What do you think?
Rate this book
Camp X #3
Fool's Gold
Explore a captivating collection of vintage and rare books for sale, each page echoing the whispers of bygone eras and offering a unique glimpse into literary treasures of the past.
192 pages, Hardcover
First published July 31, 2007
About the author
Eric Walters
167 books923 followersEric was born in Toronto in 1957, which makes him "real old". But, as Eric says, "Just because I have to grow old doesn't mean that I have to grow up!" In his many roles as parent, teacher, social worker, youth sports coach and writer he is in constant contact with children and young adults. He draws from these experiences and feels that this helps him to capture the realistic interaction between young people—the conflicts, tensions, stresses and interests that make up their lives.
Eric began his writing as a teacher. He taught in classes from kindergarten up and his stories often reflect the curriculum that he was teaching. He always read stories—picture books and novels—to his students and this helped him to understand what children liked, responded to, and were inspired by. He enjoys the enthusiasm of his students and often looks at them to provide him with the inspiration to pursue a particular topic in both the classroom and in his writing.
Eric tries to write every day. When he has a story idea he starts with research. This could involve reading books, watching a documentary, or trying to experience the things that his characters are going to go through. This could include rock climbing or riding white water (for Stars), spending time in a wheelchair (Rebound), playing and walking with tigers (Tiger by the Tail), hanging around a tough biker bar (Diamonds in the Rough), standing out in his backyard in a blizzard wearing a T-shirt and shorts (Trapped in Ice), or traveling to Africa (Alexandria of Africa).
"The most important thing anybody ever told me about writing was to write what you know . . . and the only way to get to know things is to do your homework and research before you write," Eric stated.
Once the writing begins the story is always playing around in his head. He takes any opportunity, even if it's just a few minutes between presentations, to put things down, either with pen and paper or on his laptop.
Prior to entering teaching and writing Eric was a social worker (B.S.W., M.S.W., B.A.Hons—specialized major psychology). He worked in a variety of settings including child welfare, private practice, a mental health centre, and, for twenty years on a part-time basis as a Crisis Social Worker in an emergency department. He stopped teaching 4 years ago and left the ER only last year.
The majority of Eric's time is spent in the company of his wife, children and dogs (Lola a big standard poodle and a little white dog named Winnie the Poodle).
Eric began his writing as a teacher. He taught in classes from kindergarten up and his stories often reflect the curriculum that he was teaching. He always read stories—picture books and novels—to his students and this helped him to understand what children liked, responded to, and were inspired by. He enjoys the enthusiasm of his students and often looks at them to provide him with the inspiration to pursue a particular topic in both the classroom and in his writing.
Eric tries to write every day. When he has a story idea he starts with research. This could involve reading books, watching a documentary, or trying to experience the things that his characters are going to go through. This could include rock climbing or riding white water (for Stars), spending time in a wheelchair (Rebound), playing and walking with tigers (Tiger by the Tail), hanging around a tough biker bar (Diamonds in the Rough), standing out in his backyard in a blizzard wearing a T-shirt and shorts (Trapped in Ice), or traveling to Africa (Alexandria of Africa).
"The most important thing anybody ever told me about writing was to write what you know . . . and the only way to get to know things is to do your homework and research before you write," Eric stated.
Once the writing begins the story is always playing around in his head. He takes any opportunity, even if it's just a few minutes between presentations, to put things down, either with pen and paper or on his laptop.
Prior to entering teaching and writing Eric was a social worker (B.S.W., M.S.W., B.A.Hons—specialized major psychology). He worked in a variety of settings including child welfare, private practice, a mental health centre, and, for twenty years on a part-time basis as a Crisis Social Worker in an emergency department. He stopped teaching 4 years ago and left the ER only last year.
The majority of Eric's time is spent in the company of his wife, children and dogs (Lola a big standard poodle and a little white dog named Winnie the Poodle).
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
November 27, 2025
This one seemed a bit coincidental but for the average reader age 10-12 I believe it's a great book.
August 27, 2026
Fool's Gold by Eric Walters
Content Rating: 4.6
Romance: 5
Violence: 5 (injuries, death, but no blood.)
Faith: 3
Profanity/Language: 5 (One use of Hell.)
Youth Appropriate: 5
Personal Rating: 4
(If there is ever any confusion with my rating system check in my bio)
Thoughts:
This was a quick, nice reread, that I really enjoyed. I, as always, loved seeing George and Jack work together as brothers, I love their love for their mother, their willingness to tell the truth and to take whatever punishment they would be given. And I like that their mom knows now.
Little Bill is so cool! I like how he takes time to know George and Jack, and how he actually cares about them even though he is so high up in power. And Bill as well.
I honestly wouldn't say this was a four/five star (loved but putdownable/loved and un-putdownable.) book if this was my first read through, I know that there were others that I liked better, but considering this was a read through and it felt like I was coming back to something cozy and comforting it probably is a book I could say I loved. Or at least the experience, is what I really really enjoyed. (It's really strange to think that I was around their age when I first read the book...and now I'm almost twenty.)
The gangsters...I could tell they were gangsters in a middle grade book. It felt very, very toned down.
I like George, and the way that he is growing in confidence, in understanding the spy world, and, really, just growing up. And Jack I like because we get to see him take on the care of George, and his mother. How he is growing to become an adult.
This felt like a quick read, and it was done in under a day, but it did take several hours so it wasn't that short.
For anyone who reads this, I'm wondering about my rating system. I feel like three stars is really low for a book that I liked, but at the same time I don't know how else to do it. Five I feel is fair (a book I loved and couldn't put down) but I sort of think four is redundant (a book I loved but could put down) help, advice, or any such thing would be totally welcome!
Content Rating: 4.6
Romance: 5
Violence: 5 (injuries, death, but no blood.)
Faith: 3
Profanity/Language: 5 (One use of Hell.)
Youth Appropriate: 5
Personal Rating: 4
(If there is ever any confusion with my rating system check in my bio)
Thoughts:
This was a quick, nice reread, that I really enjoyed. I, as always, loved seeing George and Jack work together as brothers, I love their love for their mother, their willingness to tell the truth and to take whatever punishment they would be given. And I like that their mom knows now.
Little Bill is so cool! I like how he takes time to know George and Jack, and how he actually cares about them even though he is so high up in power. And Bill as well.
I honestly wouldn't say this was a four/five star (loved but putdownable/loved and un-putdownable.) book if this was my first read through, I know that there were others that I liked better, but considering this was a read through and it felt like I was coming back to something cozy and comforting it probably is a book I could say I loved. Or at least the experience, is what I really really enjoyed. (It's really strange to think that I was around their age when I first read the book...and now I'm almost twenty.)
The gangsters...I could tell they were gangsters in a middle grade book. It felt very, very toned down.
I like George, and the way that he is growing in confidence, in understanding the spy world, and, really, just growing up. And Jack I like because we get to see him take on the care of George, and his mother. How he is growing to become an adult.
This felt like a quick read, and it was done in under a day, but it did take several hours so it wasn't that short.
For anyone who reads this, I'm wondering about my rating system. I feel like three stars is really low for a book that I liked, but at the same time I don't know how else to do it. Five I feel is fair (a book I loved and couldn't put down) but I sort of think four is redundant (a book I loved but could put down) help, advice, or any such thing would be totally welcome!
April 21, 2024
And this is one book too far, the series has officially reached the milking it dry level. Two adventures where two boys get tangled with secret govenment agents and nazis...now those same government agents and old school gangsters....nah not buying any of this story in the slightest. Every chapter gets less believable than the last.
Read
May 5, 2024Fool's Gold is a very good pre-teen book in the Camp X series by Eric Walters. I have rated it as a pre-teen book. I would not recommend it for adult readers. My son loves this series because it's about WWII, adventure, and kids around his age.
January 1, 2021
A quick read with a good adventure to it. I will read the next book of this series, and other work by this author.
February 19, 2021
I am reading this series to my eight and ten year old boys. Three books in and we’re still loving it! Can’t wait to start reading Shell Shocked!
November 14, 2021
It was a medium-long book to read. It was the perfect length to read. We read it within a month. Was a very good book for WW2 although it did not have too much action compared to book #1 or 2.
June 7, 2022
this book is a roller coaster of emotions Great for adrenaline seeking readers it will keeps you on the edge of your seat
October 14, 2022
3.75 not as much spying as I would like
October 4, 2024
Not a big fan of this one because you knew who the bad guys were the whole time. No plot twist. No betrayal!!
December 28, 2024
Best one of the series yet
January 8, 2025
NICE ;) #Need girls call at (226) 387-8038
March 28, 2026
Another fun book in this series
December 31, 2012
This book is about 2 very special boys, named Jack and George. They are not ordinary teenagers; there secret spies. And in this case it was not a good thing, when they arrived home one day they see 3 men holding guns! One of the guns were pointed at there mother`s head. But one strange thing happened they knew about there secret life and how they were spies. One of them said they would not kill their mother if they did one thing, and that was stealing gold from Camp 30. So they had no choice there mother`s life was in there hands. The whole operation was going great until they got caught. But when they see there boss little Bill come out they told them everything that happened and how they did not have a choice of stealing the gold. Will they save there mother and catch the gang?
I absolutely loved this book. I chose this book because a few people have recommended it to me, once I started reading a few sentences I could not stop. The inspiration I had to finish the book was they build up the tension, when you thought it was over there was a plot twist. I really enjoyed the story line it was very original, it was very interesting also I loved that the ending was unexpected. The attend audience for this book is grade 7-10 I think this grade because there is a bit of violence therefore it can not be that little of age,and for grade 10 because I believe that the level of difficulty will be too easy for that age. I definitely recommend this to my peers, I believe they will enjoy this book, expecially the people that enjoy adventure books and action
I absolutely loved this book. I chose this book because a few people have recommended it to me, once I started reading a few sentences I could not stop. The inspiration I had to finish the book was they build up the tension, when you thought it was over there was a plot twist. I really enjoyed the story line it was very original, it was very interesting also I loved that the ending was unexpected. The attend audience for this book is grade 7-10 I think this grade because there is a bit of violence therefore it can not be that little of age,and for grade 10 because I believe that the level of difficulty will be too easy for that age. I definitely recommend this to my peers, I believe they will enjoy this book, expecially the people that enjoy adventure books and action
July 22, 2010
Two brothers return home one day to find mobsters holding their mother captive. This leads to an expedition to a secret spy camp to locate gold for these men and free their mother. Will they be able to outwit the mobsters and come through this situation alive? Will they ever see their mother again? This page turning novel is filled with on the edge moments that will keep you interested until the end.
This story is a wonderful adventure geared to middle grade boys. I enjoyed how the brothers worked together and the love they had for their mother. I also enjoyed how they thought through each situation they found themselves in and made the best decision they could.
This story is a wonderful adventure geared to middle grade boys. I enjoyed how the brothers worked together and the love they had for their mother. I also enjoyed how they thought through each situation they found themselves in and made the best decision they could.
February 22, 2014
What I enjoy about Jack and George's characterizations is the fact that they debate moral positions and what should come first, their family or their loyalty to their country. It's not an easy decision for the boys to make, growing up during the Second World War and knowing what is expected of them after their first two experiences with the people at Camp X. I really admire Walters' ability to write the boys with their own flaws and strengths, that they are two separate people, but that they share similar traits as well that link them as brothers. A good sequel, displaying yet another side of the spy game and how it is played.
June 3, 2015
When reading a series, it's difficult to write a different review of each, especially when the consistency of the storyline is maintained. The third of six "Jack and George" adventures delivers more exciting capers from these two fictional kids, and still manages to slip in enough interesting tidbits of history to send me Googling for the real goings-on hinted at in the book. That's something I've always liked in any of Eric Walters' writings: the way they inspire me to dig a bit further on the 'Net or library to learn about the current and historical events targeted in the book... Three down, three to go (in THIS series!).
February 24, 2012
I liked this book in the sense that I finished it. But, as much as I do love Eric Walters, I felt it was a little behind the times. While the plot was intricate and well thought out I didn't necessarily like the characters and their motivation, personally.
May 25, 2015
In this third book of a series, the two brothers are caught up in a WWII adventure on the home front, with Camp X as a backdrop. Believable, suspenseful, and with a moral dilemma to think through, this story will keep adolescents on the edge of their seats. Family love displayed is a bonus!
July 13, 2016
Another good rollercoaster ride. Walters does it again with the action starting right away. Great story and very thoughtful characters - maybe a little too smart for their age but celebrating maturity is a good thing. Can't wait to read the next one so I can pass it on to my daughter.
May 19, 2010
HAVENT FINISHED YET...
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews