FIVE IN A TENT

by Victoria Furman ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 15, 1966

Laura's Luck by Marilyn Sachs (1965, p. 820, J-274) and, more recently for an even younger audience, Scott Corbett's Pippa Passes (p. 302, J-98) presented pictures of camp life that seemed close to what children are likely to think, say and do about camp. Girls generally appear to have a schizzy reaction to the whole experience--a sense of the ridiculousness of it all at war with the urge to take it seriously. The author has taken it all quite seriously. So does the main character, twelve year old Chris Walker, who is so wholesome that she defies belief. She is a parent's ideal daughter; good looking, eager to please and a whiz on the accordion. Chris is also just crazy about camp. She comes equipped with an older sister who is very reserved and a tent mate who loudly despises every aspect of camp life. Chris would like to be friends with both of them and (by every Indian sign you ever learned at camp) she manages it; she shows them the error of their ways and both do admire her, even if the griper does swear never to return. If you give this to a girl who has what's known as ""a bad attitude,"" duck. She may fire it straight at your head. Otherwise, the total camp routine is spread out and ""good attitudes"" will find their self-image reinforced and idealized.

Pub Date: April 15, 1966

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Parents' Magazine Press

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 1966

Categories: FICTION