Spending their summer at a fat camp (where chubby children are sent to be slimmed down) was not what Ralph and Sylvia wanted to do for their summer vacation. Unfortunately their plump parents listened to Simon Primly who said, "I see so many round, fat, unhappy children. They will grow up to be miserable. They will be hated. They will become stupid. And many of them will turn to crime."

Which is why Ralph and Sylvia are stuck at Camp Noo Yoo, eating shredded carrots and playing softball with four layers of clothes on. They can't stand it there, but it doesn't look like they have much of a choice. Until, that is, a little, round, fat ball of fury by the name of Marvis Goldfarb comes up with an escape plan. Twenty-four hours later, Ralph, Sylvia and Marvin are at Marvis Goldfarb's home, eating bacon and eggs, and coming up with a plan to get back at their parents for being dumb enough to send them to Camp Noo Yoo. That's when the real fun in this book begins.

FAT CAMP COMMANDOS is a real gem. At first glance, and first read, it comes across as a slightly corny book, with small words, and big print. Indeed it is only 88 pages, and that is with the illustrations. But there is a lot of truth in those 88 pages. And there are a lot of things about stereotypes that are very true, which is why I recommend FAT CAMP COMMANDOS to people who are above the age of 13 as well as below.

   --- Reviewed by Kathy Hale