Review: No Good Deed

No Good Deed by Goldy Moldavsky
Publisher: Point
Publication Date: May 30, 2017
Pages: 345 pages
Genre: Young Adult
Rating: 4/5

Disclaimer: Review is based off of a copy of the uncorrected proof

Synopsis:

I tried. I can say that I tried my hardest. I wanted to make a difference for the better. I wanted to feed the children. Clearly. Why else would I go to Camp Save the World?

It started off okay. The spirit of camaraderie and collective activism was strong. So many great causes to support.

And then the contest was announced. They wanted to see who could do the most good. But that led to the most bad.

No good deed goes unpunished.

Review:

This is the first book I've read by Goldy Moldavsky, and I am now on the hunt for her other works. No Good Deed was a breeze to read through, and most of that came from the witty and humorous narrative. There's a wide cast of characters with most of them only named by the cause that they're promoting. "Unity," "Endangered Species," and macho "Men's Rights" (because who hasn't met anyone with that view) actually carry along the comedic journey because of how adamant they are to their platform. The plot was charmingly lighthearted because it didn't take itself seriously despite talking about real issues that plague the world today.

People debate their opinions all the time in real life, but what happens when all of these conversations are had by sixteen year olds competing over who has the "better" cause? Then what happens when we put all of these teens together in a summer camp with a goal as lofty as "Camp Save the World?" Chaos and hilarity ensue as our protagonist navigates through camp wielding his own righteous ideals alongside his peers. Everything about this book was pushed just enough to the brink to stay on the side of comedic without seeming to try too hard. I mean, how funny is it that one of the kids at this camp promotes his own activism: "Boycott Camp."

Also, one of my favorite parts is the representation— both racially as well as with sexual orientation. Goldy included such a wide range of characters from different backgrounds and made it effortless— which it always should be.

Overall, a good introduction to the author's writing, and an easy read for a lazy day.