Camp Creepy by Kiersten White

Camp Creepy (The Sinister Summer, #3)

by Kiersten White

The third book in the middle-grade series that's part Scooby-Doo, part A Series of Unfortunate Events, and entirely genius! Follow the Sinister-Winterbottoms on their most outrageous adventure yet, when they find themselves at a normal summer camp!

After leaving the Sanguine Spa in pursuit of Edgaren't, the kids find themselves at a mysterious summer camp, Camp Creek. There are lake games and happy counselors, and there's even a tie-dye cabin. It's all very . . . normal.

But if Theo and Alexander know one thing, it's that normal doesn't always mean good. When everyone around her starts acting strange, Theo wonders if maybe the fumes from the tie-dye cabin are seeping into their brains, and she resolves to investigate what's really going on at Camp Creek.   

The third book in #1 New York Times bestselling author Kiersten White's Sinister Summer series continues the adventures of the Sinister-Winterbottoms and their aunt, who never saw a discount vacation destination she didn’t love.

Reviewed by annieb123 on

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Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

Camp Creepy is the third book in a new middle grade series by Kiersten White. Due out 3rd Jan 2023 from Penguin Random House on their Delacorte Press imprint, it's 288 pages and will be available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats (with paperback due out in May 2023). It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. The second book in the series is due out in Sept 2022. 

It's not derivative; the author is capable and talented, but to describe the series as Scooby Doo written by Lemony Snicket feels appropriate and accurate. The three Sinister-Winterbottom siblings, the eldest is 16 and permanently looking at her smartphone, and fraternal brother and sister twins aged 12 are sent to spend the summer with their Aunt Saffronia and it soon becomes crystal clear that weeks of boredom isn't the worst that could happen. They're still hot on the trail of evil archnemesis Edgaren't, and trying to figure out the rules of their new reality, where people (including their parents) are actually disappearing, and it's left to the siblings to get to the bottom of the weirdness. 

This is a fun summertime mystery for middle grade readers (Lexile measure is 740L). It's well written and edgy, but not inappropriate. The plotting struck me as a trifle meandering and the pacing was odd (clearly intentional on the author's part), but it's a fun and fast paced ride.

Four stars. This would be a good choice for public or school library acquisition, home use, or gifting to a young mystery fan. 
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

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Reading updates

  • 2 January, 2023: Started reading
  • 2 January, 2023: Finished reading
  • 2 January, 2023: Reviewed