In the first book in a hit summer reading series for children ages 8 to 12, campers fight to lose like never before. This three-book series is great for sports fans and reluctant readers, with Camp Average shortlisted for provincial children's choice awards in Manitoba, Ontario, and Saskatchewan.
A group of 11-year-olds arrives to spend six weeks playing sports at Camp Avalon—which they affectionately call Camp Average, because they never win at any sport. And that's the way they like it. But this summer, new camp director Winston—who hates losing—has some hyper-competitive ideas about how to improve their performance, whether they want to or not!
Led by main character Mack and his friend Andre, the boys of Cabin 10 decide to reclaim their summer and revolt by losing spectacularly at every game they play, and especially at the big baseball tournament coming up with three nearby camps.
In a story full of plotting, planning, and plenty of push-ups, it's a full-court press on losing for the campers, strategic play-by-play for the camp director, and great teamwork on all sides. Who will come out on top? The first book in the critically acclaimed Camp Average series is a smart, funny summer read featuring a diverse group of realistic characters and a winning storyline.
1 of 1 copy available
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Creators
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Series
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Publisher
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Release date
July 15, 2020 -
Formats
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OverDrive Read
- ISBN: 9781771474542
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EPUB ebook
- ISBN: 9781771474542
- File size: 1871 KB
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Languages
- English
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Levels
- Lexile® Measure: 790
- Text Difficulty: 3-4
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Reviews
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Starred review from March 15, 2019
A new administrator's efforts to remake an easygoing boys' sports camp into an athletic powerhouse meet spirited resistance.Loosely branded as a sports camp, Camp Avalon (aka Camp Average), unlike its better-funded competitors, doesn't specialize in one sport. While directors annually remind campers about its sole baseball tournament win (1951), many activities aren't competitive or even sports--until director Winston takes charge, canceling traditional events and activities and banning hot dogs and sugary cereals. After exhaustive athletic-aptitude testing, each camper is assigned a sport, which they'll spend all day, every day, playing. Eleven-year-old Mack Jones, white, and Andre Jennings, a dark-skinned, talented pitcher, both land baseball, as does Nelson Ramos, YouTube celebrity toy-and-game reviewer, a baseball newbie with awesome hand-eye coordination. Winning trumps all: Poor test results consign brainy, well-liked Miles to keeping score and maintaining statistics. Led by Mack, who misses water-skiing, the kids rebel, spectacularly losing games against other camps. As Winston doubles down, adding "boot camp" practice, war escalates. The athletes grow dispirited--losing intentionally is still losing--but then Miles makes a discovery. Mack and friends are endearing, authentic tweens, their bond transcending sports. Camp, campers, and counselors (default white, with names conveying cultural diversity for the most part) are portrayed with unsentimental affection. Sports journalist Battle, past editor of Canadian children's magazine Owl, brings a sharp, satirical eye to trends benign and otherwise in children's sports.Hilarious, irreverent, and timely, highly recommended for sports fans, summer-camp alums, and preteen-years survivors. (Fiction. 8-13)COPYRIGHT(2019) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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