Camp X (novel) facts for kids
The front cover of Camp X
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| Author | Eric Walters |
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| Illustrator | John Mantha |
| Cover artist | Lisa Jager |
| Country | Canada |
| Language | English |
| Series | Camp X |
| Genre | Spy fiction, Historical Fiction |
| Publisher | Penguin Canada |
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Publication date
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2002 |
| Media type | Print (Paperback) |
| Pages | 229 pp |
| ISBN | 0-670-91101-1 |
| OCLC | 47948477 |
| Followed by | Camp 30 (novel) |
Camp X is an exciting spy novel for young readers, written by Canadian author Eric Walters. It's set during World War II and tells the story of two brothers, Jack and George. They accidentally discover a top-secret Canadian military base called Camp X and end up trying to save it!
The book was first published in 2002. It was so popular that Eric Walters wrote several more books in the series, like Camp 30, Fool's Gold, Shell Shocked, and Trouble in Paradise. The book is dedicated to William Stephenson, a real-life spy who helped create the original Camp X. He even appears in the novel as a character named Little Bill.
Contents
What is Camp X About?
A Secret Discovery in Wartime
The story begins in the summer of 1943, during World War II. George, who is almost 12, and his 14-year-old brother Jack, have moved with their mom to Whitby, Ontario. Their dad is away fighting in Africa against Germany. Their mom works hard at a factory that makes supplies for the war.
One day, while playing a pretend war game, the brothers stumble upon a real military base. Their curiosity leads them to a huge discovery: Canada's top-secret military base for training spies, known as Camp X!
Caught and Recruited
After sneaking around, Jack and George are caught by the guards. They are made to sign the Official Secrets Act, which means they can't tell anyone about what they've seen. The boys learn a lot about the camp and are even given tasks to help improve its security.
A Dangerous Encounter
While delivering newspapers for a man named Mr. Krum, the brothers find themselves in big trouble. Mr. Krum kidnaps them because he wants information about Camp X. Jack and George are in great danger, but they manage to learn about a secret plan to attack Camp X.
Warning the Camp
The brothers bravely escape and race to warn Camp X about the planned invasion. They risk their own lives to make sure the camp and its secrets are safe.
Who are the Main Characters?
Jack Braun
Jack is 14 years old and George's older brother. He often teases George but is also very protective. Jack is tough and dreams of joining the army, just like his dad. He's quick-thinking and often finds ways to get them out of tricky situations. Even though their grandfather is German, Jack and George are proud Canadians.
George Braun
George is 11 and will turn 12 soon. He's Jack's younger brother and they often argue, especially when Jack teases him. George isn't as tough as Jack at first and relies on his brother to defend him. However, by the end of the book, George shows just how brave and strong he can be too.
Bill (Lieutenant Colonel)
Bill is the Lieutenant Colonel in charge of Camp X. His job is to train spies and make the camp super secure. He often plays a game with Mr. Granger, who works at the D.I.L. plant. They take turns trying to break into each other's secure areas, and the winner gets a box of cigarettes!
Mr. Krum (Rainer Krum)
Mr. Krum is a Nazi spy who pretends to be a newspaper editor. He was born in Germany and fought in World War I. He tries to trick Jack and George into trusting him. But the truth is, he was sent to Canada as a spy. He uses the boys, who deliver his papers, to get information about Camp X. Later, he betrays them to other Nazi spies.
Other Important Characters
Chief Smith
Chief Smith's real name is Schmidt, but he uses Smith so people won't suspect him because of his German last name. He is the chief of police in Whitby. He is one of the few people who knows about Jack and George's secret involvement with Camp X.
Little Bill
Little Bill is named after the real William Stephenson, a very important spy. In the book, he is in charge of all the spy camps in Canada. This makes him one of the busiest and most important people in the country. He doesn't appear much in the sequel, Camp 30.
Awards and Recognition
In 2003, the book Camp X won the Silver Birch fiction award. This award is part of the Forest of Reading program, which encourages young Canadians to read.
