About This Book
Reach for this book when your child is facing their first solo adventure, like summer camp, or when they are obsessed with spooky mysteries that are more funny than truly frightening. It is perfect for a reader who is beginning to transition into independent chapter books but still wants a fast paced, high interest story. The book follows four friends at camp who begin to suspect their counselor, Mr. Jenkins, is a werewolf due to his odd habits: eating raw meat and avoiding the sun. While there are moments of mild suspense, the primary focus is on the humor of the situation and the strength of the children's friendship. It addresses common childhood anxieties about new environments and authority figures by using a playful, supernatural lens. Parents will appreciate how the story celebrates curiosity and teamwork, helping children process the fear of the unknown with a healthy dose of laughter.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
None. While the children are briefly afraid of the supernatural, the tone remains light and comedic. The 'danger' is perceived rather than actual.
Ideal Reader
A 7 or 8-year-old who loves 'scooby-doo' style mysteries and is just starting to read longer stories on their own. It is especially good for a child who feels a little nervous about being away from home.
Parent Prep
This book can be read cold. It is a straightforward, episodic mystery in a long-running series. A child expressing fear about a new teacher or camp counselor being 'mean' or 'weird.'
Age Experience
Seven-year-olds will likely take the werewolf mystery more seriously and may feel a genuine sense of 'what if?' older readers (9-10) will enjoy the camp tropes and the humor of the kids over-analyzing their counselor's every move.
What Makes It Special
This book is a classic of the 'transitional chapter book' genre. It masters the balance of urban legend spookiness with school-age relatability, making it a gateway for future horror and mystery fans without being too intense.
Read plot summary
Third graders Carey, Eddie, Liza, and Melody travel to Camp Lone Wolf for a summer adventure. They immediately notice that their counselor, Mr. Jenkins, is extremely unusual. He has hairy hands, avoids bright lights, eats raw hamburger meat, and lets out low growls. The four friends use their detective skills and library research to determine if he is a werewolf and how they can stay safe while surviving the outdoor activities of camp.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Mr. Jenkins does some pretty strange things, like eating raw meat. Do you think he's really a werewolf, or just a very outdoorsy person?
2
Eddie is often the bravest (and loudest) of the group. How do the four friends use their different personalities to work together?
3
If you were at Camp Lone Wolf, which clue would have made you the most suspicious?
4
At the end of the book, the kids aren't 100 percent sure about Mr. Jenkins. Why do you think the author left it a bit of a mystery?
