Camp Monster

Tasha, a young Yeti, writes to her grandfather about the fact that her parents are reopening his summer camp. Because of the decline in the population of Yetis, they have decided to open the camp to other types of monsters. Tasha's cousin, Kami, will be attending, but so are twin goblins Tom and Zelbawog, werewolf Lup, vampire Vera, ogress Isabelle and Griffin Claude. The counselors are also diverse, with a mermaid life guard and sphinx camp cook, among others. There are some tensions; Isabelle doesn't get along well with Vera, and also struggles with the common perception of ogres, since she is all about glitter, pink tutus, and dramatic acting. Tom and Zelbawog use their magic to create a sentient robot, which causes some trouble. There is a constant threat from humans, and the campers are told to alert the staff if they see anything. Of course, when Tasha finds hoofprints, she assumes they are from horses, and tries to investigate. The camp sign listing rules is damaged, Lupo is reluctant to swim, and the cook is constantly harassing the campers and making the guess riddles before they can eat. In the end, a culprit outside the camp is found to be responsible for damaging the sign, and the camp experience has been so successful that the campers all decide to come back for another session in two weeks.

This was an interesting graphic novel that will appeal to young fantasy lovers who also want a dash of humor. Readalikes include Owen's Lumberjackula, Rivadeneira and Jones' FrankinSchool, and the rebooted Dadey and Jones The Adventures of the Bailey School Kids. There are some nice twists on the different types of monsters, and it's nice to see Tasha's family working together to resurrect the grandfather's camp while also changing it slightly to appeal to a wider variety of campers. There's even some excitement when the campers have to work together to ward off a threat from humans. I would have liked to see Gramp Abominable show up at camp, but I wouldn't be surprised if this became a series, so we may yet see him.

CAMP MONSTER is a charming and engaging middle grade graphic novel about friendship and navigating social situations. Camp Yeti has not had enough campers to stay open, so they have rebranded to Camp Monster for all types to attend. Tasha, whose family owns the camp, is excited to meet all the new campers. However, right away, things aren't going quite as planned and everyone needs to learn to get along. When Tasha finds hoofprints and the camp rules sign is damaged, it seems like there might be something bigger behind it - if only they can work together to figure out what is going on.

What I loved: This was such a fun and unique premise with all the mystical monsters joining in the fun. While they are monsters, their problems are very relatable as they navigate friendships and getting along with others who seem so different from themselves. Hijinks and mayhem await them at every turn as kids make trouble - but they also face potential danger from humans that has them all on alert. All is well that ends well, however, and the camp ends with friendships and excitement all around - with the thrilling potential for more books in the series!

The characters were all well done with lots of personalities and backgrounds that felt genuine and compelling. Throughout the book, there are some letters to home that add to the character arcs and enhance the summer camp feel in a really fun and clever way. The mystery elements were light but kept some excitement and the pages turning quickly.

The illustrations are fantastic throughout with lots of detail and care, bringing each scene to life. There is a good balance between images and dialogue that works well in the graphic novel format. The dialogue and speech bubbles are easy to follow and attribute, which is great for middle grade readers, particularly those on the younger side.

Final verdict: With a charming and relatable story, CAMP MONSTER is a middle grade fantasy graphic novel that keeps readers on their toes and eager for more!