My Teammate is a Hot Head (Volume 2), page 1
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Copyright © 2023 by Disney Enterprises, Inc.
All rights reserved. Published by Disney • Hyperion, an imprint of Buena Vista Books, Inc. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the publisher. For information address Disney • Hyperion, 77 West 66th Street, New York, New York 10023.
First Edition, April 2023
Designed by Zareen Johnson
Illustrations created in Photoshop
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Hay, Sam, author.
Title: My teammate is a hot head / Sam Hay.
Description: First Paperback Edition. • Los Angeles : DisneyHyperion, 2023. •
Series: Camp Lil’ Vills • Audience: Ages 6-8. • Audience: Grades 2-3. •
Summary: “Camp Lil’ Vills heats up when Hades arrives determined to win camp contests by any means necessary”—Provided by publisher.
Identifiers: LCCN 2021050354 (print) • LCCN 2021050355 (ebook) • ISBN 9781368084611 (hardcover) • ISBN 9781368057424 (paperback) • ISBN 9781368074087 (ebk)
Subjects: LCSH: Hades (Greek deity)—Juvenile fiction. • Magic—Juvenile fiction. • Camps—Juvenile fiction. • Contests—Juvenile fiction. • Teamwork (Sports)—Juvenile fiction. • CYAC: Magic—Fiction. • Camps—Fiction. • Contests—Fiction. • Teamwork (Sports)—Fiction. •
Hades (Greek deity)—Fiction.
Classification: LCC PZ7.H31387385 Myg 2023 (print) • LCC PZ7.H31387385
(ebook) • DDC 813.6 [Fic]—dc23/eng/20220125
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021050354
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021050355
Visit www.DisneyBooks.com
Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Attention Campers
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
About the Author
About the Illustrator
MY new buddy Benji picked up a giant flying feather from the pile, then glanced over the side of the platform we were standing on. “Whoa!” he breathed. “It’s a long way down, Bloom.”
“Don’t worry,” I said, wafting away a little piggy-pigeon. “As long as you say the magic words, you won’t fall.”
It was our third time around the Charmed Ropes Course, preparing for the team relay contest the next day, and Benji was starting to get the hang of it. But the treetops section—where you had to use a magical griffin feather to fly between the platforms—always gave him the shakes. This wasn’t unusual with new campers.
Ever since my dad first opened Lilliputian Villages Summer Camp in the middle of an enchanted forest, I’d seen loads of kids crumble at the sight of the Charmed Ropes Course. For starters, it was really high up—not quite Jack and the Beanstalk level of tallness, but close! Plus, there were loads of obstacles: moving climbing walls, a spider-covered scramble web (my least favorite part), and a zip line you powered with your mind. But by the time they finished their vacation, most campers were zooming around the course like the camp’s dragon squirrels.
“It’s okay to be nervous,” I told Benji. “The first time I did this, I tied my broomstick to my back in case the feather didn’t work.”
Benji looked down again, and his magical glasses flashed warning red. “According to my distance-o-meter, it’s a one-hundred-and-fifty-foot drop.” He gulped. “There’s definitely a safety net, right?”
“Of course! And Coach Clary will catch you if you fall. She’s super speedy.” I pointed across to the crow’s nest, where Clary was watching all the campers through her hawk-eye goggles. “And look, Hem’s waiting for you…”
“Hey, Benji!” My bunkmate Hem, who was the third member of our team, waved across from the next platform.
“Okay, here goes…” Benji climbed onto his feather and said the magic words. “Bats…birds…clouds in the sky, lift this feather and make it fly—achoo!”
Benji’s sudden sneeze—caused by his magic allergy—made his feather shoot straight off the platform.
“Oh, wow!” Benji cried, clinging on to the end of the feather. “It’s kind of tickly on my knees.”
“You’re veering right,” I called. “Aim straight or you’ll hit that—”
THWUMP!
Benji crashed straight into the thick, leafy branch of a giant tree, startling a mouse-owl that had been snoozing there.
“Um—I think I’m stuck,” Benji called, trying to detach his sweater, which was now caught on a spiky twig.
“No problem, I’ll come help,” I said. “Just don’t lose your feather, okay?”
But before I could launch myself off the platform, a sharp elbow nudged me out of the way and a blur of blue hair zoomed past.
“Hey!” I called. “Slow down!”
But the kid kept shooting through the air on his griffin feather, heading toward the next platform.
Unfortunately, right at that moment, Benji managed to untangle himself from the branch, and his feather rocketed toward the platform, too.
“Look out, Benji!” I called.
CLUNK!
Benji rammed right into the blue-haired kid, who let out a howl.
“Hey, make like a tree, pal!” the kid yelled, pushing Benji back into the branches.
“Hoi!” I shouted. “You can’t do that!”
But the kid ignored me and carried on to the next platform.
“Er—Bloom,” Benji called, trying to wriggle free. “I think I’m stuck agai—uh-oh! My feather!”
It had broken free and was now flying off without him. Benji’s face turned pale as his feet dangled in the air.
“Don’t move!” I picked up the largest griffin feather from the pile and climbed aboard, leaning forward just like Dad had taught me. I muttered the flying spell under my breath, and the feather took off. As I got closer, I reached out as far as I dared. “Here.”
Benji hesitated. He swallowed hard, then glanced at the ground below.
“Don’t look down!” I said. “Just let go of that branch and take my hand.”
Slowly, he let go with one hand and stretched it out…
“Gotcha!” I pulled him onto the feather. “Whoa!” I muttered as we wobbled wildly for a second. Then the feather found its balance and took off, landing us on the next platform, where Hem and the blue-haired kid were waiting.
“Oh, wow!” Hem breathed. “That was so brave, Bloom.”
The kid snorted. “So much drama. AND you messed up my time,” he added. “Now I have to start over.” He pulled a piece of gum out of his mouth and stuck it to the handrail, turning to go.
“Hey, wait!” I said. “You can’t leave that there. The night creatures like to play on the course, and they could get stuck.”
The boy rolled his eyes. “Don’t get your sandals in a spin!” But he didn’t pick up his gum or apologize for shoving Benji as he moved away.
“Maybe next time just be more careful. You made Benji lose his feather. If Coach Clary sees you pushing other campers, she’ll tell you to take a break.”
The boy turned back. “A break?” His yellow eyes narrowed, and little flames shot up from the tips of his blue hair. “No one EVER tells me when to quit!” Suddenly, a large spark shot out of his hair into the branches above. Not that he noticed. He’d already jumped onto his feather and flown off.
I was about to call after him when my nose began to twitch. Huh? What’s that smell? I glanced up.…
“Flashing thunderbolts,” Benji said. “The tree is on fire!”
HEM let out a shriek. Benji’s eyes goggled. And I felt my heart thump in my chest. Smoke was puffing around us as the flames began to spread.
“Where’s Coach Clary?” Hem said, peering down at the empty crow’s nest.
“It’s okay,” I said, trying to stop my voice from wobbling. “I’m a junior fire warden. I can put it out.”
I’d practiced for this sort of emergency twice a week with the counselors ever since Dad opened the camp. But I’d never actually had to use an extinguish spell for real. I took a deep breath and raised my shaking hands toward the flames. Come on, Bloom, I told myself. You’ve got this. Broomsticks crossed! I closed my eyes and tried to picture what I was hoping to make happen; Dad often said that was the trick to getting your magic right.
“Raindrops, rivers, and creeks full of trout,” I said, “send me a cloud and put this fire out!”
Benji sneezed, which meant the spell must have worked. I opened my eyes just as—
WHOOSH!
&nbs p; A gust of wind rushed past us, making the platform sway. A large fish-shaped cloud gathered overhead. It hovered next to the flames for a moment before opening its mouth like a huge fishy fire hose, and sprayed a jet of water. There was a loud hisssss as the water dampened the flames.
“Wizarding wands!” Benji cried. “That was awesome, Bloom.”
I smiled. “I like your wipers,” I said, noticing the little arms that had appeared on his lenses and were swishing the raindrops away.
Hem reached up to touch the fishy cloud. “Oh, it feels like a big sponge.”
Just then, we heard a shout and Coach Clary soared up toward us.
“I’m so sorry.” She panted as she landed on the platform. “Another camper was stuck on the scramble web.” She glanced up at the blackened canopy of branches above us. “Fast work, Bloom! You’re getting to be as good at charms as your dad.”
I felt a surge of pride. Being compared to Dad was high praise. He had once been the most powerful evil sorcerer on the planet. And now that he’d turned his back on the dark side and only used his magic for good, he was known as an exceptional wizard. I was really proud of him.
“Hey, where did that other kid go?” Hem asked, peering off into the trees. “He was the one who started the fire,” she explained to Coach Clary.
“Oh, well, accidents happen,” Coach Clary said. “I’m sure he didn’t mean to cause trouble.”
I was just about to tell her that the kid had also barged Benji off the course when Coach Clary clapped her hands to make the rain cloud drift away. Then she turned to Benji. “So, how are you enjoying the Charmed Ropes? I’ve noticed you’re improving. You’re going to do so well in the contest tomorrow.”
Benji’s glasses steamed up. “Um—thanks. Bloom is a great teacher.”
“Oh, I don’t know about that,” I began, my face even hotter now.
“Benji is right,” Coach Clary said, her eyes shining behind her hawk-goggles. “You’re a very supportive team member, Bloom. Which is why I have a favor to ask. I have a new camper who is finding it hard to settle in.…I wondered whether either of you two,” she said, looking at Benji and Hem, “might swap into another team so the new camper could be Bloom’s teammate.”
Hem and Benji looked at each other.
“I guess I don’t mind,” Benji mumbled, looking at his feet.
“Er—me neither,” Hem muttered, her smile disappearing.
Coach Clary chuckled. “Let me see what I can do.” She clicked her fingers and a clipboard appeared in front of her. “Ah, yes, this might work… Hem, how about I put you on a team with your other bunkmates, Blush and Luna?”
Hem’s face brightened. “Sure, they’re fun.”
Coach Clary scribbled the changes onto her clipboard. “Thank you, Hem. But make sure Blush and Luna don’t use their wings.” She laughed. “Fairies always seem to do very well in this contest. Now, how about you finish the course, and I’ll meet you at the bottom of the zip line and introduce you to your new teammate.”
As she flew off, I felt a slight wobble in my
tummy. I loved helping new kids settle in—as the owner’s daughter, I felt that was one of my roles at camp. But after my recent experiences with my last bunkmate, Cruella, I also knew that it could be tricky.
“Ooh, I can see everything in the camp from up here,” Benji said, peering over the edge of the platform. “Is that the Mystical Maze?”
“Yep, and there’s the Dragon-Flying Course. You can see their fiery breath.”
“Wow! I’d love to try that,” Hem said.
Benji’s eyes goggled. “Um—me too. I think!”
I laughed. “Come on, let’s head for the zip line.”
Benji reached for another flying feather and climbed aboard. “And this time I’m going to keep my eyes wide open,” he said. “Because according to the book Fifty Places to Feel the Heat Beneath Your Feet! the zip line passes right over the top of the volcano.”
Hem blinked at him. “I thought that was just a rumor.”
“It’s true,” I said. “Dad told me it’s buried deep underground and probably extinct. But sometimes I think I feel a little warmer near it. I’ll show you.”
This time Benji managed to fly in a straight line, and by the time we reached the zip-line platform, he was buzzing.
“I really feel I’m getting the hang of this now,” he said, landing with a gentle bump. He laid his feather on the pile and picked up a zip wire grip. “Now I just need to make it down faster than last time.”
“Me too,” I told him. I usually went slow and steady. “Let’s think fast thoughts.”
He gave me a thumbs-up and then attached himself to the line and jumped, followed a moment later by Hem.
My turn. I fastened my grip to the cable and prepared to leap. This was my favorite part of the course; I loved the feeling of the wind in my hair when I whizzed down the line.
But as I stepped off the platform, it wasn’t the wind making my hair stand on end. I could see Coach Clary and Benji waiting for me at the bottom. And next to them was our new teammate…
“Oh no!” I gasped.
It was the blue-haired kid who had set the course on fire.
“BRAVO, Bloom!” Coach Clary called as I walked over to join them. “Lovely smooth zip lining! Come meet your new teammate.” She smiled at the blue-haired kid. “This is Hades. Hades, meet Bloom. And you’ve already met Benji.”
Benji looked at me, his eyes wide.
“Hi,” I said to Hades. “Um—nice to meet you.”
He nodded, glancing at Coach Clary and then quickly back to me again.
Maybe he thinks I’m going to tell on him, I thought. And I probably should! Benji could have been hurt! I didn’t really want to be on a team with him.
“Coach Clary,” Hades piped up. “Aren’t there any other teams I could join?”
Huh? He seemed to be reading my mind. Maybe he’s good at that, just like Dad. “No offense,” he added, wafting his hand at me and Benji. “But see, they’re not exactly the fastest kids on the course. And I’ve got a shot at winning tomorrow. Just not, you know, with them.”
Benji’s glasses turned strawberry red, matching his face. “Um, well,” he muttered, looking down. “I wouldn’t want to slow him down.”
“Me neither,” I said. I want Hem back!
Coach Clary frowned. “Winning isn’t all about speed. You also need focus and the skill of being a good team player. Now, how about you guys get to know one another while I go hang these up?” She turned and scooped up a pile of ropes and headed toward the shed.
For a moment we all just stood there, staring at our feet. Then Benji coughed…
“Um—so, you’re an awesome feather flyer,” he told Hades. “Do you practice a lot? I read about this kid who could ride upside down and do loop-the-loops faster than an actual griffin.”
Hades gave a half smile. “You should try flying with a monster like Cetus chasing you.”
Benji’s eyes sparkled. “Cetus? Wait—that’s a sea serpent, right? I think there’s something about him in my Awesome Creature Trading Cards…” He began searching his pockets until he pulled out a bulging wallet. “A, B, C…Cetus! Yeah, here it is.” He leaned in so Hades could look, too. “Did you know that sea serpents can live to be five thousand years old?”
I smiled. It was good to see Benji back to his chatty self. But I couldn’t shake off the worry of being on a team with Hades. There was something so unpredictable about him. I looked across the yard and saw Coach Clary through the open shed door.
“Hey, Bloom.” She looked up from the ropes she was untangling as I walked inside. “Have you come to help?”
“Sure.” I crouched down and started winding one of the cables.
“So I guess you’re a little worried about Hades, right?”
I blinked at her. Huh? Can Coach Clary read minds, too?
“I know he can be grumpy,” she went on. “And yes, he breaks the rules, too. But he’s also passionate about magic. Just like you and Benji.”
“Yeah, but he’s a bit”—I tried to think of a polite word for Hades’s bad attitude—“pushy?”
Coach Clary nodded. “There’s a reason why he’s like that. He has a brother who is really good at lots of activities. And Hades feels that nothing he does is ever as good as his brother. ‘Sibling rivalry,’ they call it. I used to feel a bit like that with my little sister, Sage.” Coach Clary chuckled. “When we were young, she’d make such fabulous enchanted cakes, and I just burned everything.”
