FICTION

The Wild Bunch

by Jan GANGSEI
192p. S. & S./Aladdin. Jul. 2017. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781481468299; pap. $7.99. ISBN 9781481468282.
COPY ISBN
Gr 4–6—Paul's summer vacation plans haven't turned out quite the way he had hoped; instead of sleeping late and playing video games, he is dragged by his dad on a camping trip to Bear Falls, complete with gnarly spiders, ravenous mosquitos, and an utter absence of bug spray. Paul meets two new friends, rounding out the familiar triptych of relatable narrator, nerd, and bully, and the trio search for the Beast of Bear Falls. Though the structure and plotting are nothing revolutionary, the humor hits its mark more times than not, and readers interested in the story will likely find some aspects of the characters with which to connect. Occasionally the wit does hit a sour note, as when the bully character makes fun of a female park ranger's appearance.
VERDICT A quick, lighthearted summer read for lovers of outdoor adventure and silly (and often gross) humor.
Reviewed by Ted McCoy, Leeds Elementary and Ryan Road Elementary, MA
Paul's, Jack's, and Hector's fathers were friends in college. The dads decide to take the boys on a camping trip to Bear Falls, where there are rumors of a Sasquatch on the loose. In spite of numerous mishaps, the boys manage to bond during their wilderness adventures. Plenty of action and gross-out humor should entertain readers of this otherwise predictable story.
 , May 01, 2017

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