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Camp Sylvania #1
Camp Sylvania: Great for Holiday and Christmas Reading or Gifting
From Julie Murphy, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Dumplin’, comes a hilarious and creepy middle grade summer camp story that takes a bite out of fat camp and diet culture. Perfect for fans of Spooky Stories and Starfish.
Magnolia “Maggie” Hagen is determined to be in the spotlight . . . if she can just get over her stage fright. This summer, though, she has big plans to finally attend Camp Rising Star, the famous performing arts camp she’s been dying to go to for three whole summers.
But on the last day of school, her parents break the Maggie isn’t going to Camp Rising Star. She’s being shipped off to fat camp—and not just any fat camp. She’s going to Camp Sylvania, run by world-famous wellness influencer Sylvia Sylvania, who is known for her soon-to-be-patented Scarlet Diet.
When Maggie arrives at camp, things are . . . weird. There are the humiliating weigh-ins and grueling workouts, as expected. But the campers are also encouraged to donate blood—at their age! The cafeteria serves only red foods and the oddly specific rules change every day. There are even rumors of a camp ghost.
Despite these horrors, Maggie makes friends and starts to actually enjoy herself. There are even tryouts for a camp production of The Music Man! This place might not be so bad . . . until campers start going missing and other suspicious things begin happening—especially after dark. The camp ghost might be the least scary thing about this place. . . .
Magnolia “Maggie” Hagen is determined to be in the spotlight . . . if she can just get over her stage fright. This summer, though, she has big plans to finally attend Camp Rising Star, the famous performing arts camp she’s been dying to go to for three whole summers.
But on the last day of school, her parents break the Maggie isn’t going to Camp Rising Star. She’s being shipped off to fat camp—and not just any fat camp. She’s going to Camp Sylvania, run by world-famous wellness influencer Sylvia Sylvania, who is known for her soon-to-be-patented Scarlet Diet.
When Maggie arrives at camp, things are . . . weird. There are the humiliating weigh-ins and grueling workouts, as expected. But the campers are also encouraged to donate blood—at their age! The cafeteria serves only red foods and the oddly specific rules change every day. There are even rumors of a camp ghost.
Despite these horrors, Maggie makes friends and starts to actually enjoy herself. There are even tryouts for a camp production of The Music Man! This place might not be so bad . . . until campers start going missing and other suspicious things begin happening—especially after dark. The camp ghost might be the least scary thing about this place. . . .
287 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 6, 2023
4428 people want to read
About the author
Julie Murphy
43 books6,751 followersJulie Murphy lives in North Texas with her husband who loves her and her cats who tolerate her. After several wonderful years in the library world, Julie now writes full-time.
When she’s not writing or reliving her reference desk glory days, she can be found watching made-for-TV movies, hunting for the perfect slice of cheese pizza, and planning her next great travel adventure.
She is also the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the young adult novels Dumplin’ (now a film on Netflix), Puddin’, Pumpkin, Ramona Blue, and Side Effects May Vary. Her middle grade novels include Dear Sweat Pea and a forthcoming 2023 title. She is also Disney's If The Shoe Fits, a modern day romcom retelling of Cinderella. Her writing partner is Sierra Simone and their romance debut is A Merry Little Meet Cute.
Julie has been featured in places liek Good Morning America, The New York Times, and Teen Vogue. Dumplin' was also named one of the best young adult books of all time by Time Magazine.
When she’s not writing or reliving her reference desk glory days, she can be found watching made-for-TV movies, hunting for the perfect slice of cheese pizza, and planning her next great travel adventure.
She is also the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the young adult novels Dumplin’ (now a film on Netflix), Puddin’, Pumpkin, Ramona Blue, and Side Effects May Vary. Her middle grade novels include Dear Sweat Pea and a forthcoming 2023 title. She is also Disney's If The Shoe Fits, a modern day romcom retelling of Cinderella. Her writing partner is Sierra Simone and their romance debut is A Merry Little Meet Cute.
Julie has been featured in places liek Good Morning America, The New York Times, and Teen Vogue. Dumplin' was also named one of the best young adult books of all time by Time Magazine.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 231 reviews
September 12, 2023
i found this book through my library when looking up books about fat main characters and color me surprised to see a new julie murphy book i hadn't heard of!!
it's not often that i pick up middle grade but i loved the concept of this, and it definitely delivered on some fun and silliness while also packing in an important message. younger me would have definitely loved this book, but i also really appreciated reading it as an an adult and seeing a young girl stand up to fatphobic adults around her. i wish i'd had fat friends growing up who all loved ourselves, instead it was so isolating being fat when growing up.
i will say the vampire themes to this were so overt from even the book cover that the plot and reveals were a bit childish, but this book was the kind of corny that was more endearing than cringy. highly recommend to younger folks but also i would say it does read a bit like healing for us adults :')
it's not often that i pick up middle grade but i loved the concept of this, and it definitely delivered on some fun and silliness while also packing in an important message. younger me would have definitely loved this book, but i also really appreciated reading it as an an adult and seeing a young girl stand up to fatphobic adults around her. i wish i'd had fat friends growing up who all loved ourselves, instead it was so isolating being fat when growing up.
i will say the vampire themes to this were so overt from even the book cover that the plot and reveals were a bit childish, but this book was the kind of corny that was more endearing than cringy. highly recommend to younger folks but also i would say it does read a bit like healing for us adults :')
August 1, 2023
Maggie has been counting down the seconds to the summer of her life – spending three weeks at Camp Rising Star with her BFF Nora. That is, until her mother informs her there has been a change in plans . . . .
Now Maggie is not only stuck across the lake from the camp of her dreams, but also this place is W.E.I.R.D. Absolutely no one allowed out after dark? No mirrors? Mandatory blood draws? Random campers reportedly being sent home with no details provided? And what’s up with Helen, the creepiest camp counselor who is constantly asking to be invited into the cabins?
If you thought the only thing to worry about at the Lake of the Ozarks was the amount of E. Coli in the water, boy were you mistaken!
Man do I love a good middle-grade offering. Being a mother of two (now nearly grown) kids who were not fans of reading (yeah, pretty sure the hospital screwed up twice and sent me home with the wrong babies), I love stories that even my book-hating youngsters might have had a hard time putting down. Middle-grade and YA are definitely Julie Murphy’s forte. Her adult romance novels have flopped for me two times, but she’s never failed me with the younger stuff and I will pick up whatever she releases in those genres.
Now Maggie is not only stuck across the lake from the camp of her dreams, but also this place is W.E.I.R.D. Absolutely no one allowed out after dark? No mirrors? Mandatory blood draws? Random campers reportedly being sent home with no details provided? And what’s up with Helen, the creepiest camp counselor who is constantly asking to be invited into the cabins?
If you thought the only thing to worry about at the Lake of the Ozarks was the amount of E. Coli in the water, boy were you mistaken!
Man do I love a good middle-grade offering. Being a mother of two (now nearly grown) kids who were not fans of reading (yeah, pretty sure the hospital screwed up twice and sent me home with the wrong babies), I love stories that even my book-hating youngsters might have had a hard time putting down. Middle-grade and YA are definitely Julie Murphy’s forte. Her adult romance novels have flopped for me two times, but she’s never failed me with the younger stuff and I will pick up whatever she releases in those genres.
July 5, 2023
I was admittedly nervous going into this one. I wasn't sure how I'd feel about a book set at a 'fat camp', let alone one for children but I'm so happy (and relieved) to say none of my fears came to fruition.
Camp Sylvania is wonderfully fun camp adventure following a bunch of kids getting up to epic camp hijinks and just so happens to have an empowering message of body acceptance. Julie Murphy expertly calls out diet culture and society's treatment of fat people, whilst never once letting this story be anything but a story of kids who save the world (not because or despite of being fat). The kids in this book are fat; they know they're fat, they accept they're fat and they also know they're just as worthy and able as people in smaller bodies. In fact, it's only the adults around them that ever make them question this but thankfully, any negative comment, thought or action towards weight is counteracted and rebuked.
Overall, this is a brilliantly fun, paranormal camp adventure and I adored every single moment of it. This is the kind of book I wish I'd grown up reading. My only hope is that one day we won't need books set at 'fat camps' because the dangerous idea that any child (or adult) needs to change or think differently about themselves because of their weight is abolished entirely.
TW: fatphobia, discussion on weight and dieting
Camp Sylvania is wonderfully fun camp adventure following a bunch of kids getting up to epic camp hijinks and just so happens to have an empowering message of body acceptance. Julie Murphy expertly calls out diet culture and society's treatment of fat people, whilst never once letting this story be anything but a story of kids who save the world (not because or despite of being fat). The kids in this book are fat; they know they're fat, they accept they're fat and they also know they're just as worthy and able as people in smaller bodies. In fact, it's only the adults around them that ever make them question this but thankfully, any negative comment, thought or action towards weight is counteracted and rebuked.
Overall, this is a brilliantly fun, paranormal camp adventure and I adored every single moment of it. This is the kind of book I wish I'd grown up reading. My only hope is that one day we won't need books set at 'fat camps' because the dangerous idea that any child (or adult) needs to change or think differently about themselves because of their weight is abolished entirely.
TW: fatphobia, discussion on weight and dieting
July 7, 2023
Julie Murphy's Camp Sylvania follows soon-to-be 6th grader, Maggie, as her summer is thrown out of whack—her mother making the decision to send her to fat camp instead of theater camp with her bestfriend, Nora. But what's waiting at Camp Sylvania bites worse than twisted summer plans, and garlic might be the only remedy.
Read
July 1, 2023Leaving unrated until I can rewatch the movie Heavyweights. Yes, it's acknowledged in the quote at the beginning but even without it I felt in my bones the first two thirds of this book was a literal copycat of the movie simply substituting a female protagonist. Even down to the last day of school camp switcheroo, the person waiting underneath the camp sign foreshadowing the summer from hell, the killing of the lake blob, new camp leadership, public weigh-ins, and more it simply didn't sit right with me- just felt like a movie novelization swapping the go-cart track for the theatrical stage. However, once the storyline shifted to the daily blood drives, vampires, missing kids, and such I enjoyed it much more. I've just never felt like I've read plagiarism before like how this book started. 😭
Update: Rewatched Heavyweights the day after finishing Camp Sylvania, I found even more similarities: forgot about a cameraperson following around Sylvia & Tony. Campers snuck into the directors space, letters home unsent, a parent who is a lawyer, etc. I just don't know what to do with my rating. If rights were arranged, maybe for a book to screen/movie? A follow-up book has also already been announced for 2024. Guess time will tell. 🤷
Update: Rewatched Heavyweights the day after finishing Camp Sylvania, I found even more similarities: forgot about a cameraperson following around Sylvia & Tony. Campers snuck into the directors space, letters home unsent, a parent who is a lawyer, etc. I just don't know what to do with my rating. If rights were arranged, maybe for a book to screen/movie? A follow-up book has also already been announced for 2024. Guess time will tell. 🤷
October 25, 2025
3.25
This was a cute and enjoyable middle grade, with a fun spooky summer camp with body positivity added. Which I found important for younger readers to read.
This was a cute and enjoyable middle grade, with a fun spooky summer camp with body positivity added. Which I found important for younger readers to read.
August 7, 2023
The cutest quirkiest tween book
A girl has hopes and dreams for summer but her mom and dad let her know she is going to a fat camp instead
Loved
A girl has hopes and dreams for summer but her mom and dad let her know she is going to a fat camp instead
Loved
November 5, 2023
Mini Book Review: 4.5 Once I heard Julie Murphy was doing a middle grade school with the idea of Heavyweights in mind, I knew I had to read it. Heavyweights was such a formative movie for me growing up as a chubby kid and it was during the time where tween films were top notch (Mighty Ducks, Big Green, Little Giants, etc).
Content Warnings from Storygraph:
I thought this was such a cute read! Even reading as an adult, I was enthralled into the premise and needed to know what was going to happen. And knowing it is going to be a series I can't wait to see what other adventures the kids of Camp Slyvania are going to get into. I love Murphy's style of writing and she definitely had me chuckling while reading this one.
If you are looking for a quick read during the Halloween season that takes place at a summer camp with a fun cast filled with middle schoolers - check this out! It is fun for all ages!
Content Warnings from Storygraph:
I thought this was such a cute read! Even reading as an adult, I was enthralled into the premise and needed to know what was going to happen. And knowing it is going to be a series I can't wait to see what other adventures the kids of Camp Slyvania are going to get into. I love Murphy's style of writing and she definitely had me chuckling while reading this one.
If you are looking for a quick read during the Halloween season that takes place at a summer camp with a fun cast filled with middle schoolers - check this out! It is fun for all ages!
May 12, 2023
Super grateful to have gotten my hands on an arc 🫶🏼
Camp Sylvania is the perfect cozy summer read that takes you back to your childhood while incorporating body positivity! All the characters are really lovable and you can’t help but feel awe for all the friendships Maggie makes during her stay! I will always love Julie Murphy books and her new middle grade book is no exception, releases June 6th ‼️🤭
3.5⭐️
Camp Sylvania is the perfect cozy summer read that takes you back to your childhood while incorporating body positivity! All the characters are really lovable and you can’t help but feel awe for all the friendships Maggie makes during her stay! I will always love Julie Murphy books and her new middle grade book is no exception, releases June 6th ‼️🤭
3.5⭐️
July 11, 2023
This new middle-grade release from Julie Murphy serves up a slightly spooky summer camp tale in a suspiciously red smoothie. I came for the promise of supernatural summer vibes and stayed for the friendships, the camaraderie, the humor, and the badassery of middle school girls who are done being messed with. Best served with garlic and a sharpened walking stick.
Read
October 2, 2023Not giving this a review since I listened on audio but this is a very spooky cute middle grade book with a plus sized main character - this is the exact book I wish I had at the age of the mc. Even as an adult it was fun and healing and nice to look back and think about my relationship with my mom and weight and body image.
October 13, 2023
Had a good time with this book! Silly and creepy vibes. I actually wanted it to be longer and more exploratory of its own concept. But obviously I'm not the target audience. I wonder what this idea would look like if it were for adults.
July 17, 2023
Okay, this was adorable. You’ve got summer camp, making new friends, parental betrayal, and new experiences, BUT then you add in vampires! What a fun adventure this was! I loved how all the abstract things came together and how Maggie came into her own. Audio narration by Katie Ladner was spot on with several accents represented well. Thanks to Libro.fm and Balzer + Bray for the advanced listening copy in exchange for an honest review! 🧛♀️🧛♀️🧛♀️🧛♀️🧛♀️
July 30, 2024
Such an important and helpful middle grade read! So glad that literature like this is out there and, oh, that it’s spooky too!
March 9, 2023
I received a copy from HarperCollins Children's Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Maggie is excited to spend her summer at Camp Rising Star with her best friend. Things are going great until her parents reveal that they’re sending her to a fat camp called Camp Sylvania the night before she’s supposed to leave for a fun summer with her best friend. Maggie’s summer plans just blew straight out the window, and it’s about to get worse now that fat camp is worse than she expected when fellow campers start going missing.
When I saw this book, I knew I had to read it. We follow Maggie as her parents are shipping her off to the fat camp her mother once attended now that it’s under new ownership. Of course, Maggie is furious about it, and I don’t blame her one bit. Poor Maggie has been made to feel that she’s not good enough due to her weight, and now this insecurity is thrown in her face as she’s blindsided by the news that she’s not going to theater camp with her best friend.
One of the things I like about this book is that it has a lot of positive messages. We watch Maggie make new friends and start to learn to embrace her weight and appearance. At the same time, we see the camp’s new owner’s own self-hatred and fears come to life through the camp that she now owns and runs. We get to see a combination of characters who are either fat and learning to accept themselves, characters who encourage the kids at the camp to enjoy who they are, and then characters who either hate themselves or are just outright prejudiced toward plus size folks. With a supernatural twist, we’ve got a fun book for middle schoolers with some great messages that teaches one to like and accept themselves.
I will say that the supernatural twist takes a while to get rolling, but the foreshadowing is wonderful and it’ll be fun for middle schoolers to put two and two together as they read. It’s an excellent read and I’m excited to check out more books from the author, especially since it appears that they mainly write stories that follow overweight characters.
Maggie is excited to spend her summer at Camp Rising Star with her best friend. Things are going great until her parents reveal that they’re sending her to a fat camp called Camp Sylvania the night before she’s supposed to leave for a fun summer with her best friend. Maggie’s summer plans just blew straight out the window, and it’s about to get worse now that fat camp is worse than she expected when fellow campers start going missing.
When I saw this book, I knew I had to read it. We follow Maggie as her parents are shipping her off to the fat camp her mother once attended now that it’s under new ownership. Of course, Maggie is furious about it, and I don’t blame her one bit. Poor Maggie has been made to feel that she’s not good enough due to her weight, and now this insecurity is thrown in her face as she’s blindsided by the news that she’s not going to theater camp with her best friend.
One of the things I like about this book is that it has a lot of positive messages. We watch Maggie make new friends and start to learn to embrace her weight and appearance. At the same time, we see the camp’s new owner’s own self-hatred and fears come to life through the camp that she now owns and runs. We get to see a combination of characters who are either fat and learning to accept themselves, characters who encourage the kids at the camp to enjoy who they are, and then characters who either hate themselves or are just outright prejudiced toward plus size folks. With a supernatural twist, we’ve got a fun book for middle schoolers with some great messages that teaches one to like and accept themselves.
I will say that the supernatural twist takes a while to get rolling, but the foreshadowing is wonderful and it’ll be fun for middle schoolers to put two and two together as they read. It’s an excellent read and I’m excited to check out more books from the author, especially since it appears that they mainly write stories that follow overweight characters.
June 5, 2023
I received a free ARC from HarperCollins Children's Books, Balzer + Bray via NetGalley. This middle grade book from Julie Murphy was another fun and thoughtful read. Maggie is excited to go to Theatre Camp and at the last minute and without asking, her mom sends her to "health and wellness" camp where the "f" word (fat) is off limits. Maggie is sorely disappointed. What follows is a nice combination of the realistic friendships built at summer camp and supernatural mystery elements. Combined they make for a fast read that will be easy to sell to readers.
January 7, 2023
Loving this revival of the vampire trope in middle grade 😌 gimme more!
September 26, 2023
Welcome Back!
Recently in between reads, I noticed that my audiobook hold on Libby for Camp Sylvania had come up. I had just finished a book and decided this would be a great time to give this book a try. It’s a middle-grade spooky book written by Julie Murphy (who I absolutely adore, I have reviews for several of her other works still live here and on Goodreads). So without further ado, let’s jump into Camp Sylvania.
SPOILERS AHEAD
Maggie has waited for a long time but this summer is her summer! Maggie and her best friend are going to go to the same summer camp, the one they have been dreaming about for at least a year now. But when Maggie gets home, her parents have other news for her. They want Maggie to go to a different camp centered on weight loss and go to her dream camp next year. Maggie very very reluctantly but she goes to the other camp. She is not really having any fun but she has made some friends. The camp is a little weird overall with activities such as donating blood. Maggie and her friends think nothing of it at first but what if something much weirder is happening at camp?
I really enjoyed the audiobook for this story. It was a short audiobook (less than 8 hours, I believe) and helped to get me in the spooky mood. As far as the characters go, I loved everyone but Maggie’s mother. I think Maggie’s new camp friends were amazing (and the creepy director was very interesting as well). I can not wait to read whatever else Julie writes (I think I still have one book from her on my backlog currently). In the meantime, let me know in the comments what spooky reads you have picked up so far!
Goodreads Rating: 4 Stars
Recently in between reads, I noticed that my audiobook hold on Libby for Camp Sylvania had come up. I had just finished a book and decided this would be a great time to give this book a try. It’s a middle-grade spooky book written by Julie Murphy (who I absolutely adore, I have reviews for several of her other works still live here and on Goodreads). So without further ado, let’s jump into Camp Sylvania.
SPOILERS AHEAD
Maggie has waited for a long time but this summer is her summer! Maggie and her best friend are going to go to the same summer camp, the one they have been dreaming about for at least a year now. But when Maggie gets home, her parents have other news for her. They want Maggie to go to a different camp centered on weight loss and go to her dream camp next year. Maggie very very reluctantly but she goes to the other camp. She is not really having any fun but she has made some friends. The camp is a little weird overall with activities such as donating blood. Maggie and her friends think nothing of it at first but what if something much weirder is happening at camp?
I really enjoyed the audiobook for this story. It was a short audiobook (less than 8 hours, I believe) and helped to get me in the spooky mood. As far as the characters go, I loved everyone but Maggie’s mother. I think Maggie’s new camp friends were amazing (and the creepy director was very interesting as well). I can not wait to read whatever else Julie writes (I think I still have one book from her on my backlog currently). In the meantime, let me know in the comments what spooky reads you have picked up so far!
Goodreads Rating: 4 Stars
November 21, 2022
Thank you Harper Collins and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this children’s book!
Magnolia “Maggie” Hagen is determined to be in the spotlight...if she can just get over her stage fright. This summer, though, she has big plans to finally attend Camp Rising Star, the famous performing arts camp she’s been dying to go to for three whole summers.
But on the last day of school, her parents break the news: Maggie isn’t going to Camp Rising Star. She’s being shipped off to fat camp—and not just any fat camp. She’s going to Camp Sylvania, run by world-famous wellness influencer Sylvia Sylvania, who is known for her soon-to-be patented Scarlet Diet.
When Maggie arrives at camp, things are...weird. There are the humiliating weigh-ins and grueling workouts, as expected. But the campers are also encouraged to donate blood—at their age! The cafeteria serves only red foods and the oddly specific rules change every day. There are even rumors of a camp ghost.
Despite these horrors, Maggie makes friends and starts to actually enjoy herself. There are even tryouts for a camp production of The Music Man! This place might not be so bad…until campers start going missing and suspicious things begin happening—especially after dark.
The camp ghost might be the least scary thing about this place….
As a plus size gal and big fan of Julie Murphy, I was so stoked to see this book! I really enjoyed this story, and I’m excited to read it with my 7 year old. We’re big fans of children’s books with ghost stories. I appreciate the author bringing awareness to fat people and fat stereotypes.
Magnolia “Maggie” Hagen is determined to be in the spotlight...if she can just get over her stage fright. This summer, though, she has big plans to finally attend Camp Rising Star, the famous performing arts camp she’s been dying to go to for three whole summers.
But on the last day of school, her parents break the news: Maggie isn’t going to Camp Rising Star. She’s being shipped off to fat camp—and not just any fat camp. She’s going to Camp Sylvania, run by world-famous wellness influencer Sylvia Sylvania, who is known for her soon-to-be patented Scarlet Diet.
When Maggie arrives at camp, things are...weird. There are the humiliating weigh-ins and grueling workouts, as expected. But the campers are also encouraged to donate blood—at their age! The cafeteria serves only red foods and the oddly specific rules change every day. There are even rumors of a camp ghost.
Despite these horrors, Maggie makes friends and starts to actually enjoy herself. There are even tryouts for a camp production of The Music Man! This place might not be so bad…until campers start going missing and suspicious things begin happening—especially after dark.
The camp ghost might be the least scary thing about this place….
As a plus size gal and big fan of Julie Murphy, I was so stoked to see this book! I really enjoyed this story, and I’m excited to read it with my 7 year old. We’re big fans of children’s books with ghost stories. I appreciate the author bringing awareness to fat people and fat stereotypes.
August 24, 2023
This story starts out with a quote from Heavyweights which brings back a LOT of feelings. It also makes it pretty clear where this story is going, which you've possibly guessed is, fat camp. I mean health and wellness camp. I mean... Camp Sylvania, where things are about to get...vampy. Maggie thought she was going to theatre camp, Camp Rising Star this summer, but her parents have signed her up for Camp Sylvania, run by the one and only Sylvia Sylvania and there's no breaking this promise. But something's off with this camp, and I don't just mean Sylvia's Scarlet Diet.
Content Warning: Fatphobia, blood, eating disorder, kidnapping, bullying
MG - Paranormal Fantasy, light horror - Stand Alone
Format: Audio
Content Warning: Fatphobia, blood, eating disorder, kidnapping, bullying
MG - Paranormal Fantasy, light horror - Stand Alone
Format: Audio
December 14, 2023
This cybils nominee had good action, good friendships, and good conflict with parents. It was also a good depiction of being overweight in our world, wondering if you are actually a problem. But the action was about the vampires, not the fat camp, so it didn’t feel like a Saturday afternoon special. I also liked the stage fright stuff.
It felt a bit low stakes in that the evil adults were pretty dumb, but that let us emphasize with the kids more. I’m not sure it’s as accessible to boys, because it takes a while for the vampire stuff to start and the experience of tubbiness is very gendered. They might like it as a window experience, seeing something other kids have to deal with. There are boys at camp but we don’t get much of their interiority.
July 1, 2024
Wow, I've finally finished this book, after starting it last year 😅. Hmm, as an adult reading this book, I did connect with the nostalgia of the Heavyweights inspo (film from 1995). However, I will say, this book was pretty similar to the film...like almost to the t. So, in that sense, I wish there was more flushing out when it came to the vampires. That only really clicked towards the end.
I do want to read the second book in this series, and hopefully, it's more fine-tuned. I just think this book was a bit ambitious in handling the Heavyweights inspo. (fat) camp, making it into vampires are among us, to friendships to a love interest to ghosts being real. It wasn't bad that all those themes were included, but then some stuff felt a bit lacking. For the most part, it was a fun read.
I do want to read the second book in this series, and hopefully, it's more fine-tuned. I just think this book was a bit ambitious in handling the Heavyweights inspo. (fat) camp, making it into vampires are among us, to friendships to a love interest to ghosts being real. It wasn't bad that all those themes were included, but then some stuff felt a bit lacking. For the most part, it was a fun read.
October 28, 2023
3.5 stars. This was a fun book to read right before Halloween. We follow a girl named Maggie who was supposed to go to performing arts camp with her best friend but at the last minute her mom tells her she is going to fat camp, just like she did when she was younger. However, this camp is run by a former friend turned wellness guru named Sylvania. They quickly realized things were a little weird and the camp was an underground vampire blood bank. It was a fun cast of friends and it was an entertaining read, though not one I'll likely remember for long.
May 22, 2024
Book 1 is an amazing start for this series. A Summer Camp as you can't imagine. Safe for new friendships, but with a lot of paranormal activity. It's not a summer camp to lose weight. Lots of action, tension, and humor. Themes such as acceptance, self-confidence, fun, uplifting read, solving things on their own, and making new friends among those who share interests and experiences.
I'm excited to start book 2.
I'm excited to start book 2.
July 19, 2025
I adore this book! it's cute, spooky and fast pace. also it being A good message for chubby girls and boys as well. The twists are great, and every character is unique. I LOVE the villians as they are funny and intimidating at the same time. perfect for Summerween. can't wait for book 2.
June 15, 2023
How I wish I could give this book to 13 year old me!! Loved.
July 27, 2023
Cute fat positive middle grade read
September 13, 2023
This was so cute!! It’s pretty much “Heavyweights” with vampires, but I didn’t mind at all. Loved the body positivity and endearing message, even if parts were a bit cheesy.
September 14, 2023
Campy mg fun! I book talked this yesterday and had to buy extra copies to satisfy everyone.
January 18, 2024
Summer camp with vampires!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 231 reviews