The Infamous Ratsos Camp Out by Kara LaReau, Matt Myers
ISBN: 1536200069
Genres: Adventure
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads

The Ratsos and the rest of the Big City Scouts head out on their first camping trip, and they’ve got Grandpa Ratso as their guide. There’s a clause in their motto that says they can’t ask for help, and this makes camping exceedingly difficult. Luckily, an unexpected guest sets them straight about what their motto really means.

The story in this book is good, but I was really disheartened to see blatant bullying in the text. Kids are outright called nerds in a derogatory way, and multiple times, things are referred to as being “for chumps.” I just can’t support this sort of language and behavior for the age group that this series targets. The books are written for 1st-3rd grade readers.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME