Jeff Strand
This book is pure humor, which means readers will need to be old enough to appreciate it rather than taking the story seriously. The first page, other peoples' reviews of the book, is actually worth reading. There is one use of the f word that would need to be blacked out, after which it could be used in a 7th and 8th grade library.
Henry and his friend Randy go to a 2-week survival camp, which promises to make men out of wimpy boys. Their instructor, Max, is well-muscled and intimidating, but well-meaning. My favorite scenes are when Max tries to teach the boys and comments on their complete incompetence. Erik, a secret nerd, is more well-built than the rest. Jackie is a 13-year-old with low self-esteem and green hair. Stu is "tall and gawky."
When the Survival Games finally begin (the kids fight with paintball guns and knives), Henry is the first one out, only to return to camp and discover that Max has been murdered by three evil men: Mr. Grand, Chad, and Ethan. After escaping from them by pretending to vomit and pulling a fake grenade on them, he runs back to the woods. The boys are soon engaged in a battle against the men, aided by a girl from a nearby music camp, Monica. In typical YA fashion, Monica ends up dating and kissing Henry.
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