Customer Reviews

Fat Camp Commandos

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Such a sly, funny book! I won't recap the action; the summary at the top does that well.

FAT! We're not "fat", of course; merely a little overweight. On the other hand, you didn't know how prejudiced you are toward fat people, did you? Think back to your childhood. Did you ever think about what the fat kids were thinking when the other kids made fun of them? (Of course, you never made fun of fat kids . . .)

But Pinkwater doesn't dwell on bitterness. Instead, we have disobedience, civil and mischievous, all hilarious. And a suggestion on a better direction for all of us at the end.

This is a fine book for anyone. It's especially good for fat kids and the parents of fat kids---and fat adults, too. Oops--I forgot. We're only overweight, right?

Although some complain that the message is too strong, I think that given the fact that the self esteem of a fat child is constantly abused from every imaginable angle including simple cartoons, they need some heavy duty fire power to combat the other strong messages that tell them to hate themselves. I only wish that the strong message of this book was mirrored by other books. Something wimpy that beat around the bush wouldn't be at all effective, and you can be certain that the author does not beat around the bush! I also like that it does not insult the intelligence of children, which we all too often underestimate. The kids got the jokes, enjoyed the illustrations, and received a defined boost in their self esteem.
I hope that those with fat children, or even those with thin children who are fearful of fat, will purchase this incredible book and teach their children self respect instead of self hatred. I highly recommend it!

Spending their summer at a fat camp (where chubby children are sent to be slimmed down) was not what Ralph and Sylvia wanted to do for their summer vacation. Unfortunately their plump parents listened to Simon Primly who said, "I see so many round, fat, unhappy children. They will grow up to be miserable. They will be hated. They will become stupid. And many of them will turn to crime."

Which is why Ralph and Sylvia are stuck at Camp Noo Yoo, eating shredded carrots and playing softball with four layers of clothes on. They can't stand it there, but it doesn't look like they have much of a choice. Until, that is, a little, round, fat ball of fury by the name of Marvis Goldfarb comes up with an escape plan. Twenty-four hours later, Ralph, Sylvia and Marvin are at Marvis Goldfarb's home, eating bacon and eggs, and coming up with a plan to get back at their parents for being dumb enough to send them to Camp Noo Yoo. That's when the real fun in this book begins.

FAT CAMP COMMANDOS is a real gem. At first glance, and first read, it comes across as a slightly corny book, with small words, and big print. Indeed it is only 88 pages, and that is with the illustrations. But there is a lot of truth in those 88 pages. And there are a lot of things about stereotypes that are very true, which is why I recommend FAT CAMP COMMANDOS to people who are above the age of 13 as well as below.

--- Reviewed by Kathy Hale

Illustrations by Andy Rash really set my kids to laughing. He has a great way of expressing the character. Way to go.

The story is pretty good too.

This book is kind of confusing in the start but as you to read it makes more sence. This book is about two kids that have to go to fat camp, because their mom and dad said that you would be miserable if you stayed fat. You will have to read the rest to find out what happens to the kids!

While there is a valid point that overwieght children are often made fun of and people should be more tolerant, the author spends far too much time reminding us of his not-so-hidden agenda. As a story, though, this book doesn't really deliver the goods.