A modern Judy Blume.

This book will bring back forgotten girlhood memories of summer camp, firsts, and girlhood friendships. Not everything is innocence and game fires though, one counselor struggles with an eating disorder, another is escaping boy problems. One camper proclaims she has been having sex for a year another gets her first period. At its heat is a story of finding your way and changing as you grow up.

This coming-of-age poetic graphic novel beautifully captures the essence of youth and growing up. Seventeen-year-old Nora, who becomes Nova at summer camp, navigates friendships and personal growth in a nostalgic, sun-soaked setting. The story brought me back to my own days of attending Girl Scout camp. Be aware that this book touches on some sensitive topics like eating disorders which could be triggering to some. This story is a rare gem, and I highly recommend it to anyone as you don’t often see books written in poetry that tell a full and deep story.

This book had an interesting premise. VanSickle also wrote beautifully. However, everything ended up staying on the surface. VanSickle, with her words, introduced deep issues yet skated around them never actually bringing adequate resolution to anything she introduced. Ultimately, this book read more like a teenage girl's diary about her time working at summer camp than a coherent and satisfying narrative.

I really enjoyed this book. Finished it in under 3 hours. It reminded me a lot of going to camp as a middle schooler.

Great story and storytelling!

A very sweet book, written in prose and embellished with thoughtful illustrations on each page. The Lightning Circle chronicles Nora’s (camp name, Nova) first summer working as a counsellor at the all-girls Camp Cradle Rock as a means to carve out space for herself as an individual. For the nostalgia of eternal summer camp bonds and fireside secrets ranging from first periods, homesickness, and heartache, it’s great as a quick read or a high-low book for young readers.

This was a beautifully written and drawn YA coming of age story that is told in verse.

I have never read anything quite like this and I mean that in the best way. The short form verses tell so much with every word and the illustrations tied it all together.

It felt like we lived the whole summer at camp with Norah and the rest of the crew.

It brought back so many coming of age memories and how important all the little moments are.

I highly recommend this if you like coming of age stories, verse or graphic novels. It was a beautiful amalgamation of all of them to me.

Thank you tandem collective, NetGalley and tundra books for the book and the read along 🤍

This is an excellent young adult coming of age in verse and illustrations. The summer camp setting offers a space for freedom and self-discovery with the girls camp environment giving Nova space from her own past romantic experiences and to find a group of friends, a support network, and herself.

Tender coming-of-age tale delivered as poetry. I was never a summer camp girlie, but this really captured me and made me nostalgic! Quick read, flowed very nicely, and VanSickle has a way with words.

Note: this is a work best experienced with a physical copy of the book and not an ereader version. I didn't initially realize there would be illustrations, and they looked lovely but appeared wonky on my kindle, and it messed up the structure of the words at times too.

I'm giving this review in return for receiving an early ARC from Penguin RandomHouse.
Nora has recently had her heart broken by a boy, and turns to a summer job at a summer camp far from home to soothe her. She isn't ready to face her broken heart, and is hoping that the time away from her "life" will help.
She is given a cabin of 13-year-olds to watch over. As the summer progresses, she comes to grips with not only her heartbreak, but also other issues that come up.
I had an eARC that wasn't fully edited. The lovely sketches in this novel-in-verse didn't line up, so there was something lost in translation, which was sad, I think that they would have added something to the book. When I figured out how to "see" them, they were adorable. I did very much enjoy the interaction between Nora and her campers--even, and especially--the camper who was a pill. Nora genuinely cared about her campers, and wanted them to have a good time. Particularly poignant was the relationship between Nora and the other camp counselors. They shared a special bond, and helped each other with the struggles that they were all going through. I loved reading how they got each other through their struggles.
While I was reading this book, I was reading it for a teen perspective, and I don't think that this book had that--it felt more like a middle grade book to me. I feel that the campers told more of the story than Nora did. I would recommend the book for that age range.

This book is a captivating journey of sisterhood and self-discovery. "The Lightning Circle" by Vikki VanSickle takes readers to the heart of the Appalachian wilderness, where whispers of ancient magic linger among the pine trees, 17-year-old Nora Nichols seeks solace. Her heart still bears the jagged edges of a recent breakup, and she arrives at Camp Cradle Rock, which is a secluded all-girls camp in West Virginia, with the hope of healing and renewal. Little does she know that the camp's mystical traditions will weave their way into her very soul.

Nora's journey unfolds through the pages of her journal, a tender and raw exploration of emotions. The Lightning Circle, a sacred gathering spot, beckons her. Six young women, fellow counsellors, form a bond that transcends mere friendship. They share secrets, fears, and dreams, passing them from hand to hand like the electric charge of a lightning bolt. Each poem in this free-verse narrative paints a vivid picture of their collective experience.

I enjoyed many themes in this book. Let’s talk about the sisterhood and empowerment! The Lightning Circle is more than a physical place; it's a sanctuary for feminine wisdom. Vikki VanSickle masterfully captures the essence of sisterhood—the way it uplifts, heals, and empowers. These young women, diverse in their backgrounds, find strength in their shared vulnerability. Their stories intertwine, revealing the beauty of collective self-transformation.

Nora's journal entries breathe life into the natural world. She writes of shells, mountains, rivers, trees, and horses. Each description is a brushstroke on the canvas of memory. We taste the sticky sweetness of watermelon rinds, feel the grass beneath our bare feet, and hear the rustle of leaves. The campfire crackles, and the moonlight dances on the lake. Through Nora's eyes, we rediscover the magic of the outdoors.

The counsellors grapple with their own struggles. One reveals an eating disorder in the poignant poem "The Recovery Position." Another comforts a homesick camper, while yet another navigates the complexities of fitting in socially. These moments of vulnerability are woven into the fabric of camp life, emphasizing that healing is a collective endeavour.

VanSickle's free-verse poetry is accessible and evocative. The diction mirrors teenage voices, making it relatable to readers of all ages. The imagery is vivid, nostalgic, and infused with campfire warmth. Laura K. Watson's delicate illustrations accompany each poem, capturing the essence of the characters and their surroundings.

"The Lightning Circle" is an enchanting ode to girlhood, resilience, and the transformative power of shared experiences. VanSickle invites us to sit in that sacred circle, to feel the pulse of connection, and to emerge with hearts alight. This book is a luminous read and is a reminder that healing often comes when we gather, listen, and hold space for one another.

In Nora's words, "this magical space" becomes a beacon of hope, a testament to the strength found in vulnerability. VanSickle's novel is a gift, a lightning bolt that ignites our own circles of sisterhood. Don't miss this luminous tale; it will leave you with a heart full of wonder and a longing for campfires under star-studded skies.

Thank you to NetGalley Penguin Random House Canada, and Tundra Books for a temporary e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

thank you to netgalley for the arc in exchange for a review!

this was a quick coming of age story told in verse, about a girl around my age who also volunteers as a counselor at an all girls camp! drawing on my own experience as a girl scout counselor, this definitely captured the enveloping feeling of community and exploration of new things, the solidarity between counselors that comes from just being 'in it together." spending 24 hours a day with kids who seem to have no off switch is tiring, and you need friends more than anything.

i appreciated that even though nora was often worried about the guy she knew back home, it didn't often take her out of her spot with her kids and new friends. i was worried at the beginning of the book that her thoughts throughout the summer would all be related to him, but the camp ended up helping her let go of him!

one thing i wish there had been was an exploration of queerness or at least gender non-conformity, which is something that is definitely difficult for people at all-girls camps. i felt like there was a perfect opportunity with this for withers, but it was never truly elaborated on beyond that she's sort of a 'tomboy.' overall, though, great book that really captures how all consuming camp feels, but how rewarding it is as well!

If you were a camp girl in the 90s/2000s, this is the book for you.
It's a novel in verse with beautifully sketched illustrations (think Rupi Kaur) all about a teen girl who makes the unexpected choice to go to summer camp for the first time - as a counsellor. There's been some unnamed boy drama, but it's not really about that. It's about finding yourself and finding community; the power of sisterhood. It's a slice of life story for sure - tender and intimate.
I'm not sure how my students would react to this book, given that it's so grounded in my generation's experience (no cell phones/social media, etc). That being said, I think it's lovely, and definitely worth having in the classroom for mature readers (content warnings apply).
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance digital copy! Publishes March 26, 2024.

This was such a sweet story told through verse and little illustrations. I wish when I was going through teenage unrequited love I had read something like this. The story follows Nora who escapes to summer camp with her broken heart. There she is a camp counselor with five other counselors for 13-year-old girls. Throughout the summer, she works through her heartache and works with the younger girls as they have their own hurdles.

I thought this book was incredibly sweet, and I was honestly prepared for some nefarious twist. Like half the story, I was worried that Nora's heartache was with an inappropriate older man. I loved the reveal that it wasn't and that it was a much more common story (no spoilers 😊!). I thought the relationships between Nora and the rest of the counselors were beautiful and organic.

I did think there could have been better development of the relationships between Nora and her campers. There was a little detachment for me in this part of the story. Especially because her campers really rally around her at one point, but it didn't really feel like an earned moment for me. I'm also in my 30s, so I might not remember what it's like to be a teen girl lol.

Overall, this is a sweet story about overcoming your first heartbreak and female friendship.

I thoroughly enjoyed spending a rainy January afternoon with this little slice of bug laced, big hope, nostalgia. The writing is succinct but it masterfully paints a series of pictures that drew me right in. Despite never having been at an American summer camp I felt the warm reassurance of familiarity for the naïveté of the long summers of my youth.

Interestingly, as a teacher, it also made me reminisce with a smile about the many young people i have taught and it conjured some warming reflection on how transient but vitally important the experiences of teenage years are.

It actually made me want to try my hand at writing about my own experiences in a concise form like this which seems much less daunting than thick prose.

*I read this book as an ARC from NetGalley*

Thank you to NetGalley and Tundra Books for the electronic ARC of The Lightning Circle by Vikki VanSickle.

The Lightening Circle tells the story of seventeen-year-old Nora’s (aka Nova’s) camp counselor experience. The story is told through novel-in-verse and beautiful illustrations. This coming-of-age story has themes of friendship, finding yourself, and letting go. The title is based on a sweet ritual amongst the lead counselors.

This story is a calming and gentle experience that will make you nostalgic for late summer nights.

Came for the friendship bracelets and campfires and was absolutely not disappointed. I can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy.

VanSickle’s delightful novel in verse (and the gorgeous illustrations by Laura K. Watson) brought me right back to my Girl Scout camp days.

After suffering a broken heart, 17-year-old Nora Nichols cannot bring herself to stay at home for the summer, so she signs up to be a counselor at Camp Cradle Rock. Even though she’s new, the more experienced counselors welcome her, and as the girls prepare for a summer with campers, they form friendships that will grow over the weeks to come.

When the campers arrive, Nora faces the added challenge of trying to connect with the 13-year-old girls assigned to her cabin. With some, it’s easy, but with some, it’s much harder. As the summer progresses, however, Nora is surprised to find herself loved and supported, especially when she receives surprising news from home.

The novel perfectly captures the feeling of summer camp friends: whether or not the relationship lasts beyond the summer, the camp environment draws you together in unexpected ways, and these brief summer friendships have a unique closeness. Nora finds confidence and perspective during her time at camp, and her list of “what she’s gained” at the end of the summer feels well-earned. The Lightning Circle is a beautiful story of young women supporting each other, and we think it will appeal to a wide range of readers (though do be aware of a couple mature references in the girls’ late-night conversations).

Thank you NetGalley, Penguin Random House Canada, and Tundra Books for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are our own.

Also posted on Goodreads; will post on https://threeheads.works/ on February 12.

In “The Lightning Circle,” we’re invited into the world of Nora Nichols, a 17-year-old seeking solace and self-discovery at a summer camp in West Virginia after a heartbreak. The novel, uniquely presented through a blend of verse and delicate line art, unfolds like a personal journal, offering an intimate glimpse into Nora’s journey.

What makes this book stand out is its universal appeal. Though categorized as young adult literature, the novel transcends age boundaries, beautifully encapsulating the essence of coming-of-age experiences common to many women. The author’s skill in weaving words with simple yet evocative graphics enhances the story, making it not just a read, but an experience.

The prose is comforting and accessible, making it a perfect recommendation for young readers. However, its themes of friendship, self-growth, and resilience speak to a wider audience. “The Lightning Circle” is not just about Nora’s summer; it’s a mirror reflecting the myriad emotions and transformations we undergo in the most unexpected phases of life.

In conclusion, “The Lightning Circle” is a heartwarming, insightful read, perfect for anyone who cherishes stories of personal growth and the enduring power of female friendship.

This was a lovely book, about friendship and bonds that form through summer camps. The lessons and values that we can all learn from others. This was a lovely, uplifting book about teens and their struggles.

I genuinely enjoyed the verse style of writing. It was spunky and quick, and paired with the gorgeous illustrations you got the sense of a teen's journal and the inside of the main character's mind.

This would be a lovely summertime read for any teenager, or adult feeling nostalgic for summer camos and friendships long ago...

The Lightning Circle is a lovely contribution to the coming of age summer camp stories, Nora needed to escape home and heartbreak, so she took a job at an all girls summer camp far from her home. Though she is the youngest counselor at 17, the other young women there take her in and treat her as an equal. Nora is put in charge of a cabin of younger teens, where she has to be responsible, but also nuturing and understanding. In helping these girls, she finds strength within herself.