Cartboy Goes to Camp

 Cartboy Goes to Camp

Reviewed By  Grasshopper2       February 16, 2015

 

Author  L.A. Campbell

Distributor:     
ISBN:                 9781743317754
Publisher:         Allen & Unwin Childrens
Release Date:    

Website:    http://www.allenandunwin.com 

FaceBook:   

YouTube:  

Instagram:   

X formally Twitter:   

This is the second Cartboy book in what hopefully will become a substantial series. Hal is Cartboy, so named because his family couldn’t afford an expensive backpack for school and so bought him a “Granny Cart”, hence the name given to him by school bullies. This also begins to explain the nature of the way the book begins.

You see, Hal is writing to aliens who he hopes may read his accounts in the future, take pity on him, and come back in time to rescue him.  It is a long shot but Hal thinks it is worth a try.

The next disaster to occur is when his father announces that he is going to camp. Hal is thrilled, sure that it will be a sporting camp, but alas, it is a camp for historians who teach children how to live like pioneers. So Hal gets to sleep in a wattle and daub hut, with no electricity, and to eat healthy food. What could be worse! Just one thing. The school bully who delights in bullying him has just arrived at the camp and is determined to continue his behaviour.

The story is well crafted, with a text manageable for most children who are competent at reading. The text is broken up, often with small witty observations and pictures. There are also double page spreads throughout the book with topics such as “Sleeping bags throughout the ages” showing the sleeping bag a Neanderthal man may have used.

 The humour will appeal to most children with many farts and burps in the dormitory. The physical humour is also present with wedgies given. Add to that a secret treasure hunt and you have a story that needs to be read through to the end.

Childrens