Book Review: Camp Scare by Delilah S. Dawson

Title: Camp Scare

Author: Delilah S. Dawson

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Publishing Date: August 2nd, 2022

Read: March 26th, 2024

Pages: 288

Audio Length: 7 Hours 27 Minutes

Genre: Middle Grade Paranormal Horror Mystery

TW: Bullying

Series: Standalone

Source: Audio

What it's about:

An eerie, twisty ghost story about twelve-year-old Parker, who only wanted a summer of fun and new friendship, and the nightmare she finds instead.

Don't forget your flashlight...

Parker Nelson can't wait for summer camp. She'll have fun and make amazing memories, far away from the bullies who made seventh grade unbearable.

But then something terrible happens: The mean girl who made life a living nightmare is in Parker's cabin. Soon all the other girls turn on Parker, too--no one wants to be her friend. Except Jenny.

Jenny's the only one who is willing to listen. The only one who understands. The only one who feels the same way Parker does: That there's a deep, dark secret to making friends and she's the only one who doesn't know it.

But there's something else Parker doesn't know. Something bad happened at the camp a long time ago, and it just won't stay buried...

What I thought:

This was a fun quick short read. I love middle grade horror because it's so genuinely horror. It doesn't have any of the sex and it's usually a very quick pace while still being completely creepy. 

This one definitely was creepy and a quick read and I found myself zoning out quite often while listening.

This is another book that's been months since I've read, so I'll do my best at reviewing.

Cover:

I love the skull marshmallow so much.

Story:

I really liked this story, it kept me guessing and I never knew what was going to come next, I was worried it was going to be a typical mean girl ghostly story, and it was to a certain degree, but while being also very unique.

Pace: 

The perfect pace to keep young horror fans focused.

Writing: 

Very creepy, the descriptions were great and I felt like it flowed well, it's meant for tweens so it doesn't have to be anything spectacular, but I do feel like it's well written.

Characters: 

I had a problem with a lot of the characters, I tried to remember that they were tweens but a lot of them were annoying, oops.

 

World building: 

Like I said the author did a good job describing what was happening and what was around them, I was able to picture what I was reading.

Ending: 

I didn't expect the ending and I really liked it.

Narrator:

For the most part I enjoyed the narrator. I did find the voice to be a bit whiny sometimes but not awful.

Overall:

It's a creepy quick middle grade horror full of twists and turns. 

Possible books of likeness:

Author's info:

Delilah S. Dawson is the New York Times-bestselling author of Star Wars: Phasma, Black Spire: Galaxy's Edge, and The Perfect Weapon. With Kevin Hearne, she writes the Tales of Pell. As Lila Bowen, she writes the Shadow series, beginning with Wake of Vultures. Her other books include the Blud series, the Hit series, and Servants of the Storm.
She's written comics in the worlds of Marvel Action: Spider-Man, Lore's Wellington, Star Wars Adventures, Star Wars Forces of Destiny, The X-Files Case Files, Adventure Time, Rick and Morty, and her creator-owned comics include Star Pig, Ladycastle, and Sparrowhawk.

Website http://www.whimsydark.com
Twitter DelilahSDawson

Other books I've read by this author: