Camp Wild

"He's trying to portage the kayak by himself!" Herb exclaims. Before either of us can run forward to help him, Charlie stumbles. The earth beneath him gives way, and he and his boat tumble down in a small landslide. They hit the water above the falls with a splash. "Rescue rope!" I scream. Wilf is convinced his parents want nothing to do with him. When he isn't in school, he is left to his own devices or shipped away to camp. But at fifteen, Wilf is adamant that he is too old for summer camp. When his parents ignore his protests and ship him off anyway, he knows how he will get their attention: He will escape from camp by canoe and spend the rest of his vacation alone in the woods, proving to his parents he deserves his independence. His plan begins to unravel when his cabin mate forces Wilf to take him along. Things go from bad to worse when a younger camper follows them and they all end up in a fight for their lives against the unforgiving river. Pam Withers is the author of the Take it to the Extreme series of teen novels.

Anita Barnes Lowen - Children's Literature

Too old for a baby-sitter and not responsible enough to be unsupervised all summer long—these are the reasons Wilf's parents are sending him to Camp Wild. In 14- year-old Wilf's opinion, his parents have gone way too far; he is too old for camp—especially when he will be the oldest camper at a little kids' summer camp. Wilf does not have a choice; like it or not, he is going to camp. But he does not plan to stay long. As soon as he arrives at Camp Wild, Wilf begins plotting his escape. His surreptitious preparations do not go unnoticed, however, and he finds himself agreeing to let his geeky bunkmate, Herb, come along on what turns out to be a wild and dangerous whitewater adventure. Written in the first person and in the present tense, the story pulls readers right into the action. From the beginning to the predictable end, this title is a good choice for reluctant readers. 2005, Orca Book Publishers, Ages 9 to 12.