Fat Camp Commandos (Mass Market Paperback)

~ (Author), Andy Rash (Illustrator) "Shredded carrots with raisins..." (more)
Key Phrases: Dick Tator, Mavis Goldfarb, Camp Noo Yoo (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

When Ralph and Sylvia Nebula's pudgy parents get suckered into sending their chubby offspring to fat camp, the siblings first get angry--then they get revenge. Along with their feisty, sociopolitically savvy new friend, Mavis Goldfarb, they flee the bogus camp, where rattlesnakes run amok in the dried-up lake and clear-cut woods and inmates are forced to take classes in Creative Abuse and Motivation. (Lectures by Camp Noo Yoo owner, Dick Tator, run something like this: "Here's what you have to look forward to as a fat adult... People laugh at you in the street, insult you, and throw doughnuts at you. You lose your job collecting dead skunks for the Fish and Wildlife Service, because you're too fat. You wind up in prison for stealing pumpkin pies from the postdated pie store the day after Thanksgiving.") Disgusted by the absurdity and prejudice at camp, the three declare war on culturally supported chauvinism, and spend the rest of the summer hiding out in Mavis's house while her parents are away. Armed with biting wit and a fine-tuned sense of injustice, the friends alter billboards, heckle Junior Weight Whippers speakers, and entrap the local fat-quack doctor in his own lies on a call-in radio show. It's not until a cop nabs them at one of their commando activities that their careers as undercover social reform activists are redirected--into an equally productive and empowering (and far more legal) channel.

Daniel Pinkwater's legions of passionate fans will jump up and down for joy at his latest wacky, right-on-target story. Pinkwater, known for his National Public Radio commentaries, as well as his many kids' book titles (The Hoboken Chicken Emergency, Lizard Music, 4 Fantastic Novels, 5 Novels, and the Werewolf Club series), never, ever shies away from controversial, weird, or eccentric topics, for which we are very grateful. By the way, there is no miraculous skinny finale in Fat Camp Commandos, thank goodness--the kids end the story fit, healthy, and as pleasingly plump as ever. (Ages 8 to 12) --Emilie Coulter --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Publishers Weekly

Fiction REPRINTSFAT CAMP COMMANDOS Daniel Pinkwater, illus. by Andy Rash. Scholastic, $4.50 ISBN 0-439-15528-2. To protest their enrollment at a weight-loss camp, three children become pro-pudge activists. This unpredictable tale of vengeance shrewdly satirizes body-consciousness, said PW. Ages 7-10. )
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic Paperbacks (May 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0439155282
• ISBN-13: 978-0439155281
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.3 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #625,368 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars We have met the enemy, and he is us, April 19, 2001

By	Edward Hume (Princeton, NJ USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Fat Camp Commandos (Hardcover)

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?

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Revolutionary!, July 9, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Fat Camp Commandos (Hardcover)

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!

5.0 out of 5 stars I recommend FAT CAMP COMMANDOS., July 21, 2004

A Kid's Review

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