Reviews

Camp Scare by Delilah S. Dawson

allisonnnoel's review against another edition

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mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

belanna2's review against another edition

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3.5

This that the potential to be a good YA horror story but then it went Disney with the saccharine, PC arc at the end. I had no sympathy for Cassandra or the others; and the adults and their "non-actions" were worst. History repeated itself with the events at the camp and that sappy ending...Parker having to be the bigger person towards the pathetic adults/camp counselors and the kumbaya lovefest at the end. No. There are consequences for actions; and they should have felt the true raft of Tori. Bullying, it's effects/outcomes. were swept under the rug by adults and the bullies, who played victim when they were called out; they were protected and hid behind the facade of being sweet, innocent and harmless while the adults just enabled everything. I hated the owner of the Camp and the counselors. Completely worthless. This could have been on the level of Sleepaway Camp and Angela, but it wasn't.  

rudexgrrl's review against another edition

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5.0

I chose this book for Book Riots Read Harder 2024 Challenge Task 3, and I am so happy I did. I love this so much, I sympathized with these young girls so much and put me right back at being 13 again.

thenextgenlibrarian's review against another edition

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4.0

Don’t forget your flashlight.

ruminations_reverie's review against another edition

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4.0

I had a ton of fun reading this one. It gave me nostalgic feelings from my youth reading Goosebumps and Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark. It wasn't perfect but it did a lot of things well.

Delilah has a writing style that appeals to both YA and Adult audiences. It is easy to digest, but still gripping enough to keep you invested in the story. Her characters are well-rounded and easy to connect with. I can't tell you how much of myself I saw in Parker. I was so emotionally engrossed in her life and her story that I had to take a step back and remind myself that it is a novel MULTIPLE TIMES. Bullying is such a triggering topic, and it was easy to transport back in time to become a 12-13 year old again and all the angst and fear and anxiety that came from trying to find a place in the world. Trying to fit in was stressful and it leaves a mark on your soul during this crucial life period.

The story itself was chock-full of fun and not-so-fun tropes and pitfalls. There were some plotholes and some things left unexplored, and the pacing had some issues at the beginning (slow) and the end (too abrupt), but overall it was an enjoyable read. This is great for those middlegrade/YA audiences who want a spooky fall read, or for those of us who are seasoned adult readers eager for the nostalgia and feels of YA horror. Delilah is an author I will keep an eye out for in the future.

thenextgenlib's review against another edition

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4.0

Don’t forget your flashlight.

melbsreads's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

Trigger warnings: bullying, death (in the past), physical injury

I read Mine a year or so ago and really enjoyed it, so I was very interested to see how this one would go. And, like, it was FINE? But probably 80% of the book felt like a middle grade contemporary story about bullying rather than the horror book the cover and the blurb promised me. Don't get me wrong, there were plenty of moments that were unsettling. But it was nowhere near what I anticipated, having read Mine. Add in a really abrupt ending and the whole thing was honestly kind of a bummer. 

espindler's review against another edition

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mysterious fast-paced

3.5

missyflanagin's review against another edition

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mysterious tense fast-paced

3.75

kristinakg's review against another edition

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tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0