FreeK Camp

FreeK Camp #1

by Steve Burt

An Adventure That's Out of This World. And In It. Free Camp, which somehow became known as FreeK Camp, is for special kids. But just how special most people will never know. Two vans are on their way to the camp in rustic Maine, their passengers jst starting to get acquainted. One van makes it. The other mysteriously disappears. Now each group of kids must bond together to discover and use their paranormal and psychic powers. The lives of one group literally depend on it. Part mystery thriller, part detective story, part sci-fi, FreeK Camp is all hold-your-breath-I-didn't-see-it-coming adventure. For adults, teens, and tweens. Numerous 2010 awards.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Thriller, Supernatural

257 pages, Paperback

First published May 15, 2010

About the author

Steve Burt's 2019 gargoyle novel, The Bookseller's Daughter, has won the NY Book Festival Grand Prize and the gold Mom's Choice Award. He is a retired minister and multi-award-winning writer who is best-known for his FreeKs psychic teen detectives series (FreeK Camp, FreeK Show, FreeK Week) and his Stories to Chill the Heart story collections (Odd Lot, Even Odder, Oddest Yet, Wicked Odd). He has won the Bram Stoker Award, several Ray Bradbury writing prizes, and the Benjamin Franklin Award, plus a bunch of book festival awards (Paris, London, NY, New England, San Francisco, Hollywood, Halloween, Beach Book Festival awards). His novel FreeK Week was named the Grand Prize winner at the 2015 Florida Book Festival Awards and the Best Y.A. at the New England Book Festival Awards; it also won the 2014 Mom's Choice Award. His latest books include Wicked Strange, Vermont Ghost Busters, Horrors, and a collection titled Vampires, Ghost, and Graveyards. He also writes inspirational books, including Unk's Fiddle and the bestseller, A Christmas Dozen, and has published stories in Family Circle, Chicken Soup for the Soul series, and others, many of which he performs on radio. Before turning to fiction he wrote numerous church-related books. His 2016 books include Publish Your Book Free: Step-by-Step Beginner's Guide to Create Space Print-on-Demand Publishing, First Worst Joke Book, Second Worst Joke Book, and Christmas Soup for the Soul: 10 Hearty Helpings.

Reviews

[Cindy Graf · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a reader of storyteller Steve Burt's works, and a big fan of his book, "A Christmas Dozen", A Christmas Dozen: Christmas Stories to Warm the Heart I was excited and anxious to read the new paranormal thriller "FreeK Camp". The story of the "special" kids attending a summer camp in the woods of New England kept me engaged from beginning to end. The characters all seem just like real everyday people, until they grow to know each other, learning to work together using their unique talents to solve the Camp's mystery. Action, heroic adventures, personal growth & enlightenment top off what I consider to be one of the year's best reads for children and adults alike.

[Tony · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't like this book when I first started and I almost set it down but I kept going and I'm glad I did. Its about two groups of kids with psychic powers. One group is kidnapped and the other have to work together to rescue them. Charlie was one of my favorite characters by far. His hands are deformed-lobster claws can't remember the technical term. His power is precognitive dreaming. There are also twins Juan with the power of clairvoyance and Juanita who has the power of clairaudience. There's Maggie the "spoonbender" and Mo the telekinetic. The kidnapped kids also have powers of their own. Tim the empath, Atlanta who can levitate herself and three others. I highly recommend this book.

[Madison Shea · Rating 4 out of 5]

FreeK camp is a camp were people who don't belong because they have a special talent go to use that talent. There were 2 vans that were supposed to pick up 5 kids each. The plan was going good until one van did not show up. The kids that made it to camp have to use there special ability's and work together to find the kids but when they think they find the kids they are moved to another location. The kids who did not make it to camp have to use there abilities to get out from the places they are being put into.

If you liked Stolen Children i would recommend this book

[Stacy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good book but I think it has a much younger target audience. It reminds me of a Christopher Pike or R. L. Stein kind of book. I gave it 3 stars for me but as a teen I would have given it 5 stars. I liked all the kids and the camp staff but I wanted to know more and get more into their story and their gifts.

[Alaina Maxam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. it might be for younger people but I got drawn into the storyline and wanted to find out what happens next. it is good to see thatthis book was engrossing and that it is ok to be different

[Suellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a great mystery/ thriller for teens. With their psychic powers they band together and never give up. The book is a bit humorous too. Steve Burt kept the pace up and never dropped the ball. I love his style of writing. Now I'll have to read the others in the series. 5 stars.

[Kasey · Rating 3 out of 5]

hope i like this book! :)

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

a good, simple, fast reading book probably aimed more at teenage readers, but a nice diversion for anyone.

[Kas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was another just plain fun read. I knew that it would have a pleasant ending but enjoyed the journey to get to that point.

[Kate]

Two groups of gifted children are headed to the Free Camp - nicknamed the FreeK Camp, because they all have very special powers. One bus, unfortunately, has gone missing. As Bus #2 arrives and the campers begin to use their powers to find the missing kids, the campers on the first bus must use their powers to try to stay alive.

The concept here was strong and compelling, with high stakes. The number of characters - 10 campers total, plus a handful of camp staff and our villain, made it hard to keep all of their personalities and powers straight. The plan of the villain, too, felt much more convoluted than it needed to be. I could see this turning into a series where the kids' powers are more fully explored. It seemed like a few of the kids had appeared in short stories by the author but here it was hard to get to know most of the kids beyond a surface level.

[Claudia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Freek Camp by Steve Burt is about a camping trip gone wrong. Two buses, both carrying about five kids. One bus successfully makes it to camp meanwhile the other has gone missing and brought the kids somewhere else. The kids that made it to camp have to find out what happened to the missing kids. Main characters are the kids. To be honest I didn't really enjoy this book as it had made me bored. Will the kids that didn't go to the camp make it out alive? Will it be too late? Read the book to find out. If you like books with suspenseful action, this is the book I recommend reading.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Steve Burt has tuned into the middle school and high school interest in the paranormal.
A page turning book that borders on the believable.
Great for adults, too

[Michaela Finn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was suppose to be a summer like no other except when van #1 did not show up at camp. Now will all these kids who don't know anything about each other or their powers have to work together to free themselves of this mans will to kill them. The other group have to use their powers to save the other group. But will they make it in time.

[Steve Burt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Winner of 2 Mom's Choice golds, a Moonbeam Children's Book Award silver, a Next Generation Indie Award, 2 Beach Book of the Year Awards for teens, and Best Teen/Y.A. at the London, Paris, New York, New England, San Francisco, and Hollywood Book Festival Awards.

[Brenna Hayes]

I tried to scan to scan the book but it says error already scanned or not on goodreads but it does not show up in my library and I know that it is on goodreads

[Dee Deschaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book through Goodreads. I enjoyed the book. I really hope this turns into a series. I want to learn more about the children and their gifts.