. I really liked Bastien, the way he helped Diego and stayed with the group. And the other way round, six teens who bond so strongly with a seventy-four-year old man. The few references to ‘The Breakfast Club’ were great.
The scenery is beautifully showed but somehow I missed some depth at times. I could have done with a little less description and a little more inside to the teen’s characters, who they really were and why they did what they did. The blunt and direct writing is the style I like most. I have one issue though that could have been solved by editing the story better. The author uses the words see and hear a lot and they pulled me out of the story over and over. It might be a minor detail because the pages flew by and the story never got boring. But still.
Overall it’s a really nice book that I’d like to recommend if you like different POV’s, a beautiful scenery and diverse characters that grow during the story.
3,5 stars, rounded up to 4.
I received an ARC from Interlude Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
From the start this story got my attention. The writing is direct and blunt with a lot of dialogue and banter in it. Although some of the teens seem surly at first, they are all likable. Despite their differences they bond, even with their counselors/guides Gil and Meagan and fellow walkers Bastien and Kei who they meet, walking the Camino. I really liked Bastien, the way he helped Diego and stayed with the group. And the other way round, six teens who bond so strongly with a seventy-four-year old man. The few references to ‘The Breakfast Club’ were great.
The scenery is beautifully showed but somehow I missed some depth at times. I could have done with a little less description and a little more inside to the teen’s characters, who they really were and why they did what they did. The blunt and direct writing is the style I like most. I have one issue though that could have been solved by editing the story better. The author uses the words see and hear a lot and they pulled me out of the story over and over. It might be a minor detail because the pages flew by and the story never got boring. But still.
Overall it’s a really nice book that I’d like to recommend if you like different POV’s, a beautiful scenery and diverse characters that grow during the story.
3,5 stars, rounded up to 4.
I received an ARC from Interlude Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 30, 2020
This is one of those times that you should judge a book by its cover because what unfolds in the pages is as beautiful as the artwork you see above! Kevin Craig has crafted a story of epic proportions that still manages to focus down on the most important things in life.
Diego, Manny, Shania, Claire, Greg, and Troy have all found themselves in trouble. They've also all been given the opportunity of a lifetime.. forego any official punishment and walk the Camino de Santiago with court-appointed chaperones. The teens have mixed reactions to beginning such a trek. Reactions vary from thinking it's the adventure of a lifetime to plotting an escape.
The teens or "pilgrims" begin their pilgrimage in Ponferadda, Spain - uncertain of themselves, leary of each other, and annoyed by their chipper counselor/guides. They must hike, meet as a group to debrief and bond, and keep an active journal.
This book is told through a few narrators and in a couple of different ways. Sometimes, the reader is treated to the mandatory journal entries that some of the pilgrims are writing. I loved the entries, as they gave me a chance to settle back into the mind of the character when there was a switch of POV. The journals also gave a kind of back-stage pass to some of the things that the teens were going through. Each of the characters has a very distinct voice and different energy so I found it easy to stick with each story.
There's a lot going on for the characters in this novel but the story doesn't ever escape Kevin Craig. They are a marvelous author and it's clear from the beginning of The Camino Club that they have a love both the trail and the characters they have created. It was an absolute delight to watch the growth and challenges that each character faced. The descriptions of the trail, the buildings, and the people the pilgrims meet on their journey are intriguing and delightful; it was almost possible to imagine I was walking along with them.
I was really thrilled to see that the characters displayed a wide range of emotions in the book. I find, sometimes, that YA characters seem almost stereotypical. I would definitely argue that's not the case of Craig's characters. Each of the teens is surprising in some way... perhaps they may seem "typical" on the surface but as they travel it's made clear that there is a lot going on for each of them.
They face some very real and timely issues as they walk together. For instance, Troy is teased about being gay... he's fine with it at first and then realizes that it has crossed over to the "meanness" that's he's come to associate with bullying. As hurt as he is by the words... he finds the courage to speak up about it. I loved that the teens in the story were often the ones who were having very real conversations with each other about what was and wasn't okay.
Ultimately, I would say this book is about finding your tribe as you find out more about who you are. There are losses along the way, bonds are forged and broken. Like the film The Breakfast Club which the characters discuss a few times, these teens will stay with you.
Diego, Manny, Shania, Claire, Greg, and Troy have all found themselves in trouble. They've also all been given the opportunity of a lifetime.. forego any official punishment and walk the Camino de Santiago with court-appointed chaperones. The teens have mixed reactions to beginning such a trek. Reactions vary from thinking it's the adventure of a lifetime to plotting an escape.
The teens or "pilgrims" begin their pilgrimage in Ponferadda, Spain - uncertain of themselves, leary of each other, and annoyed by their chipper counselor/guides. They must hike, meet as a group to debrief and bond, and keep an active journal.
This book is told through a few narrators and in a couple of different ways. Sometimes, the reader is treated to the mandatory journal entries that some of the pilgrims are writing. I loved the entries, as they gave me a chance to settle back into the mind of the character when there was a switch of POV. The journals also gave a kind of back-stage pass to some of the things that the teens were going through. Each of the characters has a very distinct voice and different energy so I found it easy to stick with each story.
There's a lot going on for the characters in this novel but the story doesn't ever escape Kevin Craig. They are a marvelous author and it's clear from the beginning of The Camino Club that they have a love both the trail and the characters they have created. It was an absolute delight to watch the growth and challenges that each character faced. The descriptions of the trail, the buildings, and the people the pilgrims meet on their journey are intriguing and delightful; it was almost possible to imagine I was walking along with them.
I was really thrilled to see that the characters displayed a wide range of emotions in the book. I find, sometimes, that YA characters seem almost stereotypical. I would definitely argue that's not the case of Craig's characters. Each of the teens is surprising in some way... perhaps they may seem "typical" on the surface but as they travel it's made clear that there is a lot going on for each of them.
They face some very real and timely issues as they walk together. For instance, Troy is teased about being gay... he's fine with it at first and then realizes that it has crossed over to the "meanness" that's he's come to associate with bullying. As hurt as he is by the words... he finds the courage to speak up about it. I loved that the teens in the story were often the ones who were having very real conversations with each other about what was and wasn't okay.
Ultimately, I would say this book is about finding your tribe as you find out more about who you are. There are losses along the way, bonds are forged and broken. Like the film The Breakfast Club which the characters discuss a few times, these teens will stay with you.
October 12, 2022
A group of not-quite juvenile delinquents sets off on a life-changing hike across Spain. The kids are all beautifully delineated, each facing the challenges--those of the walk and those that wait for them back home--in their own unique way.
c.t.h.
c.t.h.
July 12, 2020
There are books that you really want to like, and there are books that really want you to like them. The Camino Club falls somewhere in between those two categories.
The Camino Club-- cleverly named for the other famous delinquent group, The Breakfast Club-- follows the story of three teenagers who’ve been given the choice to go to either juvie or figure out their lives on a pilgrimage in the mountains of Spain. Along the way they have to self-reflect on what brought them to this point, while juggling the friendships and relationships they make amongst each other.
The positives in the book-- and there are quite a few!-- is in its unflinching portrayal of teens on the brink. Diego, Shania, and Troy are very different, but they’re each at a crossroads in life in between going the right and wrong path. The book delves into how circumstance-- race, sexuality, economic status-- affects a developing mind and the pressures that each category can affect you.
The writing was very direct. It’s not flowery or particularly lyrical, but very present in how it portrays the unfolding events.
The characters were engaging as well! You could feel Diego’s pain in letting his mother down in the beginning. His need to prove himself as someone worthy of love. You can feel Troy’s embarrassment during the homophobic teasing even as he snaps back.
Where I think the book stumbles a bit is in its need to be so relatable, that it cements itself into stereotype. The three main characters; the angry son of a single mother, the campy gay boy trying to find himself, and the angry little rich girl. They’re characters that we have seen before and even in all of them trying to find themselves along the Camino trail, they never really move beyond their appointed stereotype. The writer also tries to pack a lot of witty, commentary into each character’s point of view. While they certainly remain distinct characters, it becomes overloaded with pandering jokes; “ha ha poor rich girl” and “ha ha get a load of that nerdy chaperone.”
I liked this book and I think that other people may find themselves between the pages.
3/5
** Thank You to NetGalley for this Advanced Copy in exchange for an honest review.
Instagram post (live on 7/18): https://www.instagram.com/chillwithji...
Blog Post (live on 7/18): www.chill-with-jill.com
The Camino Club-- cleverly named for the other famous delinquent group, The Breakfast Club-- follows the story of three teenagers who’ve been given the choice to go to either juvie or figure out their lives on a pilgrimage in the mountains of Spain. Along the way they have to self-reflect on what brought them to this point, while juggling the friendships and relationships they make amongst each other.
The positives in the book-- and there are quite a few!-- is in its unflinching portrayal of teens on the brink. Diego, Shania, and Troy are very different, but they’re each at a crossroads in life in between going the right and wrong path. The book delves into how circumstance-- race, sexuality, economic status-- affects a developing mind and the pressures that each category can affect you.
The writing was very direct. It’s not flowery or particularly lyrical, but very present in how it portrays the unfolding events.
The characters were engaging as well! You could feel Diego’s pain in letting his mother down in the beginning. His need to prove himself as someone worthy of love. You can feel Troy’s embarrassment during the homophobic teasing even as he snaps back.
Where I think the book stumbles a bit is in its need to be so relatable, that it cements itself into stereotype. The three main characters; the angry son of a single mother, the campy gay boy trying to find himself, and the angry little rich girl. They’re characters that we have seen before and even in all of them trying to find themselves along the Camino trail, they never really move beyond their appointed stereotype. The writer also tries to pack a lot of witty, commentary into each character’s point of view. While they certainly remain distinct characters, it becomes overloaded with pandering jokes; “ha ha poor rich girl” and “ha ha get a load of that nerdy chaperone.”
I liked this book and I think that other people may find themselves between the pages.
3/5
** Thank You to NetGalley for this Advanced Copy in exchange for an honest review.
Instagram post (live on 7/18): https://www.instagram.com/chillwithji...
Blog Post (live on 7/18): www.chill-with-jill.com
February 20, 2021
I read a lot of YA as a teacher and I know, for certain, that students will love this novel. Even for struggling readers, the multiple narrators and characters will allow the readers to see a little of themselves as they follow this tale of redemption, and learn that the way they are seen doesn5 have to define who they are.
March 1, 2024
The Walk Youth Diversion Program owns my ass, and there isn’t a damn thing I can do about it. If your one and only slipup is a big one, your leverage gets taken away from you. Juvenile detention or The Walk.
Lo único que Diego, Troy, Manny, Shania, Claire y Greg tienen en común es que cometieron delitos y se les dio la oportunidad de redimirse haciendo la peregrinación a Santiago de Compostela, en vez de ir a la correccional juvenil. Ahora lejos de su natal Canadá, los seis deben encontrar la fuerza interior que les permita aprovechar esta oportunidad para un mejor futuro.
Con múltiples referencias a la película "The Breakfast Club", la trama abarca a tres narradores muy distintivos que poco a poco van mostrando la personalidad de los seis y las dinámicas que se forman entre todos durante la larga caminata, que empieza como penitencia y termina como una gran familia encontrada, con momentos muy significativos y profundamente espirituales.
No es necesario ser religioso para apreciar el gran impacto que tiene esta prueba fisica y el compromiso que conlleva completarla hasta el final. En ese aspecto, es uno de los personajes secundarios, Bastien, el que se erige como guia espiritual de los chicos y cuyos diálogos se convierten en enseñanzas atemporales que son aplicables universalmente.
Por supuesto estamos hablando de un grupo de adolescentes, así que hay drama, atracciones, amistades y un poco de humor que le da ligereza a la trama.
“Saudade,” Bastien says. The other conversations at the table die away as the others hear him speak. “It is Portuguese. [...] It means nostalgia. Deep, deep in the heart nostalgia. A, how you say, melancholy. For something missing, something absent. Something you want but may never again have. Saudade.”
¿Qué Disfruté?
Me sorprendió gratamente lo conmovedora que me resultó la historia.
¿Qué Prefiero Olvidar?
¡El final abierto! ¡Esto merece una secuela!
“We leave these pilgrim statues behind so that they may continue to tell the others who will come after us. Peregrinos will always come. These statues, they themselves will never arrive. But they will continue to help the others as they flock to the Hill of Joy. They will point the way to the cathedral for all the weary travelers. “Please, we put back on our socks and shoes and we bless this place. It is sacred in the way it welcomes us and ushers us forward to our Compostela. We must honor this sacredness. As I said, we leave the rest here. We walk to Compostela as children. We laugh, we dance, we skip, we play. My friends, enjoy your last walk. This incredible journey, it will stay with you. It will tell you where to begin your life. Enjoy.”
October 7, 2020
I want to thank the publisher for sending an arc of The Camino Club in exchange for an honest review. This review is based on only my thoughts and ideas!
What can I say about this novel? This was such a soul-touching read that I know for sure that I'm going to read multiple times. 6 juvenile delinquents from Canada are sent to Spain to journey across the Camino de Santiago instead of going to juvie. These 6 all come different backgrounds and every one of them can be relatable to anyone. Either you're feeling invisible, your family doesn't support you, or you have a huge responsibility on your shoulders, this book will be the one that will bring tears to your eyes. I felt so many emotions - anger, sadness (with tears), joy, embarrassment, and more. This book brought out the best of mankind but it also brought out the worst. It's hard to balance that but Kevin Craig did it so beautifully. I'm in love with this story and I'm so happy that I got the honor to read this. It opened my eyes to so many problems that teens my age face but don't have anyone to share the burden. The utter joy of these 6 kids coming together and becoming a family is indescribable because that's what happiness is. You don't know how to describe other than you're finally feeling free and happy with the people around you.
Content Advisory:
- Minor Character Death
- Homophobic Bullying
- Discussions of Conversion Therapy (The 6 kids aren't supporting this)
- Homophobic Parents
What can I say about this novel? This was such a soul-touching read that I know for sure that I'm going to read multiple times. 6 juvenile delinquents from Canada are sent to Spain to journey across the Camino de Santiago instead of going to juvie. These 6 all come different backgrounds and every one of them can be relatable to anyone. Either you're feeling invisible, your family doesn't support you, or you have a huge responsibility on your shoulders, this book will be the one that will bring tears to your eyes. I felt so many emotions - anger, sadness (with tears), joy, embarrassment, and more. This book brought out the best of mankind but it also brought out the worst. It's hard to balance that but Kevin Craig did it so beautifully. I'm in love with this story and I'm so happy that I got the honor to read this. It opened my eyes to so many problems that teens my age face but don't have anyone to share the burden. The utter joy of these 6 kids coming together and becoming a family is indescribable because that's what happiness is. You don't know how to describe other than you're finally feeling free and happy with the people around you.
Content Advisory:
- Minor Character Death
- Homophobic Bullying
- Discussions of Conversion Therapy (The 6 kids aren't supporting this)
- Homophobic Parents
September 30, 2020
I had pretty high hopes for this book and was so excited for the direction it would go and I think I was let down a little bit. This book was good, don’t get me wrong, it was a solid read, but it wasn’t great or something I’d ever reread.
This book is about a journey to the Camino de Santiago following many characters (“delinquents”) thus the characters should have been at the forefront of the book. I don’t think the characters were anything different or special than others I’ve seen in books. Certain characters like Diego was going through grief and then half way through the reason Claire was sent to the program was shocking, but instead of expanding on those moments, the author spent a lot of time describing the characters just walking and eating at restaurants. There’s nothing wrong with that, that’s part of the journey as well, but I was just left craving more depth from the characters. I was really happy with the LQBTQIA+ rep so if you’re interested in a book with that, this one definitely highlights that.
Usually my reviews are longer, but I just didn’t feeling myself feeling a certain way (good or bad) towards this book. I’m glad I read it because it did pique my interest when I picked it up, but it just didn’t keep my interest the whole time. Everything was just so vague.
Characters: 5/10
Atmosphere: 6/10
Writing Style: 5/10
Plot: 5/10
Intrigue: 6/10
Logic: 5/10
Enjoyment: 6/10
Rating: 5.43 or 3 stars
This book is about a journey to the Camino de Santiago following many characters (“delinquents”) thus the characters should have been at the forefront of the book. I don’t think the characters were anything different or special than others I’ve seen in books. Certain characters like Diego was going through grief and then half way through the reason Claire was sent to the program was shocking, but instead of expanding on those moments, the author spent a lot of time describing the characters just walking and eating at restaurants. There’s nothing wrong with that, that’s part of the journey as well, but I was just left craving more depth from the characters. I was really happy with the LQBTQIA+ rep so if you’re interested in a book with that, this one definitely highlights that.
Usually my reviews are longer, but I just didn’t feeling myself feeling a certain way (good or bad) towards this book. I’m glad I read it because it did pique my interest when I picked it up, but it just didn’t keep my interest the whole time. Everything was just so vague.
Characters: 5/10
Atmosphere: 6/10
Writing Style: 5/10
Plot: 5/10
Intrigue: 6/10
Logic: 5/10
Enjoyment: 6/10
Rating: 5.43 or 3 stars
October 27, 2020
This book is a love letter to the Spanish countryside, and before I finished reading, I was trying to figure out how I can go on the Camino.
Craig created characters who you can't help but pull for, despite the troubles that brought them to the Camino Club. Told in three POVs, the reader gets a good sense for all six main characters without getting confused about who's telling the story, and each character has depth and emotion—and something to lose.
I loved the quieter moments, as well as the building excitement — and dread — as the travelers neared the end of their journey. Really, I loved everything about this.
Craig created characters who you can't help but pull for, despite the troubles that brought them to the Camino Club. Told in three POVs, the reader gets a good sense for all six main characters without getting confused about who's telling the story, and each character has depth and emotion—and something to lose.
I loved the quieter moments, as well as the building excitement — and dread — as the travelers neared the end of their journey. Really, I loved everything about this.
August 26, 2020
A must-read novel that perfectly encapsulates the emotional, physical, and mental struggles of those embarking on a strenuous journey through the mountains of Spain.
Craig's novel demonstrates how powerful the healing qualities of the natural world and support from complete strangers can have on those who are in pain. When given a break from their everyday lives and placed in the wilderness of Spain, the characters became distanced from their own problems and were given another chance to live, to be who they truly were without outside pressure.
"The Camino Club" follows three perspectives but is centered around six troubled kids who get sent on a hike through Spain's mountains to sort out their issues, rather than face time in juvie. As they embark on this journey, the group must come to terms with their own issues while learning to be open-minded and considerate of the problems their fellow hikers are dealing with, otherwise, the terrain they walk will become more treacherous to walk and full of tension.
A beautiful story that presents the stunning and vivid scenery of Spain's landscape and the special, precious moments that will never be forgotten on a once in a lifetime hike where people from across the world gather to experience nature's beauty. "The Camino Club" is an emotional novel that gets at the core of what it takes to find healing amongst painful and traumatic experiences. Look for this novel, expected to be published on October 6th, 2020 with Interlude Press.
Thank you to Netgalley and Interlude Press for giving me the opportunity to read an e-arc of "The Camino Club" by Kevin Craig in exchange for an honest review.
Craig's novel demonstrates how powerful the healing qualities of the natural world and support from complete strangers can have on those who are in pain. When given a break from their everyday lives and placed in the wilderness of Spain, the characters became distanced from their own problems and were given another chance to live, to be who they truly were without outside pressure.
"The Camino Club" follows three perspectives but is centered around six troubled kids who get sent on a hike through Spain's mountains to sort out their issues, rather than face time in juvie. As they embark on this journey, the group must come to terms with their own issues while learning to be open-minded and considerate of the problems their fellow hikers are dealing with, otherwise, the terrain they walk will become more treacherous to walk and full of tension.
A beautiful story that presents the stunning and vivid scenery of Spain's landscape and the special, precious moments that will never be forgotten on a once in a lifetime hike where people from across the world gather to experience nature's beauty. "The Camino Club" is an emotional novel that gets at the core of what it takes to find healing amongst painful and traumatic experiences. Look for this novel, expected to be published on October 6th, 2020 with Interlude Press.
Thank you to Netgalley and Interlude Press for giving me the opportunity to read an e-arc of "The Camino Club" by Kevin Craig in exchange for an honest review.
August 5, 2022
I really wanted to like this book. And this book wanted me to like it. And while I did not hate it, there just was something missing. I think it’s mostly that the author needs to “show” and not “tell.” All these kids forced to do the Camino should have had the Camino change them. But we didn’t get to see much of that. I did appreciate that the author had obviously walked the way before! And perhaps, the magic of the Camino is just too difficult to capture.
December 28, 2020
A great YA novel looking at a wide range of issues from redemption, faith, family and a whole lot more. Six teens are part of a juvenile diversion program that has them walk the Camino trail instead of traditional punishments. The story is written from the perspective of three participants. I liked the author’s choice to just choose three. I found myself wondering what the others would say, had we had the book from their points of view as well but liked that the authored limited it. I do wish there had been a better afterword that talked about where the idea came from and whether programs like this exist in Canada. I googled it and found reference to a Belgian program but nothing else.
August 31, 2021
I loved this book. I'm not sure why I didn't give it five stars but it's definitely a four and a half star book. The characters were believable and I liked how their backstory wasn't revealed right away but over time. There were a couple of scenarios I felt weren't plausible but I don't want to give away any of the story. This is a book worth reading.
September 5, 2020
First, the cover of The Camino Club is gorgeous! I love it.
This is a story of six Toronto teenagers who are strangers to each other, but have one thing in common before they all meet: They are all little criminals on their way into the Juvenile Detention System. Lucky for them, they are offered a chance to wipe their record clean by committing to The Walk Youth Diversion Program, which is a long two-week journey of walking the Camino de Santiago in Spain.
As they spend more time walking the historic pilgrimage path together, taking in the beautiful scenery, exploring religious landmarks, and experiencing gorgeous sunsets, they come to realize that each person is struggling with life differently. Some of them are able to share their secrets, and some of them don’t want to divulge anything. Some find it hard to let go of their tough high school reputations and their stubborn attitudes. When an unexpected death happens, it brings out deeper emotions in a few of them; emotions difficult to hide.
This is a wonderful story that explores many difficult topics that will cause the need for a discussion once you finish reading it. I should mention a few trigger warnings for teens who might not be able to handle reading about teenage crime, homophobic bullying, homophobic parents, conversion therapy, and death.
The only issue I had with the story is the multiple references to The Breakfast Club movie. I have never watched this movie, but maybe I should? However, these references had no real impact on the storytelling of this adventure.
Thank you to NetGalley and Interlude Press for offering me the chance to read this book early, in exchange for an honest review. The Camino Club is available for purchase on October 5, 2020.
This is a story of six Toronto teenagers who are strangers to each other, but have one thing in common before they all meet: They are all little criminals on their way into the Juvenile Detention System. Lucky for them, they are offered a chance to wipe their record clean by committing to The Walk Youth Diversion Program, which is a long two-week journey of walking the Camino de Santiago in Spain.
As they spend more time walking the historic pilgrimage path together, taking in the beautiful scenery, exploring religious landmarks, and experiencing gorgeous sunsets, they come to realize that each person is struggling with life differently. Some of them are able to share their secrets, and some of them don’t want to divulge anything. Some find it hard to let go of their tough high school reputations and their stubborn attitudes. When an unexpected death happens, it brings out deeper emotions in a few of them; emotions difficult to hide.
This is a wonderful story that explores many difficult topics that will cause the need for a discussion once you finish reading it. I should mention a few trigger warnings for teens who might not be able to handle reading about teenage crime, homophobic bullying, homophobic parents, conversion therapy, and death.
The only issue I had with the story is the multiple references to The Breakfast Club movie. I have never watched this movie, but maybe I should? However, these references had no real impact on the storytelling of this adventure.
Thank you to NetGalley and Interlude Press for offering me the chance to read this book early, in exchange for an honest review. The Camino Club is available for purchase on October 5, 2020.
January 4, 2022
Camino fiction! Here, a group of 'troubled' teenagers are sentenced to walking the Camino de Santiago in lieu of juvenile detention or otherwise facing consequences (for various actions) that could go on their permanent records. This has been a tradition for almost as long as the Camino has been in existence: criminals sent to walk to Santiago instead of serving jail time, people walking the Camino as their own sort of penance, etc.
These particular kids are all basically good kids who have either been blamed for other people's actions or acted out after other people have treated them badly, and I'm not sure how to feel about that. On the one hand, it makes them easier to sympathise with; on the other hand, I have a hard time believing that this is a trip for juvenile delinquents. Might have been more realistic for it to have been an organised trip that just...has a couple of kids with problems on it.
Could have used slightly tighter editing—Troy describes another pilgrim as 'a cute Japanese boy' (114) without any idea of where he (or his family) is from. 'Miles' are used instead of 'kilometers' multiple times (124, 197), which is sort of...sacrilege on the Camino? Believe you me, one knows how many kilometers one has left to walk on the Camino, and one does not confuse that with miles.
These particular kids are all basically good kids who have either been blamed for other people's actions or acted out after other people have treated them badly, and I'm not sure how to feel about that. On the one hand, it makes them easier to sympathise with; on the other hand, I have a hard time believing that this is a trip for juvenile delinquents. Might have been more realistic for it to have been an organised trip that just...has a couple of kids with problems on it.
Could have used slightly tighter editing—Troy describes another pilgrim as 'a cute Japanese boy' (114) without any idea of where he (or his family) is from. 'Miles' are used instead of 'kilometers' multiple times (124, 197), which is sort of...sacrilege on the Camino? Believe you me, one knows how many kilometers one has left to walk on the Camino, and one does not confuse that with miles.
December 31, 2020
I love when a book you've been highly anticipating lives up to your expectations! And The Camino Club did just that- it exceeded my expectations, actually.
I loved this story. It transported me out of this crazy world we're living in and gave me just the escape I needed. Walking the Camino has now been added to my bucket list of things I want to do, but will never do in this lifetime- what an amazing experience it must be! Having walked it before, Kevin Craig was able to really bring it to life for me and I so appreciated the world they created in this book.
I enjoyed that we got multiple points of view in The Camino Club- each character had a story to tell, and I loved seeing their journeys (literal and figurative) through their own eyes. They may have all started this trip as individuals dealing with their own issues, but by the end they had created a wonderful little found family.
I loved this story. It transported me out of this crazy world we're living in and gave me just the escape I needed. Walking the Camino has now been added to my bucket list of things I want to do, but will never do in this lifetime- what an amazing experience it must be! Having walked it before, Kevin Craig was able to really bring it to life for me and I so appreciated the world they created in this book.
I enjoyed that we got multiple points of view in The Camino Club- each character had a story to tell, and I loved seeing their journeys (literal and figurative) through their own eyes. They may have all started this trip as individuals dealing with their own issues, but by the end they had created a wonderful little found family.
November 4, 2022
I enjoyed trekking the Camino Club with these six youth and Bastien, the wise man who shares his insights. The author develops the Camino so well it becomes a character in the story. I loved the premise of walking the Camino as an alternate form of rehabilitation to juvie. Making mistakes doesn't have to be about punishment (although at times the teens feel the walk is a form of punishment), it can be about what you learn, the relationships you develop and the support you receive along the way.
September 14, 2020
I was given a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a review
The story is about six teens that have broken the law and are sentenced to walk Camino de Santiago in Spain as their punishment
I was all over this book when I saw it listed on NetGalley. I love books about hiking and the cover was pretty and it was listed as LGBTQ which is another thing I love so I ended up refreshing the page every day to see if I'd get to read it
Overall I wasn't impressed with this book. I thought that none of the characters hit the mark and I felt they all seemed very flat and I didn't feel like I had an attachment to any of them, one of them even introduces themselves as an average guy with nothing interesting to say. i think the worst character for me was Bastien. He is an old French man who helps one of the boys up when he falls. He spouts mystical rubbish throughout the book and the POV characters keep talking about how great he is and how we should all love him
My next issue is similar to my issue with Bastien. All through the book the characters talked about how their journey was so magical, I really felt like this was the author telling me how magical the story should be as I was with them for their "journey" but just because you say its magical doesn't make it true
Despite my issues with the characters, the story was inoffensive and pleasant enough. The writing style was nice and the overall theme of friendship was fun. Maybe I'm a bitter person who failed to see the joy in the characters so you should read this book yourself and tell me how wrong I am?
#ARC #Netgalley
The story is about six teens that have broken the law and are sentenced to walk Camino de Santiago in Spain as their punishment
I was all over this book when I saw it listed on NetGalley. I love books about hiking and the cover was pretty and it was listed as LGBTQ which is another thing I love so I ended up refreshing the page every day to see if I'd get to read it
Overall I wasn't impressed with this book. I thought that none of the characters hit the mark and I felt they all seemed very flat and I didn't feel like I had an attachment to any of them, one of them even introduces themselves as an average guy with nothing interesting to say. i think the worst character for me was Bastien. He is an old French man who helps one of the boys up when he falls. He spouts mystical rubbish throughout the book and the POV characters keep talking about how great he is and how we should all love him
My next issue is similar to my issue with Bastien. All through the book the characters talked about how their journey was so magical, I really felt like this was the author telling me how magical the story should be as I was with them for their "journey" but just because you say its magical doesn't make it true
Despite my issues with the characters, the story was inoffensive and pleasant enough. The writing style was nice and the overall theme of friendship was fun. Maybe I'm a bitter person who failed to see the joy in the characters so you should read this book yourself and tell me how wrong I am?
#ARC #Netgalley
February 20, 2021
I. Loved. This. Book. Best Camino story I have read. Although I will never be able to walk The Way, several people close to me have and I followed their blog online, researching the photos, towns, churches and points of interest they passed through. I have read many first person accounts of those who have answered the call and they all have the same conclusion - it IS a life changing experience, leaving many with the desire to return to recapture the true bonding that takes place on the journey with fellow travelers.
This book centers around six delinquent teens who chose this option rather than spend time in juvie. Some come willingly, some are pressured into it by their parents. The best part of the book is how the author devotes the most time on the developing kinship between them, overcoming their anger issues or isolation to teach them that in this world we can put our trust in others and for true friends, you can rely on them during the hard times to be there as a support system. The author himself has made the journey twice so there is authenticity to the Camino portions in the story line.
If they had not told you it was a novel, I could have believed each of the characters was a real person, and their experiences and growth throughout the journey was real.
I would definitely recommend this book, with particular attention to young teens who are having difficultly adjusting and moving into the world of adulthood.
This book centers around six delinquent teens who chose this option rather than spend time in juvie. Some come willingly, some are pressured into it by their parents. The best part of the book is how the author devotes the most time on the developing kinship between them, overcoming their anger issues or isolation to teach them that in this world we can put our trust in others and for true friends, you can rely on them during the hard times to be there as a support system. The author himself has made the journey twice so there is authenticity to the Camino portions in the story line.
If they had not told you it was a novel, I could have believed each of the characters was a real person, and their experiences and growth throughout the journey was real.
I would definitely recommend this book, with particular attention to young teens who are having difficultly adjusting and moving into the world of adulthood.
February 10, 2021
Miss Lori read this book and gives it a 3.75 out of 5 stars. This book's theme has been done over and over but still seems to capture my attention. It references "The Breakfast Club" due to the group of kids who come from all different backgrounds and are thrown together to serve "time" after having done wrong. In this instance, the 3 main characters have a choice to go to juvenile detention or to walk 'El Camino de Santiago' in Spain to pay for the criminal activity each of them had done. They all choose the walk but come at it in very different ways (ie: excitement, anger, fear, etc.).
I liked all the characters and the banter they had with each other and the sub-characters as well. I thought the changes they went through happened a bit too quickly and too neatly, but still it was an enjoyable read with good insight into the issues each of them faced, which were topical. (single mom with little money, rich girl whose parents weren't there for her, homophobia on part of kids/parents, and more!)
I would suggest this read for kids in 8th grade and up through high school.
I liked all the characters and the banter they had with each other and the sub-characters as well. I thought the changes they went through happened a bit too quickly and too neatly, but still it was an enjoyable read with good insight into the issues each of them faced, which were topical. (single mom with little money, rich girl whose parents weren't there for her, homophobia on part of kids/parents, and more!)
I would suggest this read for kids in 8th grade and up through high school.
June 6, 2022
many thanks to netgalley and interlude press for providing me with this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
this one was hard to finish. everytime i picked it up i wished i hadn't. i couldn't put my finger on what put me off about the writing, but towards the end i figured it out: this book is tell-not-show. it's written mostly in diary form, which forces me to believe what they're saying without much evidence. the characters also felt like cardboard cut-outs of themselves. overall nearly every single one of the main characters' plot fell completely flat for me, hence why it took me a million years to finish the book.
despite the negatives, towards the end i found myself rooting and caring for the wise and comforting old man they'd found along the way. surprisingly, him and his story got me invested enough to upgrade to 2 stars.
overall, this book wasn't for me, but there isn't anything objectively wrong with it.
this one was hard to finish. everytime i picked it up i wished i hadn't. i couldn't put my finger on what put me off about the writing, but towards the end i figured it out: this book is tell-not-show. it's written mostly in diary form, which forces me to believe what they're saying without much evidence. the characters also felt like cardboard cut-outs of themselves. overall nearly every single one of the main characters' plot fell completely flat for me, hence why it took me a million years to finish the book.
despite the negatives, towards the end i found myself rooting and caring for the wise and comforting old man they'd found along the way. surprisingly, him and his story got me invested enough to upgrade to 2 stars.
overall, this book wasn't for me, but there isn't anything objectively wrong with it.
November 26, 2020
I loved the premise but it was too feel-good for me, lol.
I studied abroad for 6 months in Salamanca, Spain and did a lot of traveling around the country and walking El Camino still sits in my bucket list. So I obviously picked this up because of the premise and my love for Spain but I wasn't IN LOVE with the storyline.
This one is mainly a focus on character development, which I'm always down to read. And, when done right, are some of my favorite books. But, this one just didn't feel gritty enough for me. These kids did some stuff that, really, wasn't all THAT bad and so their transformations felt just... Mildly interesting.
I do think it'd be right for the right reader, just not me!
I studied abroad for 6 months in Salamanca, Spain and did a lot of traveling around the country and walking El Camino still sits in my bucket list. So I obviously picked this up because of the premise and my love for Spain but I wasn't IN LOVE with the storyline.
This one is mainly a focus on character development, which I'm always down to read. And, when done right, are some of my favorite books. But, this one just didn't feel gritty enough for me. These kids did some stuff that, really, wasn't all THAT bad and so their transformations felt just... Mildly interesting.
I do think it'd be right for the right reader, just not me!
May 14, 2021
There Are No Assholes on the Camino
You don’t see ugly pilgrims on the Camino. Why is that? What has been washed away by the miles of walking, the hours of talking, by our contemplation? The simple answer is, all the baggage we bring with us and leave behind along The Way. But there is so much more to this path. And the author of The Camino Club has captured its very essence.
As a Camino veteran, I appreciate Kevin Craig’s accurate portrayal of the sacred path. And I fell in love with the characters of their story. If the concept of “sentencing” delinquents to walk the path is not in use today (post pandemic), then it certainly should be.
You don’t see ugly pilgrims on the Camino. Why is that? What has been washed away by the miles of walking, the hours of talking, by our contemplation? The simple answer is, all the baggage we bring with us and leave behind along The Way. But there is so much more to this path. And the author of The Camino Club has captured its very essence.
As a Camino veteran, I appreciate Kevin Craig’s accurate portrayal of the sacred path. And I fell in love with the characters of their story. If the concept of “sentencing” delinquents to walk the path is not in use today (post pandemic), then it certainly should be.
June 12, 2024
Heartwarming
Even though I’m not usually a YA fiction reader, I’m probably otherwise exactly in the target audience for this book - people who love the Camino de Santiago and also have a weird emotional connection to The Breakfast Club, having watched it a half dozen times as a teenager on local television.
Even if you’re not in that strange little niche, it’s a great read. It does a great job of presenting real aspects of the Camino experience through a fictional group of teenage delinquents with hearts of gold. Very Breakfast Club. It’s YA so the emotional aspects of the story are always right at the forefront. I teared up a bit at the end so it works.
Even though I’m not usually a YA fiction reader, I’m probably otherwise exactly in the target audience for this book - people who love the Camino de Santiago and also have a weird emotional connection to The Breakfast Club, having watched it a half dozen times as a teenager on local television.
Even if you’re not in that strange little niche, it’s a great read. It does a great job of presenting real aspects of the Camino experience through a fictional group of teenage delinquents with hearts of gold. Very Breakfast Club. It’s YA so the emotional aspects of the story are always right at the forefront. I teared up a bit at the end so it works.
May 3, 2021
What a wonderful book. Not just an adventure along the Camino de Santiago, but a book that is told from the perspectives of 6 juvenile delinquents; each one is so strong and diverse. You can’t help but fall in love with them as the The Camino work works it’s magic and changes their outlook on life forever. I couldn’t wait to get to Santiago to see what happened to them.
From one author to another, and from someone who has also walked the Camino, I have to complement the author on amazing job. Highly recommended.
From one author to another, and from someone who has also walked the Camino, I have to complement the author on amazing job. Highly recommended.
June 4, 2022
This almost ended up DNF after the first chapter, I was not excited about the bratty juvenile delinquent tone or the prospect of getting to read 3 different ones, but the good reviews convinced me to give it a try. I’m glad I did!
It’s a bit cheesy at times but the story is sweet with some unexpected nuances. As a huge fan of the caminos, I love the idea that more kids will learn about them through this book and it’s worth reading for that alone! Some really touching moments. A bit of an abrupt ending but overall a satisfying read.
It’s a bit cheesy at times but the story is sweet with some unexpected nuances. As a huge fan of the caminos, I love the idea that more kids will learn about them through this book and it’s worth reading for that alone! Some really touching moments. A bit of an abrupt ending but overall a satisfying read.
March 9, 2024
If this is what passes for young adult fiction these days, no wonder they're not reading books any more. The writing was stiff, the dialogues unrealistic, the characters were a bunch of stereotypes (some more offensive than others), the three "distinct" voices (out of the 6 characters) sounded exactly the same: present pretentious and all. Then the "white privilege" type (blonde, bug-eyed poor little rich girl who tries to get her mom to notice her) started spouting super woke psych lessons and I gave up.
July 28, 2020
*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy.*
This was such a solid, feel-good coming of age story with some real depth. I loved watching the kids grow throughout the book and the different relationships that developed on their journey.
The Camino and its surroundings were another compelling part of the story, and was a character in and of itself, offer the change that the characters needed.
I also loved Bastien and how he became their pilgrimage guide.
This was such a solid, feel-good coming of age story with some real depth. I loved watching the kids grow throughout the book and the different relationships that developed on their journey.
The Camino and its surroundings were another compelling part of the story, and was a character in and of itself, offer the change that the characters needed.
I also loved Bastien and how he became their pilgrimage guide.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 7, 2020
Kevin Craig's The Camino Club is an Intricately woven story of laughter and heartbreak, loss and love. In it, six troubled teens take a journey through the heart of Spain alongside their court-assigned counselors, finding their way through the issues that brought them together. Funny and poignant, this story of friendship and falling in love will remind you that our paths are not defined by our pasts, but the choices we make each day.
November 1, 2020
“Where’d you go?” she asks as the world comes back into focus.
“Everywhere”
.
.
This little novel found me at just the right time. A beautiful little trip away to a world outside of all the noise. This is a moving, and often hilarious, story about what happens when we realize that we have more that connects us than separates us, and we can only move towards our futures by staying true to our present selves.
Lace up your hiking boots and take a journey with this one. Buen Camino.
“Everywhere”
.
.
This little novel found me at just the right time. A beautiful little trip away to a world outside of all the noise. This is a moving, and often hilarious, story about what happens when we realize that we have more that connects us than separates us, and we can only move towards our futures by staying true to our present selves.
Lace up your hiking boots and take a journey with this one. Buen Camino.
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