Cover Image: Vanishing Act

Vanishing Act

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Member Reviews

I found this story to be light and funny. It will hold kids attention and the important lesson of taking the road less traveled is learned without being drilled into them.

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Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

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This is a Middle Grade Fantasy/Magical Realism, and this is the second book in the Camp Outlier series. This book had me pulled in the story from page one, and it had me not wanting to put it down. I enjoyed learning about all the RISK kids, and I loved that this book shows there are some bad things about having super powers/RISK/being different. The characters in this book were so much fun and loved them. Great and Fun read. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (HarperCollins) or author (Laura Martin) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

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Name of Book: Vanishing Act
Series: Camp Outlier Book #2
Author: Laura Martin
Publisher: Harper Collins Children’s Books
Genre: Middle School Fantasy/Adventure
Pub Date: July 5, 2022
My Rating: 4 Stars!

This is the sequel to [book: Float] which was Book # 1 in the Camp Outlier and written back in 2013, before our author became a mom. The main character in that story was Emerson who couldn’t control ‘floating’.
In this story the main character is Hank.
Our campers Hank, Emerson are back for another summer of fun! This story centers on Hank’s invisibility. (Don’t you just love the cover?) All our campers have RISK (Recurring Incident of the Strange Kind) and they don’t want it to stop them from have a summer of fun. However, soon people and objects are mysteriously becoming invisible. Is someone trying to sabotage Camp Outlier?

But between his invisibility and an internet celebrity joining their cabin, camp clown Hank is struggling to maintain his spotlight.
Hank knows that if he can win the camp-wide challenge for his team, all eyes will be back on him (or, at least, on where everyone thinks the invisible kid is standing). But as the finish line approaches, it becomes clear that someone is trying to sabotage Camp Outlier—and Hank’s pursuit of camp-wide glory puts him in serious danger.
This is a delightful story not just for middle schoolers but “Old folks’ such as me!
I always enjoy reading the author’s Note and Acknowledgement. In Ms. Martin’s ‘Author’s Notes’ she provides us with entertaining details about her ideas for writing this as well as her other books!

Want to thank NetGalley and Harper Collins Children’s Books for this eGalley. This file has been made available to me before publication in an early form for an honest professional review.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for July 5, 2022

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This is book 2 in the Camp Outlier Series by Laura Martin. The campers all have RISK factors or Recurring Incidents of the strange Kind. This one focuses on Hank who spends much of his time being invisible. On his way to camp he's visited by his friends from camp who have time travelled to the past to warn him that he might die there this summer. This adds a great element of suspense to the story, and I couldn't wait to find out what would happen. I also enjoyed Hank's humor and gusto as he faced not only his own personal challenges with his RISK factor but also the challenges his cabin encountered due to someone trying to sabotage Camp Outlier. This book stands up well on it's own, but I would suggest starting at book 2 to get the full background on the camp and the characters.

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I read Float about a year ago and I loved it. So, when I found out it was getting a sequel, I was beside myself. I'm pretty sure the hope for a sequel had been in the back of my mind since I finished Float and when I saw that, yes, it was in fact getting a sequel I was beyond excited.

And it was so, so, so much fun. I think I still like Float better--but that's not to say that I didn't love this one, because I did. I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about some of the new characters, but they ended up growing on me (especially Hudson and Amy) and I adored getting to be back with this group of kids again.

Overall, a great second installment and I hope to hear more stories from Camp Outlier in the future.

Perfect for fans of Marvel's X-Men and Disney's Encanto.

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I genuinely had a great time reading this book. I thought many children can enjoy it to it's fullest potential since I'm an older reader but I still had a great time overall. Thank you for letting read this book! 😊

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A cute sequel to Float. It takes place the following summer and we pick up from a different character’s perspective. We learn more about Hank and his infrequent invisibility. As in the first book, the kids at camp Outlier manage to get into plenty of mischief and have a fun summer. They learn more about each other and they help each other get out of some pretty tricky situations.

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Second story featuring a group of kids that all have a different RISK factor (recurring incident of the strange kind) This one features Hank, who's RISK factor is invisibility. While at camp, Hank realizes that his invisibility has now extended to others when he touches them. He and his friends also realize that something strange is happening at camp. They decide to figure out what is going on and try to save the camp.
I did not read the first book, but there was enough information in this one that it didn't make that much difference. I also listened to this story and it was a computer voice. Looking forward ot hearing the final with a human voice as I think I will enjoy it much more.

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This sequel to Float is an exciting return to Camp Outlier and so many fantastic characters! This year's return to camp is told from Hank's point of view and begins with a shocking revelation from the future that he might be the one to die this year...

He is also pretty sure someone is trying to sabotage camp, too, because there are just too many coincidental catastrophes and "accidents" happening this year. Not to mention that his RISK factor of invisibility is also starting to amplify. Now he not only turns himself accidentally invisible, but now everything he touches vanishes also. And he really didn't pack enough socks for that...

This book takes on more of a mystery adventure tone than the first book, and new characters are added to compliment the ones from the first book. I really enjoyed this book. It was entertaining and hilarious while also having heart and emphasizing themes of belonging, teamwork, and living your life to the fullest. I'm fast becoming a Laura Martin fanatic!

Publication date - July 2022 - Thank you to NetGalley for the Advanced Reader's Copy!

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