Nerd Camp

My 12-year-old daughter and I read Nerd Camp by Elissa Brent Weissman together. It was the first time we'd buckled down with a read aloud in a long time, and it was just the kind of book we like to enjoy together -- funny and sweet. I'm not big on the word "nerd," because it's used as an insult, and like any insult it makes people feel badly about who they are. However, it totally works in this book. I think that the secret that most adult nerds know deep down is that they don't really care what other people think. The cover shows this delightful juxtaposition perfectly -- there are some mathematical equations for heat and the perfect angle for roasting the marshmallow. The title font shows the different elements, camp (wood), and books, graph paper, and circuitry. Gabe, 10, has been accepted in a prestigious 6-week summer camp, SCGE or the Summer Gift for Gifted Enrichment, which other kids in the school call the Smart Camp for Geeks and Eggheads. He's excited about going, but he wants to impress his step-brother-to-be Zack, the ultimate cool guy, who he's just recently met. He begins wondering how he's going to look in Zack's eyes. He knows that there's a lot of cool things that go on at camp, like boating and swimming and an obstacle course, not to mention Color War. So, he does what any geek gifted kid would do -- he makes a logic proof, which he adds to throughout the summer: Problem: Am I a nerd who has only nerdy adventures? Hypothesis: No The proof is divided into two columns: Things I can tell Zack (I am not a nerd) Things I can't tell Zack (I am a nerd) For example, "My bunkmates are really cool, and we became friends right away!" buuut. . . "They like learning digits of Pi." Gabe and his bunkmates Wesley and Nikhil are great guys. Yes, they are gifted, but that's not all that they are. They know that other kids make fun of them, but they are also proud of who they are. However, Gabe knows that a little self-improvement, like trying out some cooler hairstyles, doesn't mean that he's turning his back on who he is. I really can't say enough good things about Nerd Camp. The author's website has some fun supplemental activities, like a scavenger hunt, word games and logic puzzles. Enjoy it with your favorite nerd (or any kid who loves camp adventures). UPDATED 3/2013 to add that my 8 1/2 year old son read it, and loved it as well! He chuckled aloud and read funny parts to me as he was reading. And I heard that there's a sequel coming out! Can't wait.

I'm an adult who dislikes the word Nerd. This book does a fabulous job of explaining how not only is it ok to be who you are, but to embrace it and live your own adventures. The main character Gabe is a 10 year old boy whos Dad is re-marrying. He is getting a brother (who is also 10 and into sports) Wanting so bad for his new brother to like him, he sets out on a quest to prove that he is not a nerd with nerdy adventures. I really saw the struggles on many children in finding themselves within Gabe and thought the author spun a witty tale to highlight the science and math fans in an adventurous light.

This book would be entertaining for someone who had attended a summer camp for "gifted" kids. There is one situation that drags on due just to it being too long, but overall this was fun and interesting. There is very little teasing or mean-spiritedness between "nerd" and non-"nerd" characters, which was nice.

Gabe was such a fun character. He'd always wanted a brother. He knew with his parents divorced that was not going to happen. Then he learns his dad is getting remarried and he's going to have a brother after all. There is one problem. His new brother thinks learning over the summer is stupid and Gabe is going to a camp for nerds. he spends so much time trying to keep Zack from knowing he's a nerd. He's so worried about being a kid and fitting in. This would be great for my students because they all want to fit in. Gabe actually sets things up complete with a problem: "Am I a nerd who only has nerdy adventures?" and a hypothesis, "No". He decides there are things he can tell Zack such as, "Wesley (his bunk mate) says amazing things in his sleep." Then there is the actual truth he can't tell Zack. Wesley, "solves math problems and brain teasers" in his sleep. When Zack comes to pick Gabe up what will Zack truly think of his new brother?

This book is a must read for anyone! Not just nerds! Even though I read it a day it was still a great book. The story's about a kid named Gabe who is a extreme nerd. His step brother is against nerds. But Gabe still thinks he's cool. So Gabe they'd to pretend that he's just a normal kid. But then Gabe goes to a camp for nerds and has a awesome time there but in the end his step brother finds out that he's a geek but still thinks he's cool. GREAT BOOK! READ IT!

What a great way to show kids how much fun being a "nerd" can be! Really, everyone knows that Nerd is the new cool anyway! My 10 yo loved this book and frankly, so did I (yes, I picked it up to look at it and read the whole thing). A fun story about being yourself and about being accepted as you are.

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A coworker suggested this book to me as a possible read for my students this year. It was fantastic! I really this my students will enjoy it also. It is a great book for crossover subjects.

Bought this for my 11 year old son and he is very fussy with what he reads but in his own words the book was EPIC!