Secrets of Camp Whatever by Chris Grine

  I'm a little wary when it comes to Chris Grine's work, as it tends to be grotesque in odd ways that I find troubling, but I liked enough of this title to purchase it for the library.

The story begins with Willow, age 11, and her younger brother Gryphin traveling with their parents to a mysterious town. There Willow will be attending her father's childhood summer camp while her family settles into their new home. Neither Willow nor Gryphin are very enthusiastic about this idea, especially after their weird encounters at the town's diner. Willow is especially disgusted when they meet the camp leader and he turns out to be extremely ableist about her Deafness, shouting at her, calling her out in front of the other campers, and more.

She also has a run-in with an aggressive and bullying camper and some frightening encounters with mysterious creatures, and is pretty sure the whole Camp (what IS the name anyways?) is a bad idea. But Willow is nothing if not determined, and with some possible new friends she sets out to discover the secrets of Camp Whatever and the isolated island, not to mention the even creepier secrets of Mr. Tooter, the new camp leader.

Grine's talent for grotesquerie comes through, with a mix of paranormal creatures, creepy encounters, and poop humor. The children are the most nuanced characters, but the stereotype of "fat = disgusting/stupid" is present in several instances, from the nasty Mr. Tooter to the greedy and foolish camp counselor the kids fool to escape and explore the island. The book clearly hints at sequels, but Grine has a history of unfinished series, so I would be prepared for this to be the only title.

Verdict: This is certainly an additional purchase; it's an odd mix of stereotypes and horror movie cliches along with representation of a diverse group of children and intriguing glimpses of more secrets yet to come. I'm interested enough in the plot and the inclusion of a Deaf, biracial main protagonist to overlook the flaws, but consider your audience before purchasing this title.

ISBN: 9781620108628; Published March 2021 by Oni Press; Borrowed from another library in my consortium; Purchased for the library