Thanks, NetGalley and OniPress, for this ARC! Secrets of Camp Whatever was such a fun read! Willow's family is moving to Nowhere and she is not happy about it. She's also not happy that she has to spend her first week in town at Camp Whatever, a local summer camp. Things don't start out well, with the locals warning about magical and dangerous creatures living near the camp. Rumors continue among the kids once she arrives at camp and the camp director has made it clear he doesn't like children and his ultimate goal is to hunt Bigfoot. Willow teams up with her new friends to discover the secrets at Camp Whatever. I really liked the illustrations in this graphic novel and thought they were the perfect fit for the story: fun and bright but also spooky at the right times. This was also long enough to really enjoy the story, not feel rushed, and there were even some surprises in there that I didn't predict! Overall, I really enjoyed this. Fans of YA and graphic novels should check this one out.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author/publisher for a chance to read this graphic novel in exchange for an honest review!

Okay this one was super cute. The art style was beautifully done, it was fast paced and funny, and can we take a moment to appreciate the diversity?

We follow Willow as she is on her way to a week at Camp.... Whatever for the first time, as the camps first deaf camper. New to the town and not so excited, partially due to the stories her dad shared of his time at the camp, she reluctantly tries to make the best of it and what follows is a week full of funny, fantastical and suspenseful adventures.

I'd love to see more stories set in this world, this was a super fun read.

Hey, Hi, I hope we are all doing okay out there.

I know I said this the other day, but I can not believe we are already in December and somehow like almost 2021. I feel like it was just the other day I was putting out pumpkins for Halloween decorations and now I am decorating for the winter holidays. (I honestly, love both of these seasons so it is totally fine with me but still wow has time flown past me). I am still like twenty or thirty books from my Goodreads goal for the year (so even though I am having what might turn out to be my best reading month of the year, I do not think we are meeting the goal, and honestly that is okay, this year has been insane and I have accomplished a lot and read a lot, but we will hit that goal next year)! But in an effort to keep having the best reading month and just enjoying a bit of a slowed down month for me work wise, I picked up a new graphic novel series the other day (at least I really hope this is a series because I am hooked)!

SPOILERS AHEAD

Willow’s whole family is moving to a new place and her first week will not be spent in the new house, rather her family is sending her to summer camp in her new town. It’s the same summer camp her dad attended when he was her age and now Willow gets to head out onto this small island near their new home and go too! Except Willow is not at all excited about going to summer camp, in fact she would much rather help her parents and brother with the move then go to summer camp. However, once Willow arrives on the island she makes fast friends and even learns about some weird rules (like stay away from the fog). Willow is incredibly curious about the secrets and rumors surrounding her summer camp. But will Willow and her new friends solve any of these or will they just have a normal summer camp experience?

I loved this graphic novel so much! The art popped off the page and the colors were brilliant. The story was interesting and I was always guessing what Willow and the gang might find next and honestly always surprised. I could not find any information as to weather there would be another in the series but I am really crossing my fingers that there will be.

Goodreads Rating: 5 Stars

** Thank you so much to the publisher for the E-ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

I received this book in exchange for a fair review from NetGalley.

So this book is a fantastical adventure in a camp setting. I loved the characters and the fantasy element. There were some good twists and turns in this book I didn’t expect. There was a point that I just couldn’t stop reading it. There were a few things that bugged me.

I mean, Camp Whatever, really?

They called it that name multiple times in the book and it gridded my gears. You couldn’t give the town or the camp a name? Other than whatever? That is an interesting, but annoying choice. Also the name Mr. Tooters was also annoyingly childish, however, I won’t hold it against the author too much since this book is aimed for youngsters.

Overall, I highly recommend this book if you are looking for a different type of summer camp with a riveting plot and some good action scenes.

Secrets of Camp Whatever is a really cute story about a group of kids that attend a rather creepy summer camp in a mysterious island. Going into this I didn’t know if it had paranormal elements or not, but there are many creatures such as gnomes, the chickharnees (what?) or bigfoot (he was so cute), among others, that made the story very interesting.

I really liked the girls and the friendship they form within the camp, I am eager to see the development and growth in the next volumes. The ambience is magical, and it creates the perfect atmosphere for a mystery camp. I also liked the representation of Wil’s hearing aids. I think representation is very important, especially for younger kids.

The spooky vibes were very fun and the illustrations were very nice too. They all have such cute round noses. I would have enjoyed this so much in middle grade. I can’t wait to read more of their adventures. On a separate note, if the author were to release a part 2 with the parents unpacking and getting the new house ready, I would read it so quickly.

A fun romp of summer camp that has its secrets. Though targeted for 9 – 12, adults can definitely enjoy this work. It has a little bit of scare but I don’t think it will give many nightmares. I loved the characters of the “monsters”. They were often more humane than the humans.

Willow, a deaf tween, is the main character who is spunky, smart and tends to ignore the rules if it suits her interest. The story flows smoothly. The illustrations are good. Friendship, courage and standing up for what you believe are strong messages without being preachy. Only the first volume in a series, more secrets promise to be found in the new town Willow and her family are moving to.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honesty review.

Secrets of Camp Whatever would be a great addition to any middle grade classroom library. Not only is the plot engaging, the characters were amazing. There is good representation in terms of ability, and the main character, Willow, defies stereotypes. The climax, falling action, and resolution was a bit rushed, but the exposition and rising action were fabulously written and illustrated. I can not wait to continue the series!

A spooky camp adventure for middle grade and up. This story is full of great human and non-human creatures and mystery as not everything is as it seems. I am very interested in reading another volume to see what the town of Nowhere and Camp Whatever has in store for these kids.

Recommended for: budding horror fans and their families

Content warning: injury to children and animals, some blood and fighting scenes

I received a digital ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a delight to read! The artwork was cute and complemented the story's humorous and fun tone really well. There were some spooky parts at the beginning that helped draw me into the story. I loved the friendships that developed and the seamless inclusivity and diversity in the book. I can't wait to read more!

Secrets of Camp Whatever is a magical and mysterious story about a group of new friends who meet at a summer camp on a strange island. During their short time together, they realize that the island holds many secrets hiding in the woods, but there is someone who wants to destroy them and is willing to do whatever it takes to make sure that happens.

I really enjoyed this graphic novel! It was a fun read, and I loved all of the different creatures we encounter throughout the story. Our main character, Willow, relies on hearing aids to hear, but she doesn’t let that stop her from making new friends, going on adventures, and saving the day. The illustrations were seriously stunning to look at, and the way the entire story flowed and developed was wonderfully done. I would highly recommend this entertaining graphic novel!

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Oni Press for providing an ARC of Secrets of Camp Whatever! This graphic novel is set to be published on 3/2/2021.

Such a sweet adventure story, would definitely recommend to any fans of Lumber janes and The Tea Dragon Society.

Humorous and wholesome with a fun mystery element. This wasn't my usual favourite illustration style but the stories and characters were definitely fleshed out with a lot of representation which was great to see.

Will definitely looking forward to further instalments.

An eleven-year-old deaf girl—Willow—has moved to a new town with her mother, and decides to attend a camp located on an island before school commences, but this place is sprinkled with magic and strangely paranormal with witches, vampires, and more. An adventure that's fun and a mystery that's intriguing, this spooky graphic novel showers whimsical vibes and mystical creatures, in addition to the respectful representation of Willow using hearing aids and communicating via the sign language. Filled with numerous plot twists and a tyrannical revelation that keeps one interested in the next volumes, this story also highlights the courage found in friendships.

A fun story set in a supernatural and mysterious summer camp, which is located in an equally mysterious town where Willow and her family have just moved to.
We start with moving to the town and sending Willow to a week long summer camp.
This volume encompasses the entire week at camp (or at least on the island where the camp is, there isn't much camp action). I mostly enjoyed the cast of characters, I liked the art, and the story. There are some humorous moments and a few twists and suspenseful moments.

I like how we got a contained story, but with hints of a further arc.

I could have done without the poopies bag bit, but maybe 11 year olds find poop funny...

Recommend it for fans of Gravity Falls and Lumberjanes. Looking forward to reading more volumes.

This book was a fun read. It started off a bit slow and I was wondering where everything was going, but as the story progressed, I got very interested.

Willow ends up at this really creepy summer camp. New friends, new annoyances, mystical creatures, and a whole lot of mystery. In the beginning, Willow has a serious attitude problem and it was a little annoying to me. But once she makes friends at Camp Whatever, her grumpiness goes away.

This is an entertaining little adventure and, as a graphic novel, I felt like I was right there. The illustrations are well-done. I wouldn't say gorgeous because some of the creatures in the book were really hideous. But the illustrations definitely fit the tone of the book.

As this is Vol. 1, it's a series I would definitely continue.

The Secrets of Camp Whatever starts off with a family moving to a small town with a colorful, quirky cast of characters who warn them of the dangers that await them in their new home and at the local summer camp, which the protagonist, Willow will be attending.

The story immediately made me feel nostalgic. I remember begging my parents to let me go to summer camp in hopes that I would make friends and have mysterious adventures with them. Although I never got to go, the Secrets of Camp Whatever is a good substitute. The characters feel familiar and instantly likable.

I genuinely appreciate the author's willingness include a variety of female characters, many of who are relatable or feel like people I’ve known. This story provides great representation and is inclusive. I applaud the positive female relationships depicted in this story, which is sadly still underrepresented in the media.

The story-telling and art have a very cinematic quality. Every panel flows naturally to the next like a storyboard, and all of the characters have a distinct voice. The clarity of this story makes it very easy to imagine it adapted to the screen.

If you are a fan of Lumberjanes, Gravity Falls, or just the general allure of the mystical pacific northwest pastiche, then Secrets of Camp Whatever is right up your alley.

This was the first graphic novel I ever read, and was a fantastic introduction into the world of comics!

Secrets of Camp Whatever Vol. 1 is Chris Grine’s first comic in the Camp Whatever series. Due to be released in March 2021, so far, all its early reviews are highly favourable.

It’s a wonderful story of friendship and courage and the perfect fantasy tale for young children. It involves magic and loyalty and the bravery of a young girl who stands up for what’s right despite her hardships.

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Summary
This graphic novel follows eleven-year-old Willow as she reluctantly moves to a new town with her family. Her parents send her to her dad’s old summer camp while they settle in, but this sets off a train of events that nobody can predict. Willow and her new friends battle against corrupt figures of authority and time itself as they rush to save the strange creatures that live on the camp’s island. From a vegetarian bigfoot to frozen gnome statues to suspected vampire cooks, Willow is neck-deep in the mysteries that surround Camp… Whatever. And only she can save it from the new tyrannical director.

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Commentary
It’s an interesting novel full of a lot of highlights best suited to children.

Praise
- The art is incredible throughout the novel. The characters are interesting looking and unique, with strange hairstyles and large facial features. The scenery is mysterious and colourful, with swirling mist and accurate camp life depictions.
- Despite it being a simple story, there are numerous plot twists included. So-called ‘good’ characters turn out to be evil, supernatural creatures appear in the strangest of places, and the main character herself has some surprising ideas. It keeps the reader on their toes and makes some parts of the novel completely unpredictable.
- The main character has a so-called ‘disability’; she’s almost entirely deaf and needs to use hearing aids. It’s treated respectfully and realistically throughout the story. While some characters try to overcompensate, others act too cool about it which ends up making things awkward anyway. Sign language plays a central role in the comic, which is a pleasant change from the norm.

Critique
- As far as the characters names go, the author was trying too hard. The main character’s family includes names like Gryphin and Elena. Even secondary characters are called Tooter, Mim, and the Stump twins. There’s a certain level of originality needed to make books interesting, but in this novel, it’s been taken too far.
- There are too many supernatural creatures included for the short length of this novel. From werewolves, vampires and witches to gnomes, chickcharnees and bigfoot, there are too many types to keep track of.
- The fact that Willow’s parents sent her to the camp, to begin with, is strange. And not in a good way. They’re told by numerous people that the camp is dangerous and mysterious. Her father even admits that a child went missing during his time in the camp. Yet they still send her? Even as Willow gets on the boat, her parents question if it’s a good idea, but they decide to smile and wave anyway.

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Recommendations
Overall, I’d give Chris Grine’s Secrets of Camp Whatever Vol. 1 a three out of five. It’s a simple yet entertaining graphic novel that teaches children many important life lessons.

I’d recommend it for nine to twelve-year-olds, but no one older. It’s interesting enough to keep children hooked, but for teenagers and adults, it’s too basic to hold their attention.

I generally enjoyed this graphic novel. (Sorry that's not such a glowing start!) There were some things structurally that needed neatening up: layering dialogue in a way that characters are just repeating each other and not developing the narrative, the pacing in places etc, too heavy focus on things that are 'spooky' rather than leaving the space for the audience to feel the tension being created. BUT!
The characters are great, I really like the way things are named so loosely, 'Camp Whatever' and 'Nowhere' plays into the audience's expectations and it's a really fun twist. I'm looking forward to the second vol.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.

The representation is definitely the best thing about this! My gf is also deaf and every time I see this amazing representation, my heart melts <3

I wasn't exactly invested in the story, the plot to be more specific, but I absolutely adored the characters in fact, they were the reason I kept reading until the end...

This book was wonderfully magical. Following the story of a Wil, an adventurous girl who needs a hearing aid, and her journey through a week long summer camp after moving to a new town. It's amazing how the author uses sign language to help some of the characters communicate with Wil and normalizes it within the story. This book is very reminiscent of the whimsical experience of going to camp as a child and meeting new friends while also including mystical creatures. This book was very fun to read and I would defintely recommend it.

I received an e-arc of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

3.5/5 stars

I'm going to be completely honest and say that I actually almost didn't finish this one. I had been hovering at about about 30% complete for quite some time and just couldn't seem to really get into it but I thought I would try to continue pushing through anyways. For the most part, the rest of the story didn't completely blow me away but I became much more interested in it around the 40-50% mark.

I thought the overall premise of the story was really interesting but I wish that things would have picked up a little sooner. The mysteriousness of the camp and the creatures on the island really had me pulled in and I loved the execution of the different creatures and probably would be the biggest reason I would be interested in picking up more in the series. I'm also interested to see how this series will continue now that camp is over though it does seem like not everything is at it seems so maybe it will be easy to continue in a different setting. I do hope that the friendship group is able to stick together and continue to learn more about each other.

Other than the slowness of the beginning of the story I did actually really enjoy it. The magical creatures were definitely the driving force of the book even though I did enjoy the main characters as well but they weren't as exciting as the creatures.