When an unscrupulous manager absconds with most of the Applewhite family fortunes, Randolph Applewhite hatches a plan to turn their finances around: hosting a summer camp for creative children. After all, their particular brand of insanity worked for Jake, who's now pretty much an honorary Applewhite. Between the lot of them, they can teach workshops in pretty much any art that kids could care to learn, and they have plenty of space in the cabins on-site (Wit's End, the Applewhite homestead, was once a motor lodge). They all dive into preparations, with E.D. coordinating schedules and everyone else planning curriculum and fixing up the property. Of course, what nobody thinks to do is arrange for permits from the state, so when a man purporting to be a state inspector shows up, everyone is thrown into a bit of a tizzy...

This is another fun foray into the world of the Applewhites. I knock off half a star for something unnecessary that happened at the very end of the book, but still, an enjoyable read for fans of the first book. ( )

It was great to see these characters again, but overall the novel felt rushed. The plot was minimal, the buildup was quick, and in the end there wasn't much pay off. ( )

The famous Applewhites family is facing a problem, it's winter and they’re running out of money. Randolph Applewhite has an idea to make his family home into a summer camp called Eureka for creative children. As the new campers arrived, things did not go as planned, they already had complainers and out of control campers; and to make matters worse, Randolph Applewhite began receiving threatening letters in the mail which E.D. Applewhite found on Randolph's desk. Over the next couple of days the campers and staff spotted a black car pulling in everyday delivering mail and a man in a black suit looking around taking notes. So together, the campers and Applewhites made a plan to trap the mystery man and find out who he was. The man in black was Thomas Timmons, an actor who was hired to deliver the letters by Mrs. Montrose, the president of the theatre board whose daughter was rejected from the play produced by Randolph Applewhite. This news angers Randolph Applewhite but he forgives the man and allows him to live with them until he can find a new job.

I give this book 4 stars because is was a Paige turner. It was good, interesting and in joinable. I didn't like like how they have to solve a mystery and how they make a camp gets of topic with the first book " Surviving the apple whites. ( )

The Applehwhites are creative and kind of crazy! The are all very artistic except for perhaps E.D. E.D is a good student, motivated to teach herself as the teachers in the Creative Academy do not pay much attention to their students. Then Jake Semple arrives, a juvenile delinquent in the making, she must learn to find a place for hm in her life and her heart.

The first thought that comes to mind after finishing the novel..."Yay!!"

The story starts with the Applewhites in danger of losing their home due to financial strains. So to solve their money problem, E.D.'s father, Randolph Applewhite, comes up with a plan to save their property...by starting a creative kids summer camp where kids will learn singing, dancing, painting, woodworking and sculpturing. Things get off to a rocky start. Campers want to go home and no one is getting along. Then a man in a suit toting a clipboard appear on the Applewhite property, seemly to take notes for the North Carolina government while strange letters come daily in the mail and E.D. realizes all is not as it seems. As E.D. uncovers the truth behind the supposed government agent and the taunting letters, Jake has figured out a way to rally the campers to a universal cause to help keep the government from shutting down their beloved camp. And through it all, each camper learns and grows in their area of expertise while getting to know each other and realizing that working in a team is always better than working alone.

What I Liked: The novel starts with a dysfunctional, yet happy family, who pull together during tough times in order to help the family as a whole. I liked that the story began with a hyper, creative atmosphere, then ends on the same note. I also really enjoyed the way Ms. Tolan showcased how each individual camper grew through their experiences, especially Ginger's last poem, which could easily be printed in a poetry book. Each camper also had very distinct personalities that were wonderful and make readers feel that these characters can indeed be real people.

What I Didn't Like: The only thing that I thought needed more explanation was E.D.'s ended fascination with David. Perhaps the reason why no explanation was given was because Ms. Tolan wanted readers to feel that E.D.'s feelings had slowly waned. Other than that, it was a really good read!

I received this novel from Librarything.com Early Reviewer program. ( )