What's the Name of That Book??? discussion

Protagonist is sent to a camp in the wilderness to be rehabilitated.

The camp is run by two guys - one looks ordinary, and the other a big burly guy (maybe ginger haired?). Both are friendly and nice.

They have to march long distances each morning to eat breakfast.

There's zip lining. There's canoeing.

At the end, each kid is left alone in the wilderness by themselves. Something goes wrong, and the protagonist has to find and rally the kids together

I think the protagonist, at the start of the book, tried to steal a car, crashed, and was in the hospital injured. That's how he got caught and sent to the camp.

I also think near the beginning of the book, when the kids are being bused to the camp, one of the kids tries to escape by climbing out the bathroom window at a rest stop.

The book was written before 2001. It was most likely a young adults books, for young kids.

What is zip lining?

bookel wrote: "What is zip lining?"

Oh, looks like a flying fox. Fun!

Don't recognize it, but I'll be adding it to my YA stash when it's ID'ed.

Oh wow. I feel like I actually read that back in the 90s. For some reason I thought the protagonist was a girl though...haha. I wish I could help you find it, but I'm afraid I don't remember the title.

EDIT:
I think the book I read was Downriver. Is this the one you're thinking of? There's also a sequel called River Thunder. Will Hobbs has written a number of outdoorsy YA books if you want to check those out as well.

EDIT 2:
Camp Wild is a possibility as well, but Downriver fits better I think.

Boot Camp by Todd Strasser?

I looked up "boot camp" but that wasn't it. This looks like a horror story. And it was published much later. The camp in my story was very positive, and did a lot of good.

I looked up "Camp Wild", but it's a story just about an ordinary camp. Not one for juvenile delinquents.

I looked up "River Thunder" and it was just about a camping trip between friends.

I looked up "Downriver" and it's the same as above.

One added note. For some reason, the word or abbreviation "STARS" keeps sticking in the back of my mind. I thought maybe the book itself was called Stars, but doesn't look like it. So maybe the camp program in the book was called "Stars"? But this memory might just be nothing.

Poolboy, I'm not sure you were looking at a good synopsis of Downriver. All the teen characters are definitely attending a nature camp for "problem" kids. Here's a synopsis from School Library Journal:

Eight problem kids (four boys, four girls, high school age) have been sent to a camp called Discovery Unlimited where they are to meet problems, make responsible decisions, and develop as adults. "Hoods in the Woods" the kids call themselves. Action occurs in the outback of southwestern Colorado and northern Arizona as Al, their adult leader, programs the group first to climb Storm King Peak (which nearly results in fatalities) and then to raft the white water of the San Juan River. The Hoods decide rafting the Colorado River will be wilder; so they steal Al's van and equipment, drive to the put-in at Lee's Ferry, sneak past the park rangers, inflate their rafts, and seven embark--one deserts. Rafting the wild Colorado is heady but difficult and dangerous. Misadventures develop the kids, but also breed disasters. So when the rangers capture the group near Havasu Creek, not all resent the rescue.

It's possibly still not your book, but I thought you might like a better synopsis :]

Holly wrote: "Poolboy, I'm not sure you were looking at a good synopsis of Downriver. All the teen characters are definitely attending a nature camp for "problem" kids. Here's a synopsis from School Library Jour..."

Thanks for that. I searched for an even more thorough synopsis: http://novelinks.org/uploads/Novels/D...

and even though it is eerie that one of the people is named STAR, it's still not the book.

edit: I think I might read it though. There's always the possibility that I'm combining two books, and this was one of them. But i'm still confident what I described was set all in one book.

I think I may have found your book! Stars by Eric Walters

After his latest attempt at car theft and the ensuing high-speed chase, Joseph wakes up in intensive care. At the hospital he meets a social worker who has an offer he can’t refuse. Joseph will be going with two social workers and several other young offenders on a wilderness camping trip for STARS (Striving Through Adventure to develop Responsibility and Success). Joseph goes along with it – but only until he can figure out a plan to get away from them and return to the city and his criminal support system.

Joseph heads north with seven other young offenders and the two social workers. While roughing it in the bush and learning survival skills, the young boys also start healing some of the damage that their inner city lives and broken homes has caused. But will Joseph ever be able to lower his guard and learn to trust enough to allow true healing to start?

Holly wrote: "I think I may have found your book! Stars by Eric Walters

After his latest attempt at car theft and the ensuing high-speed chase, Joseph wakes up in intensive care...."

Holy cr*p, it does exist. And with the name I thought it would have. I've searched for this, and have no idea how I missed it.

I thought I had made this book up!! I have been trying to find it for years - thank you!!!!