Anna Zobel, This camp is doomed (A Dennith Grange Misadventure, #1), Penguin Random House, Australia, August 2023, 309pp. 9781761047565
This camp is doomed is the first book in the Dennith Grange misadventure series about first year high school students who are facing the usual adolescent changes but also, in their world, it is the time of life for discovering their unique magical powers.
Ten kids set off for an outdoor adventure at Camp Buttress. Some of them are pretty unhappy, lonely kids and most would prefer to be going to a different camp. Arriving at the campsite to find that it is grubby, rundown, and isolated doesn’t make them feel any happier. To make matters worse, there are spooky, strange things happening and the two teachers are concerned about the obvious lack of safety.
This camp is doomed is a thoroughly eventful read. From kids struggling to control their newfound magical powers and navigating social relationships, to possible ghost sightings and a spooky Grandma cook, to mysteries to solve and dangerous, suspenseful moments, there is plenty of action to keep the reader turning pages.
Misunderstandings and typical adolescent awkwardness add humour. The magical elements give rise to imaginative situations and surprising plot resolutions. Interesting, complex, yet relatable, characters are developed with insights into their emotional inner world.
The story also subtly references diversity, with the camp kids being from different cultural or language backgrounds or having special needs and one being transgender.
This Camp is doomed is a long chapter book with characters of early high school age and it is a little spooky and scary at times. I recommend it for a middle grade age group (about 11-13 years old) especially those who enjoy adventure stories with elements of magical realism and themes of friendship, finding courage and growing up.
Reviewed by Barbara Swartz
