Camp Average: Double Foul
Author: Craig Battle
Publisher: Owlkidsbooks
It’s a new summer at Camp Avalon―which Mack and his friends still affectionately call Camp Average. After last season’s big baseball victory, camp director Winston wants to continue the winning streak. So he’s launched a competitive program for elite athletes―including a new group of girl campers.
When Winston enters his charges in a high-stakes basketball tournament, Mack opts out in favor of other, less competitive activities. But Mack starts to suspect he’s being played, as one by one, his favorite camp activities all get closed for repairs.
Meanwhile, Winston pits boys against girls in a twisted attempt to win. To undermine Winston’s hypercompetitive scheme once again, Mack creates a plan of his own―but it means he needs to secretly sabotage both the boys’ and girls’ teams. Will Mack match wits with Winston and save the camp from the diabolical director’s clutches once and for all? Or will Mack’s own mischief be exposed-and lose him his summer and his friends? The second Camp Average book is a fast-paced and funny addition to this all-star series.
This is a high-action, humorous read that will delight anyone who has ever been to summer camp or played sports, especially basketball. The second in the series, the novel alludes to people and action in the first book, yet not so much that the reader can’t read it as a standalone. Since the camp has just let girls enroll, the novel includes strong, athletic female characters as well as a diverse cast. The plot revolves around the main character, Mack, trying to rally his friends to oust the evil camp director, who is overly concerned with his own reputation as coach, and is crazy-determined that the camp’s basketball team win at all costs. How do they discredit him without sabotaging their own playing? The novel is hilarious, and the basketball action is plentiful and well narrated (though readers might want to bone up on basketball jargon). The author, a former journalist, coach and camp counselor, keeps it realistic and fun all the way. Sports lovers, and anyone who likes fast-paced, humorous books, this one’s for you.
- PW