Scan barcode
lezapal's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this very non-typical YA novel. It was intense and creepy with lots of twists and turns!
leahegood's review
3.0
If you liked [b:Holes|38709|Holes (Holes, #1)|Louis Sachar|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1552422497l/38709._SX50_.jpg|1679789] or [b:Alabama Moon|554165|Alabama Moon (Alabama Moon, #1)|Watt Key|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1316728474l/554165._SX50_.jpg|541392], there's a good chance you'll like this story.
Yanked from a life of increasing delinquency, teenage Wyatt finds himself suddenly immersed into a military special forces boot camp disguised as a summer camp work program.
Half of this book was told from Wyatt's POV. I fully enjoyed those parts of the book. Wyatt displays a strong work ethic and a willingness to take a risk to befriend the underdog or forgive a friend. There's enough normal teenager antics and emotions to balance the improbable circumstances.
I wasn't nearly as keen on the alternating chapters that track the villain's rise to power and hunt for revenge. The Glowworms behavior grew increasingly grotesque and overstated, being simultaneously corny and unnecessarily graphic. Could have done with fewer details on interrogation and general pleasure in cruelty, please and thank you.
I didn't realize when I started this book that it was a series. Worse, book two doesn't release till February. Anyone know of books with similar concepts that I can read in the interim?
Yanked from a life of increasing delinquency, teenage Wyatt finds himself suddenly immersed into a military special forces boot camp disguised as a summer camp work program.
Half of this book was told from Wyatt's POV. I fully enjoyed those parts of the book. Wyatt displays a strong work ethic and a willingness to take a risk to befriend the underdog or forgive a friend. There's enough normal teenager antics and emotions to balance the improbable circumstances.
I wasn't nearly as keen on the alternating chapters that track the villain's rise to power and hunt for revenge. The Glowworms behavior grew increasingly grotesque and overstated, being simultaneously corny and unnecessarily graphic. Could have done with fewer details on interrogation and general pleasure in cruelty, please and thank you.
I didn't realize when I started this book that it was a series. Worse, book two doesn't release till February. Anyone know of books with similar concepts that I can read in the interim?
kenzigrl's review against another edition
4.0
I thoroughly enjoyed this book from front to back! I enjoyed the main characters and am so glad I finally picked it up. Next question is though is who is the trader and who has Dolly?!?
labraden's review against another edition
3.0
Wyatt finds himself running from the police when his friend, Derrick calls him for a ride, only to find out that Derrick's ride is actually a getaway from a robbery and assault. When Wyatt is thrown in jail for the crime, he thinks that his life is over, but he is suddenly whisked away by a stranger who says he can make all of Wyatt's troubles go away. It sounds too good to be true, and before long, Wyatt finds out that it isn't going to be that simple. To rid himself of the charges, he must survive Camp Valor which trains young men and women to be operatives for the government. Meanwhile, a powerful figure who believes that he has been betrayed by a graduate of Camp Valor vows to find the traitor, kill him, and destroy the program that made him into the weapon that was used against him.
Camp Valor's plot is not unique - a young person wronged by the system that should have protected him is given another chance to prove himself. What makes it intriguing are the many twists, turns, and surprises that are woven into a story filled with action, adventure, and a little romance. Character development is somewhat lacking mostly due to the number of secondary characters who have minor roles in the story. One issue I had with the book is that it is shelved as a middle grade story, but two of the villains are cannibals, eating body parts and gruesomely murdering their victims, making this story a little too violent for the middle grade age group. Overall, however, this is a very good action adventure.
Camp Valor's plot is not unique - a young person wronged by the system that should have protected him is given another chance to prove himself. What makes it intriguing are the many twists, turns, and surprises that are woven into a story filled with action, adventure, and a little romance. Character development is somewhat lacking mostly due to the number of secondary characters who have minor roles in the story. One issue I had with the book is that it is shelved as a middle grade story, but two of the villains are cannibals, eating body parts and gruesomely murdering their victims, making this story a little too violent for the middle grade age group. Overall, however, this is a very good action adventure.
booknrrd's review against another edition
2.0
A 2020 Missouri Gateway Readers Award preliminary nominee (grades 9-12).
Take a military-ish book, add in over the top writing, and you leave me wondering if this is supposed to be satire. I don't think it is.
Take a military-ish book, add in over the top writing, and you leave me wondering if this is supposed to be satire. I don't think it is.
littlerandomreader's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
heyheyok's review
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
bookwormyami's review against another edition
4.0
I usually don't read these type of books that are espionage/ military. But I wanted to read something different, so I thought I give this book a shot. I'm glad I did.
The writing was really good and the characters were well develop. It was intriguing going through this bootcamp of sorts along with Wyatt, the main character. In this camp, Valor, they train young teens to become some type of spies.
The one problem I had with this book was, that it was too descriptive. Meaning the main bad guy, Glow worm, is disgusting looking and because of the way it was described, I had a very vivid image and got grossed out, lol and other things the Glow Worm did. Disgusting!!!!
But I definitely want to read what happens next with Wyatt and the rest of his friends from Camp Valor. The book ends with a cliffhanger and I just NEED to know, lol.
If you like YA, espionage/military books then I definitely recommend this to you!
The writing was really good and the characters were well develop. It was intriguing going through this bootcamp of sorts along with Wyatt, the main character. In this camp, Valor, they train young teens to become some type of spies.
The one problem I had with this book was, that it was too descriptive. Meaning the main bad guy, Glow worm, is disgusting looking and because of the way it was described, I had a very vivid image and got grossed out, lol and other things the Glow Worm did. Disgusting!!!!
But I definitely want to read what happens next with Wyatt and the rest of his friends from Camp Valor. The book ends with a cliffhanger and I just NEED to know, lol.
If you like YA, espionage/military books then I definitely recommend this to you!