Camp Nowhere by Jonathan Prince

Prince, Jonathan. Camp Nowhere. Walt Disney, 1994. PG. DVD. 96 min. ASIN
B00008L3T3

Plot

Morris "Mud" Himmel does not want another boring summer at computer camp. Computer camp is not his idea of fun but his parents think it is. Mud tells his friends how he is not looking forward to his summer at camp. His friends also begin to share the camps that their parents want to send them to, such as, military camp, fat camp, drama camp, and other undesirable camps. Mud devises a plan that he believe might work but all of them must band together to make it possible. Mud goes on a hunt to find a camp director. Mud finds someone in town who fits his criteria, old and unknown, in Dennis Van Welker. Dennis decides to go along with the plan since he has the law after him. Dennis must convince everyone's parents to send their children and their check to him...it worked! Now that they have money and a camp director all they need is the actual camp and more campers. Mud and his friends find an old camp that they are able to rent out for the summer. Once at camp the chaos at "Camp Nowhere" begins. Camp Nowhere is a camp that is to everyone's liking. They soon realize that not having any real rules is too chaotic but that is not the only problem parents want to visit them. Mud and his friends create a plan that they think just might work. One camp is turned into several other camps, with different stages and rooms. The plan runs smoothly for a while but they eventually can not manage everyone's parents and the camps. Their plan fails and they are all caught by their parents while Dennis is caught by the police. The parents realize that they should listen to their children more. Mud and his friends realize that they had one of the best summer of their lives.

Critical Evaluation

Mud and his friends have one of the greatest summers that they will never forget. No parents and no rules equals a fun summer. Everything begins to catch up with them though and they realize that they do need some order. Mud and his friends are your average teens that do not like authority but realize that they do need someone to guide them along the way. Their parents realize that they should listen to their children's wants and needs more.

Reader's Annotation

Mud and his friends do not want to have anothing boring summer at a camp that their parents want to send them to. They develop a plan that allows them to have one of the greatest summer of their lives without their parents thinking twice about where they are.

Information about the Author

Prince identified with the character Mud.
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Genre

Family/Adventure/Comedy

Booktalking Ideas

1) Talk about the different summer camps that the characters want

a) Ask what their ideal camp would be

Reading Level/Interest Age

PG

Why included in selection?

One of my favorite movies when I was 10, inspired me to go to camp.