Cooper thought living at a campground would be cool.
But ever since his parents bought the lakeside campground, he’s had more chores and less time to explore. And as if babysitting his little sister and cleaning the bathrooms weren’t bad enough, his ex-friend Roy has chosen him as this summer’s bullying target. Cooper’s only bright spot this summer is his new friend, Packrat, a guy who carries the world in his coat pockets and leaves his troubles behind.
But trouble has come to the Wilder Family Campground and Pine Lake, where a family of loons is building a nest. First, someone dams up the lake and floods the nest. Then, when Cooper and Packrat build a raft where the loons can make a new nest, it gets destroyed–by someone with big footprints. Someone is out to harm the loons. Is it the bully with a chip on his shoulder? The irritable camper with a shady past? Or the publicity-seeking reporter? It’s up to the boys to figure out who, why, and how to stop the culprit– before it’s too late.
“With an engaging voice, reluctant camper Cooper Wilder tells a story of environmental intrigue for outdoorsy middle-grade readers. As a summer camp owner herself, author Tamra Wight has young readers tasting the oozing s’mores, smelling the stench of maggot-riddled trash, and feeling the squishy mud between their toes with her descriptive language. Quirky characters and realistic dialogue will make this suspenseful eco-mystery a favorite summer read of any wildlife-lover.” ~ForeWord Reviews
