Description:
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Facing the Wall
Riley Liston's first glimpse of the lake came as the bus wheels screeched around a tight turn on the rural highway. He could see the water shining in the sunlight beyond the trees. The driver braked hard, and Riley lunged forward. The minibus made a sharp right onto a narrow dirt road and rattled past the CAMP OLYMPIA sign.
The sign--featuring a painting of a giant snapping turtle--looked considerably shabbier than it had in the brochure. From what Riley could see of the buildings up ahead, the rest of the camp looked run-down, too.
"That thing had my foot in its mouth last year, I swear!" said Barry Monahan, the pudgy kid in the seat in front of Riley. "I've still got a scar."
"That thing" was Big Joe, the legendary resident of Lake Surprise. Said to be as wide as a wheelbarrow and as fierce as a mountain lion, the snapping turtle had been the subject of all kinds of stories from the older guys on the three-hour ride from the city. They told of kids who'd lost fingers and toes, and of others who'd barely escaped.
"About ten years ago he bit some kid's leg off!"
Riley squirmed and looked toward the lake again, but the bus had turned uphill and was approaching a ring of cabins.
When the bus stopped, a counselor stepped on board and introduced himself as Shawn. "You guys are in Cabin Three," he said.
"Who's in those other cabins?" somebody asked.
"Your rivals."
Riley swallowed hard and grabbed his backpack from the rack above his seat. He'd done well at sports in the past--Little League baseball, YMCA soccer--but he'd be one of the youngest kids at this two-week sports camp in the backwoods of Pennsylvania. Most of the guys on the bus were twelve and a few--Barry and Hernando--had already turned thirteen. Riley's eleventh birthday had been in April.
"Move your butt," said the guy behind him as they stood in the aisle.
Riley looked back. Tony Maniglia, who towered over Riley, was smiling as if he'd been joking--there was no way Riley could go anywhere until the line started to move.
Riley could sense that these older guys would be picking on the smaller ones like him. He knew most of them from their neighborhood in Jersey City, but not well. They'd been to camp before; Riley hadn't.
The only other eleven-year-old in the group was Barry Monahan's scrawny little brother, Patrick. He wasn't much bigger than Riley, but Patrick could have kicked his butt in two seconds. Riley had seen him working in the alley behind Monahan's Tavern, lifting beer kegs that Riley wouldn't have been able to budge.
Riley took a lower bunk against the wall, below Patrick. The inside walls of the cabin had been painted a pale yellow many years before, and the floor was bare gray boards. There were also ten lockers but no locks.
Riley spread out his sleeping bag, shoved his backpack under the bunk, and hung his sweatshirt and rain jacket in the locker.
"Cabin Three...," Barry was saying. "I seem to remember that this is the haunted one. I stayed in Cabin Six last year, but the guys in this one were always scared to be in here alone."
Riley looked around. It didn't look spooky in the daylight. He read the sheet of paper that had been sitting on every bunk:
CAMP OLYMPIA BULLETIN
Saturday, July 31
BASKETBALL ACTION BEGINS TONIGHT
Triple-header on Tap
Who: Cabin 1 Wonders vs. Cabin 2 Tubers (Cabin 3 Threshers vs. Cabin 4 Fortunes and Cabin 5 Fighters vs. Cabin 6 Sixers to follow)
When: 6:30 p.m.
Where: The spacious and modern Olympia Arena
What's at Stake: Team points toward the Big Joe Trophy!
Softball, Water Polo Get Under Way Tomorrow
Softball: Sunday morning at the Arthur Drummond Memorial Stadium
Water Polo: After lunch at the Lake Surprise Aquatics and Fitness Center
Each camper must play at least one quarter of every basketball game and one half of each water-polo event
Upcoming: Two-man canoe races, a cross-country running relay, the tug-of-war, and lots more, including the camp-ending Lake Surprise Showdown (a marathon swim race)
Best of luck to all Camp Olympia athletes!
Review:
5.0 out of 5 stars Happy Mom
My ten year old son read this book cover to cover in 2 days. He couldn't put it down and he said it's the best book he's ever written. He liked the characters, the plot and I loved how he didn't want to stop reading. Thanks Mr. Wallace for writing a great book.
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
waiting to read it and pick up some tips for my first summer camp this year!
4.0 out of 5 stars Book Review: [...]
Riley feels like the smallest kid at sports camp. In fact, he is. He just turned eleven in April, but most kids here are twelve, and a few are even thirteen--and gigantic. It's hard enough for a shrimp like Riley to fit in. He just doesn't want to be the weak link as his bunk competes for the Camp Olympia Trophy.Riley knows he's no good at strength and accuracy games like basketball and softball. But when it comes to speed and endurance events, like running and swimming, he's better than he looks. He's pretty sure he can place in the top ten--and bring in major trophy points--in the final mile-long swim race across Lake Surprise. But he doesn't count on being followed by the shadow of Big Joe, the giant vicious snapping turtle of camp lore. Wasn't that supposed to be a legend?Review: Sports camp like any other camp has all the usual "campy" elements....mosquitoes, cabins, a mess hall with questionable food, practical jokes, a bully and of course the obligatory scary stories. The scariest of all? An evil foot-chomping snapping turtle called Big Joe.Chock full of sporty competitive moments where the underdog is doing his best to win. I like the realism though in that Riley has his share of wins and losses but keeps his determination. This is a great book for kid who likes to read about sports and the build up to the big game or final showdown.The story is well paced and has enough sporty suspense to keep readers wanting more. Best suited for grades 3 to 7.
Visit the Yearling Store
Sports Camp
AED4445
Quantity:
Order today to get by
Free delivery on orders over AED 200
Imported From: United States
At bolo.ae, we stand behind the authenticity and quality of every product we sell. We guarantee that all items offered on our website are 100% genuine, sourced directly from authorized distributors, trusted partners, or the original brands themselves.
We do not sell counterfeit, replica, or unauthorized goods. Each product undergoes thorough inspection and verification at our consolidation and fulfilment centers to ensure it meets our strict authenticity and quality standards before being shipped and delivered to you.
If you ever have concerns regarding the authenticity of a product purchased from us, please contact Bolo Support . We will review your inquiry promptly and, if necessary, provide documentation verifying authenticity or offer a suitable resolution.
Your trust is our top priority, and we are committed to maintaining transparency and integrity in every transaction.
All product information, including images, descriptions, and reviews, is provided by third-party vendors. bolo.ae is not responsible for any claims, promotions, or representations made within product content or images. For more accurate or detailed product information, please contact the manufacturer directly or reach out to Bolo Support.
Unless otherwise stated during checkout, all prices displayed on the product page include applicable taxes and import duties.
bolo.ae operates in accordance with the laws and regulations of United Arab Emirates. Any items found to be restricted or prohibited for sale within the UAE will be cancelled prior to shipment. We take proactive measures to ensure that only products permitted for sale in United Arab Emirates are listed on our website.
All items are shipped by air, and any products classified as “Dangerous Goods (DG)” under IATA regulations will be removed from the order and cancelled.
All orders are processed manually, and we make every effort to process them promptly once confirmed. Products cancelled due to the above reasons will be permanently removed from listings across the website.
More from this brand
Similar items from “Friendship”
Share with
Or share with link
https://www.bolo.ae/products/U0440239931
Visit the Yearling Store
Sports Camp
AED4445
Quantity:
Order today to get by
Free delivery on orders over AED 200
Imported From: United States
At bolo.ae, we stand behind the authenticity and quality of every product we sell. We guarantee that all items offered on our website are 100% genuine, sourced directly from authorized distributors, trusted partners, or the original brands themselves.
We do not sell counterfeit, replica, or unauthorized goods. Each product undergoes thorough inspection and verification at our consolidation and fulfilment centers to ensure it meets our strict authenticity and quality standards before being shipped and delivered to you.
If you ever have concerns regarding the authenticity of a product purchased from us, please contact Bolo Support . We will review your inquiry promptly and, if necessary, provide documentation verifying authenticity or offer a suitable resolution.
Your trust is our top priority, and we are committed to maintaining transparency and integrity in every transaction.
All product information, including images, descriptions, and reviews, is provided by third-party vendors. bolo.ae is not responsible for any claims, promotions, or representations made within product content or images. For more accurate or detailed product information, please contact the manufacturer directly or reach out to Bolo Support.
Unless otherwise stated during checkout, all prices displayed on the product page include applicable taxes and import duties.
bolo.ae operates in accordance with the laws and regulations of United Arab Emirates. Any items found to be restricted or prohibited for sale within the UAE will be cancelled prior to shipment. We take proactive measures to ensure that only products permitted for sale in United Arab Emirates are listed on our website.
All items are shipped by air, and any products classified as “Dangerous Goods (DG)” under IATA regulations will be removed from the order and cancelled.
All orders are processed manually, and we make every effort to process them promptly once confirmed. Products cancelled due to the above reasons will be permanently removed from listings across the website.
Description:
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Facing the Wall
Riley Liston's first glimpse of the lake came as the bus wheels screeched around a tight turn on the rural highway. He could see the water shining in the sunlight beyond the trees. The driver braked hard, and Riley lunged forward. The minibus made a sharp right onto a narrow dirt road and rattled past the CAMP OLYMPIA sign.
The sign--featuring a painting of a giant snapping turtle--looked considerably shabbier than it had in the brochure. From what Riley could see of the buildings up ahead, the rest of the camp looked run-down, too.
"That thing had my foot in its mouth last year, I swear!" said Barry Monahan, the pudgy kid in the seat in front of Riley. "I've still got a scar."
"That thing" was Big Joe, the legendary resident of Lake Surprise. Said to be as wide as a wheelbarrow and as fierce as a mountain lion, the snapping turtle had been the subject of all kinds of stories from the older guys on the three-hour ride from the city. They told of kids who'd lost fingers and toes, and of others who'd barely escaped.
"About ten years ago he bit some kid's leg off!"
Riley squirmed and looked toward the lake again, but the bus had turned uphill and was approaching a ring of cabins.
When the bus stopped, a counselor stepped on board and introduced himself as Shawn. "You guys are in Cabin Three," he said.
"Who's in those other cabins?" somebody asked.
"Your rivals."
Riley swallowed hard and grabbed his backpack from the rack above his seat. He'd done well at sports in the past--Little League baseball, YMCA soccer--but he'd be one of the youngest kids at this two-week sports camp in the backwoods of Pennsylvania. Most of the guys on the bus were twelve and a few--Barry and Hernando--had already turned thirteen. Riley's eleventh birthday had been in April.
"Move your butt," said the guy behind him as they stood in the aisle.
Riley looked back. Tony Maniglia, who towered over Riley, was smiling as if he'd been joking--there was no way Riley could go anywhere until the line started to move.
Riley could sense that these older guys would be picking on the smaller ones like him. He knew most of them from their neighborhood in Jersey City, but not well. They'd been to camp before; Riley hadn't.
The only other eleven-year-old in the group was Barry Monahan's scrawny little brother, Patrick. He wasn't much bigger than Riley, but Patrick could have kicked his butt in two seconds. Riley had seen him working in the alley behind Monahan's Tavern, lifting beer kegs that Riley wouldn't have been able to budge.
Riley took a lower bunk against the wall, below Patrick. The inside walls of the cabin had been painted a pale yellow many years before, and the floor was bare gray boards. There were also ten lockers but no locks.
Riley spread out his sleeping bag, shoved his backpack under the bunk, and hung his sweatshirt and rain jacket in the locker.
"Cabin Three...," Barry was saying. "I seem to remember that this is the haunted one. I stayed in Cabin Six last year, but the guys in this one were always scared to be in here alone."
Riley looked around. It didn't look spooky in the daylight. He read the sheet of paper that had been sitting on every bunk:
CAMP OLYMPIA BULLETIN
Saturday, July 31
BASKETBALL ACTION BEGINS TONIGHT
Triple-header on Tap
Who: Cabin 1 Wonders vs. Cabin 2 Tubers (Cabin 3 Threshers vs. Cabin 4 Fortunes and Cabin 5 Fighters vs. Cabin 6 Sixers to follow)
When: 6:30 p.m.
Where: The spacious and modern Olympia Arena
What's at Stake: Team points toward the Big Joe Trophy!
Softball, Water Polo Get Under Way Tomorrow
Softball: Sunday morning at the Arthur Drummond Memorial Stadium
Water Polo: After lunch at the Lake Surprise Aquatics and Fitness Center
Each camper must play at least one quarter of every basketball game and one half of each water-polo event
Upcoming: Two-man canoe races, a cross-country running relay, the tug-of-war, and lots more, including the camp-ending Lake Surprise Showdown (a marathon swim race)
Best of luck to all Camp Olympia athletes!
Review:
5.0 out of 5 stars Happy Mom
My ten year old son read this book cover to cover in 2 days. He couldn't put it down and he said it's the best book he's ever written. He liked the characters, the plot and I loved how he didn't want to stop reading. Thanks Mr. Wallace for writing a great book.
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
waiting to read it and pick up some tips for my first summer camp this year!
4.0 out of 5 stars Book Review: [...]
Riley feels like the smallest kid at sports camp. In fact, he is. He just turned eleven in April, but most kids here are twelve, and a few are even thirteen--and gigantic. It's hard enough for a shrimp like Riley to fit in. He just doesn't want to be the weak link as his bunk competes for the Camp Olympia Trophy.Riley knows he's no good at strength and accuracy games like basketball and softball. But when it comes to speed and endurance events, like running and swimming, he's better than he looks. He's pretty sure he can place in the top ten--and bring in major trophy points--in the final mile-long swim race across Lake Surprise. But he doesn't count on being followed by the shadow of Big Joe, the giant vicious snapping turtle of camp lore. Wasn't that supposed to be a legend?Review: Sports camp like any other camp has all the usual "campy" elements....mosquitoes, cabins, a mess hall with questionable food, practical jokes, a bully and of course the obligatory scary stories. The scariest of all? An evil foot-chomping snapping turtle called Big Joe.Chock full of sporty competitive moments where the underdog is doing his best to win. I like the realism though in that Riley has his share of wins and losses but keeps his determination. This is a great book for kid who likes to read about sports and the build up to the big game or final showdown.The story is well paced and has enough sporty suspense to keep readers wanting more. Best suited for grades 3 to 7.
More from this brand
Similar items from “Friendship”
Share with
Or share with link
https://www.bolo.ae/products/U0440239931