Books for Kids and Teens DiskUs Publishing Category:  Young Adult/Teen Publisher: DiskUs Publishing ISBN-10:  1584954299 Type: Fiction Pages: 105 Copyright: May 20 2001 Camper Of The Year is the story of a girl who has to spend the summer in a camp full of boys! EPPIE Finalist book, 2002 When Ellie has to spend the summer in a camp full of boys, she learns that friends can be found even where you least expect to find them, and that sometimes the best (and only) way to help someone is by being a friend.  Excerpt “This is not what I had in mind,” I muttered. Going to camp with my mother was bad enough. But a boys camp. Ugh! “Hey, look!” said Alan, as we rounded a corner on the winding dirt road. “There’s the sign. ‘Camp Challenge, On the Shores of Lake Pollywog.’” “Big deal,” I grumbled. Alan could get all excited. At least he could stay in a cabin. I would be stuck in the infirmary with Mom. “Here we are,” said Mom, as we pulled up to a white house with a big porch. A woman in a white uniform stood watching, as if she’d been waiting for us. “That must be the other camp nurse. If she has children, you’ll have a playmate or two, Eleanor.” “Whoopee.” At the age of almost twelve I was beyond playmates. What I wanted were friends, and all my friends were back home in Glenwood. Alan laughed. “Just what you need, Ellie. A couple whiny little kids to play with.” “Alan,” Mom said in her voice that meant cut it out. She pulled into a parking spot. “Please help Eleanor and me carry our things inside before you go to your cabin.” I grabbed a suitcase from the trunk of the car. If only I had the freedom Alan had.

Pat Engelking, District Librarian & English Teacher, Lowell School District, Lowell, Oregon
…an entertaining, fast-paced story… both funny and touching, with well-drawn characters you really care about.


Christine Spindler, E-Books for Kids
--"Camper of the Year is an excellent example of how to write about things that really concern kids, their problems and hopes. Fun and drama are perfectly balanced and Ellie is a highly likeable heroine. Warmly recommended."


Christina Lewis, eBook Reviews Weekly
--"Ms. Herrick has written a wonderful story where the characters experience emotions that all kids can relate to -- embarrassment, frustration, anger, happiness, competition and best of all, friendship."