Publishers Weekly
12/11/2023
VanSickle (How to Decorate a Christmas Tree) paints a portrait of a classic mid-aughts summer camp in this slice-of-life verse novel. It’s summer 2006 and 17-year-old Nora Nichols finds herself employed as a counselor at Camp Cradle Rock, an all-girls outdoors program nestled in the Blue Mountains of West Virginia, where she’s one of six teen girls tasked with wrangling a gaggle of 13- year-olds. Quintessential summer camp staples such as friendship bracelets, rousing games of Never Have I Ever, heaps of boy talk, and living at the mercy of the weather feature throughout. Woven in between vignettes depicting prank wars, horseback riding, and sun tanning is a subtle exploration of healing from heartbreak, navigating body shame, and the strength that one can find in community, as evidenced by the titular Lightning Circle campfire tale: “At this point/ Kala leads us/ in forming/ a Lightning Circle/ of our own./ Six women,/ twelve hands,/ and the feeling that passes/ from hand to hand/ is something like/ electricity.” Sparse, exacting verse pairs well with Watson’s soft, sketchy line drawings in charcoal gray and sage green, which render the natural world, tidbits of camp life, and characters whose skin tones reflect the white of the page. Ages 12–up. (Mar.)
From the Publisher
"[A] richly imagined and deeply felt story that speaks to the power of female friendship, the gift of reinvention, and the perspective-shifting joy of being outdoors." —STARRED REVIEW, Quill and Quire
"This journal-like free-verse novel expertly conjures the essence of the summer camp experience while exploring self-identity and highlighting the importance of friendships." —STARRED REVIEW, Shelf Awareness
“An inviting take on feminine wisdom and the power of collective self-transformation.” —Kirkus Reviews
"[A] sweetly melancholic novel . . . tinged with nostalgia." —Booklist
"VanSickle writes a delightful coming-of-age story that is easily relatable for even those who have never been to camp or had their hearts broken, via great character development, her ability to describe teen feelings, and an apt use of monochromatic line drawings by illustrator Watson." —School Library Journal
"[T]he bonds the girls form and the ways in which they comfort, heal, and support each other are deeply loving . . . . There's no major trauma here, just the kind of heartbreak that can seem bigger than the whole world until one realizes the universe beyond their own hurt." —The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"A heartwarming story told in accessible free verse and illustrated with Laura K. Watson’s delicate line drawings, The Lightning Circle reads like a teenager’s sketchbook/journal." —Canadian Review of Materials
"[A] tribute to girls bonding and a sensitive coming-of-age novel for teen readers." —Winnipeg Press
School Library Journal
06/14/2024
Gr 9 Up—A realistic story in verse told through a journal-style format from the perspective of Nora, a 17-year-old who has just had her heart broken. Nora attempts to escape these memories and feelings by becoming a counselor at the all-girls Camp Cradle Rock in the mountains of Virginia. This is Nora's first time at a summer camp. She will have to lean on the other counselors for guidance and friendship to become a good counselor. Every night, the counselors gather around the fire to debrief. Through time, their conversations become more intimate and reveal their personal struggles. Their friendship allows them to help one another through their trials and embrace their true selves. VanSickle here writes a delightful coming-of-age story that is easily relatable for even those who have never been to camp or had their hearts broken, via great character development, her ability to describe teen feelings, and an apt use of monochromatic line drawings by illustrator Watson. VERDICT Hand this novel to fans of David Levithan and Elizabeth Acevedo.—Leigh Verburg
Kirkus Reviews
2024-01-05
Seventeen-year-old Canadian camp counselor Nora Nichols’ boyfriend has broken up with her right before her arrival at the all-girls Camp Cradle Rock in West Virginia.
The “wounds / are still tender,” and Nora is hoping to leave everything behind, concentrate on getting to know her fellow counselors, and embark on “a fresh start.” Sitting in the Lightning Circle, a tradition inspired by a legendary camp story that builds a connection between the six young women counselors, Nora finds self-love and healing from the pain of unrequited love and rejection. The interconnectedness that “passes / from hand to hand” in their circle is metaphorically compared to the “electricity” of lightning. This story in journal form emphasizes sisterhood. In the poem “The Recovery Position,” one counselor reveals an eating disorder. The counselors support the younger campers with their own concerns—homesickness, fitting in socially, getting a first period. The free-verse poetry’s accessible diction speaks to teenage voices and is punctuated with nature imagery, symbolism, and details that vividly and nostalgically recall traditional camp experiences, from fingers that are “sticky from sucking on watermelon rinds” to “dancing barefoot in the grass.” Nora writes about shells, mountains, rivers, trees, and horses, and each poem is accompanied by beautiful illustrations, including portraits of the campers and images of everyday objects and flora and fauna. Ultimately, Nora movingly reflects on the perspective she’s gained from “this magical space.” Characters largely read white.
An inviting take on feminine wisdom and the power of collective self-transformation. (Verse fiction. 12-18)
