My brand-new newsletter that focuses on aweosme books perfect for boys (and other reluctant readers) is now live! I’ll be posting these newsletter over on Substack. You can read them over there, and even better, you can subscribe to it to get them delivered straight to your inbox.
Because this is the first one, I’m posting the first book review here. So, here you go!
If you know someone who’s a fan of mutated weird characters (think Toxic Avenger or maybe some of the weirder X-Men heroes out there) then I think I have the book for you. Doom’s Day Camp.
Doom is a boy living with his family and friends in a post-apocalyptic world where there are snot wolves and giant goldfish you can ride. Yes, you read that right.
Doom’s Day Camp is a graphic novel that follows Doom and his sister, Disaster (also known as Dizy), when they are left with a group of other kids as their parents leave their camp in search of a monster that’s getting dangerously close.
Oh, I forgot to mention, due to whatever happened in this world, everyone is mutated in some sort of way. Well, everyone except for Doom.
Doom’s sister, Dizy, is some sort of wolf-girl, who’s ready to face any challenge. Then there’s Eyeda, who’s a friendly orange-haired girl with five eyes. We’ve also got Slimon, a gelatinous green goo character, who grows to gigantic proportions when he gets mad. There’s also a vampiric bat-kid named Pumpernickle. Then there’s Weatherly, who’s basically a weather cloud. Yeah, he’s a walking, talking, weather cloud. There’s Flatrick who can scrunch up his entire body like an accordion and there’s Bogs, a walking human clump of clay. Finally, there’s Lobina, who’s nothing but a brain. She’s able to get around because her brain/body is encased in a glass bowl. It’s a wild cast of characters that really brings this book to life.
Of course, there’s the star, Doom. Doom doesn’t have any mutant-like features. He wishes he did because then, as he explains, he wouldn’t be so weird compared to everyone else. But there is something very special and unique about Doom. He can read. He’s the only person among his family and friends that can do so. And while everyone else around him sees no use in books, he knows the value of them and how important they can be.
Despite Doom’s fascination with words and books, no one think he’s a good leader. His father is Grizzly Thorax, the strongest, roughest, best leader in the community. Doom is the complete opposite. No one thinks of Doom as responsible person, much less a leader. Well, no one except his best friend, a mutated ant named Eisenhower.
The story of Doom’s Day Camp revolves around Doom trying to be the leader like his father. Grizzly puts his son in charge while the adults will be away, much to the chagrin of everyone. All the kids Doom is left with think his is kind of a wimp and can’t do anything right. Some of those assumptions are proven right during the kids first night alone, when Doom accidently burns down their entire camp, and the kids have to find a new place for shelter.
Thankfully, Doom knows of a building that they can go to. The library that Doom likes to frequent.
From there Doom keeps making mistakes, and everyone wants Doom’s sister to become the leader. They all decide to give Doom the chance for a little while before voting on who should be the leader.
Even though this book is filled with mutant mischief, there is a lot of heart in this story. Doom doesn’t like that he feels so different from everyone else. His only friend, Eisenhower, tries to cheer him up, but it’s hard when you feel so different. That can really resonate with readers.
Some of the things that makes someone different can really be a strength, and that’s what happens with Doom. He helps with the kids fix up the library. There’s even a playground they fix up to have fun. And when problems arise, like how to clean the landscape or how to calm down a tense situation that involves Slimon, no one knows what to do. Everyone thinks it’s hopeless, but Doom is able to help out and save the day by reading the books in the library for the answers.
Not only does this book teach a good lesson, but it also shows the value of books.
I’ve long believed that graphic novels are not only great books, but they’re also great books to offer boys who say they don’t like reading. That’s how I read a lot when I was younger. The pictures and the words really get the imagination going, and that’s done great in Doom’s Day Camp. The artwork of Joshua Hauke is filled with colors for this post-apocalyptic world, and the expressions of the character really nail down what’s happened. And Hauke’s story, like I said, is fun and adventurous, while still pulling at the heartstring during a couple of serious moments in this book. Definitely check out Doom’s Day Camp.
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