After inadvertently conquering school bully Josh in How to Beat the Bully without Really Trying (2012), Rodney Rathbone should be enjoying a carefree summer before middle school. Instead, Rodney is sent to Camp Wy-Mee along with Josh. But Josh's bullying is nothing compared to that of the sneaky, conniving fellow camper Todd Vanderdick, whose wealthy father helped renovate the camp's facilities. As Rodney tries to outwit this latest bully and contend with wacky counselors and their unusual punishments, he still finds time to dream about an emerald-eyed tomboy. More over-the-top humor makes this good summer fare for reluctant readers.

Things seem dire when Rodney's parents send him to summer camp along with his nemesis from How to Beat the Bully Without Really Trying. And although the two surprisingly become friends, Rodney must face new bullies, grapple with romantic confusion, and become the camp hero when a threat arises. Once again, Rodney's over-the-top misadventures make for an unbelievable but entertaining read.

Will Camp Wy-Mee get the best of Rodney Rathbone, or can he survive bullies in the wild? Twelve-year-old Rodney survived his first school year in Ohio thanks to luck and bully-avoidance skills (How to Beat the Bully Without Really Trying, 2012). His plans for spending the summer with new friends (and girlfriend) are shattered when his parents decide to send him to camp without asking what he wants. (Were they prompted to send him by nefarious forces?) Even worse, school bully Josh Dumbrowski's headed for camp, too. Once there, Rodney finds Josh is small potatoes when it comes to bullying; Todd Vanderdick (seriously) and his snooty friends are ready to make Rodney's summer unbearable. To top it off, Mrs. Periwinkle, the camp owner, and her staff have it in for Rodney from the get-go. Rodney and his quirky cabin mates make the best of strange situations; but when the future of the camp rests on their shoulders, will they be up to the task? Starkey's second title featuring unconventional bully-bester Rodney again has a few pop-culture references that will sail over the heads of the target audience. Several characters' obsessive focus on girls further narrows the age range. Rodney's snarky narration can be funny, but his double standard on two-timing (it's okay for boys, not girls) and his judgmental nature (despite protestations to the contrary) make him less than admirable. Standard summer-camp–centric fare: Meatballs with bullies. (Fiction. 11-14)

Gr 4-6 Rodney Rathbone is looking forward to a great summer with his friends. Then his teacher convinces his parents that eight weeks of camp accompanied by Josh, the class bully, would be a major character-building event for everyone. Now, besides missing his girlfriend and feeling betrayed by his parents, Rodney finds himself on a bus to Camp Wy-Mee waiting for the moment when Josh will pounce on him from across the aisle and pummel him once again. But the tables are turning for Josh, with the help of a bus driver who has trouble keeping his vehicle on the road, and soon the class bully is seeing Rodney in a new light. The camp is filled with humorous, yet stereotypical, characters, including camper Todd Vanderdick, who motors around on his Segway, and the wimpy camp director, Mr. Periwinkle, whose wife bullies him and most of the other campers. The cast of characters is unique and when it comes down to saving face in a softball game or saving Camp Wy-Mee, Rodney must join forces with his new friends to save the day. Fast-moving story lines and larger-than-life characters may make reluctant readers sit up and take notice. Imagine movies like The Sandlot and Caddyshack rolled into one literary preteen summer escapade, and kids will be hoping for a quick reunion with the characters of Camp Wy-Mee. Cheryl Ashton, Amherst Public Library, OH