Twelve year old Stanley Yelnats just can’t seem to catch a break. Bad luck just rains upon him and his family and it’s all on account of his “no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather”.

The hapless Stanley finds himself at Camp Green Lake after he is wrongly accused of stealing a pair of prized sneakers. Camp Green Lake is lakeless, not green and not exactly a camp. It is in this barren and unlikely location that Stanley’s ancestral history becomes entangled with his current situation.

The stories of the past and present are woven together skillfully and Stanley’s choices determine the outcome. Amidst the mystery and struggles at Camp Green Lake, Stanley learns about friendship, loyalty, prejudice and courage. Can he find redemption? Highly recommended for ages 9 and up.

-(reviewed by Aylin Regulski)