Nerd Camp 2.0

Gr 6–9—Last summer was the best of Gabe's life. Not only did he meet his new stepbrother, Zack, but he also spent his first summer at the Summer Center for Gifted Enrichment, also known as Nerd Camp. At Summer Center, Gabe got to revel in all things nerdy without having to worry about being mocked for being "uncool." In fact, he had such a great time, that he decided to convince Zack that he should go to nearby Camp Seneca, where Zack could spend his summer playing sports and music. A week before summer camp begins, a forest fire in the region forces Camp Seneca to close, relocating those campers to Summer Center. While both boys are excited to start camp, Zack is concerned about what the other Seneca kids will think of him because he has a brother at Nerd Camp. Gabe is worried about Zack seeing him partaking in so many nerdy activities. Over the next few weeks, these fears serve as a backdrop between the fight for dominance between Summer Center and Camp Seneca, causing both characters to wonder if things can get better before the summer ends. Continuing where Nerd Camp (S. & S./Atheneum, 2011) left off, this is a good-natured summer camp tale, that calls to mind movies like Heavy Weights.—Ryan F. Paulsen, New Rochelle High School, NY