Lions and Liars

Reviewed by: Kerrie Lattari - York Middle School, York, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: August 1, 2018

Review

After being deemed a flea on the social food chain and missing out on his yearly family cruise vacation because of an impending hurricane, a fed up Frederick Frederickson hops into his friend's dad's boat and accidentally floats away. He washes up at Camp Omigoshee, a disciplinary camp for boys meant to build character. Frederick assumes the identity of the notorious Dash, a camper who has yet to arrive as scheduled and has a reputation for outlandish behavior. A series of mishaps and the brewing storm lead Frederick to discover the meaning of friendship, loyalty, and courage. This is a read for an upper-elementary audience, and children in that age group will appreciate the bits of humor sprinkled throughout the story as Frederick struggles to fit in with these "troubled" boys. Overall though. I found the characters to be a bit flat and some of the situations to be too implausible. And in contrast to the lovely cover art, the illustrations were bland and did not add anything to the story. This book would be suited for children not yet ready for the complexity of Louis Sachar's "Holes."

Overall Book Score: fair