The Lightning Circle
The Lightning Circle
- Subject
- Novels in Verse
- Age
- 9-12 years
- Format
- Hardcover
- Pages
- 224
- Publisher
- Tundra Book Group
- ISBN
- 9781774882498
An intimate coming-of age novel for teens, told in verse with delicate line art, chronicling the beauty, magic and transformative power of summer camp, for fans of Elizabeth Acevedo and Judy Blume.
After having her heart broken, seventeen-year-old Nora Nichols decides to escape her hometown and take a summer job as an arts and crafts counsellor at an all-girls' camp in the mountains of West Virginia. There, she meets girls and women from all walks of life with their own heartaches and triumphs. Immersed in this new camp experience, trying to form bonds with her fellow counselors while learning to be a trusted adviser for her campers, Nora distracts herself from her feelings, even during the intimate conversations around the nightly campfires. But when a letter from home comes bearing unexpected news, Nora finds inner strength in her devastation with the healing power of female friendship. Presented as Nora's camp journal, including Nora's sketches of camp life, scraps of letters, and spare poems, The Lightning Circle is an intimate coming-of-age portrait.
After having her heart broken, seventeen-year-old Nora Nichols decides to escape her hometown and take a summer job as an arts and crafts counsellor at an all-girls' camp in the mountains of West Virginia. There, she meets girls and women from all walks of life with their own heartaches and triumphs. Immersed in this new camp experience, trying to form bonds with her fellow counselors while learning to be a trusted adviser for her campers, Nora distracts herself from her feelings, even during the intimate conversations around the nightly campfires. But when a letter from home comes bearing unexpected news, Nora finds inner strength in her devastation with the healing power of female friendship. Presented as Nora's camp journal, including Nora's sketches of camp life, scraps of letters, and spare poems, The Lightning Circle is an intimate coming-of-age portrait.
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What reviewers said
Shortlisted for the Canadian Children's Book Centre's Amy Mathers Teen Book Award, 2025
One of CCBC’s Best Books for Kids and Teens for 2024
One of Quill & Quire’s Favourite Young Readers Titles of 2024
PRAISE FOR The Lightning Circle:
"[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."
"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."
"An inviting take on feminine wisdom and the power of collective self-transformation."
"[A] sweetly melancholic novel . . . tinged with nostalgia."
"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."
