Doom’s Day Camp

Gr 3-6–Doom Thorax is an average kid, living with his mountain man dad, scavenging for food, and hanging out with his annoying werewolf sister, as well as a boy made of mud, a moody mold of Jell-O, and a superintelligent ant. So maybe Doom’s life is a little weird. As this postapocalyptic story begins, this oddball group is left under Doom’s supervision while their adults head off to battle mysterious threats with no promise of safe return, a mildly terrifying prospect that’s quickly moved past. After accidentally burning down their camp, Doom leads his friends to the remains of an elementary school he’s discovered. Here, they munch on paste, play on the swings, and get into all kinds of situations that reveal their unique gifts and struggles—for instance, one of Doom’s friends is a brain in a jar, who, if let loose, can create a literal brainstorm. The crew’s unsupervised circumstances foster their individual talents and encourage them to work together. Hauke’s illustrations are endlessly creative and colorful, but each panel feels jam-packed with activity, giving the story little room to breathe. Doom appears Black, and his team is diverse, albeit not entirely human.