Carrie's Camping Adventure

Nikki Tate-Stratton writes novels for preteens; her latest books are
Jo’s Triumph; Jessa Be Nimble, Rebel Be Quick; Raven’s Revenge; and
Tarragon Island.

Carrie, the main character in Go for It Carrie (1997) and Carrie’s
Crowd (1998), returns in this chapter book about a camping trip gone
wrong. After reading a book about the Amazon jungle, Carrie and her best
friend, Laura, convince Carrie’s mother to take them on a camping
trip. Carrie’s brother, Ernie, and his friend, Joe, are electronic
junkies who are most reluctant to turn off the TV and head for the
woods. Undeterred, Carrie and Laura take charge and organize everything.
Alas, once they arrive at the campsite they realize Carrie has forgotten
to load the food into the car. Carrie’s mother leaves to purchase new
groceries and the four kids must find ways to entertain themselves until
she returns.

The small adventures they enjoy are very typical of a camping trip:
balancing on a log across a stream, finding a baby rabbit, building a
lean-to, having trouble putting up a tent, and struggling to build a
fire. Though these activities are appropriate for a group of kids left
alone at a campground, it is odd that there is no mention of other
sites, campers, a tuck shop, or other common campground facilities. Even
the most rudimentary campground has a woodpile and an outhouse, so the
sense of complete isolation doesn’t ring quite true. But this is a
minor complaint about a book that offers lots to youngsters just
starting to read independently. Humor, action, plenty of dialogue, short
chapters, and a few illustrations make Carrie’s Camping Adventure a
good first novel. Recommended.