A summer camp, a lake on top of a town, and a crazed killer on the loose - that's a recipe for a great horror novel if there ever was one.

When Taylor finds herself in an unfortunate situation with a group of so-called friends, her punishment is to spend the summer at a camp at Lake Lanier. As she learns that children have been "running away" from the camp, she begins to suspect that something more sinister is at play. With the help of some other campers, she is determined to find out the truth.

As a Gen Xer, I grew up watching camp slasher films, so when I learned that the backdrop of this novel was a summer camp, my interest was piqued. Add in the history of Oscarville and the urban legends surrounding Lake Lanier, and I knew I had to read it. This book will be great if you love an excellent, fast-paced horror.

I grew up in the shadow of Lake Lanier. My father used to tell me ghost stories about the many people who had lost their lives in that lake which would fill child-me with the morbid wonder and fascination you can only have before you realize the actual history. The idea of a town underwater has both enchanted and horrified me almost my entire life. I've driven by and seen many a rescue team scanning the lake for missing persons. This ghost story is one I've been waiting to read for years.

When Taylor is sent to Camp Lanier after shoplifting at Lenox Mall, she finds that everything isn't what it appears at this idyllic lakeside camp. Campers are missing and she keeps seeing a ghostly figure in a white dress. A compelling and hilarious narrator, Taylor is a wonderful final girl who you root for almost immediately. Her cast of camper friends are wonderful as well. My only critique is that the villains are pretty obvious from the start, but some villains are just obvious. That's the horrible thing about racism: its ability to be so out in the open and obvious without suffering any consequence on the racists' side. However, I would've liked a couple more twists and turns before we discover exactly what's been going on at the camp all these years.

The thing I applaud this book for the most is exploring the history of both Oscarville and the Atlanta Ripper. Both events have been underreported and largely ignored. Lake Lanier is the absolute perfect setting for this story. For those who don't know about Oscarville, just know that an entire town of people was forcibly removed from their land and the town flooded to make a lake. Of course it's haunted! How could it not be? The lake does claim a ton of lives per year and it's surrounded by terrifying forests which have also been host to several murders. Fun!

A fun mixture of history and 'Get Out', this book was a delight to read from start to finish. Cathartic, spooky, and important, 'Camp Lanier' is something special.

Creepy camp? Check. Racial inequality? Check. Immaculate summer reading vibes complete with horror and mystery? Check check and check!

this was a DNF for me at 10%. I understand it’s YA but the writing was cringy. I am disappointed the summary seemed so interesting!!

How is this my first book by Sylvester Barzey? I love YA horror, and this book is a great example of everything that works in that genre for me. In this story, Taylor is a basketball player at a private school who falls in with bad "friends" and ends up sentenced to a summer camp work program. Honestly, I took a break and watched Holes because it had the same vibes, with the very real, imperfect kids in a bad situation. Like in Holes, there is a supernatural element, but Camp Lanier goes much further, with bloody ghosts and disappearing campers.
There were a lot of things that I loved about this, the main one being Taylor and her parents. They were so real, with their banter and loving acceptance. Taylor was also a great friend, loyal to the girls who got her in trouble for far longer than she should have been and then loyal to her new friends at camp. The story is also loosely based on real events, and the historical note at the end shows that historical events are closer than we like to think.
I was also immensely satisfied with the ending. If all the loose ends hadn't been addressed, I would have asked for a sequel. I still wouldn't mind seeing some of the same people in another book. Thanks so much to NetGalley for letting me read this.

This was a awesome take on the proverbial campy horror trope!!! Well written and moved at a steady pace that kept my interest at all times...in fact, I read it one night!!!

We have Taylor, a teenager POC girl who has fallen in with the wrong girls in high school. One fateful day, Taylor gets caught shoplifting and is sentenced to work in a camp for young, rich kids. The ensuing plot involves other teen counselors fighting off an evil killer and Taylor having "hallucinations " of what really happened at this camp.

Gore level is medium for me but I really did enjoy reading this novel. Thanks to Netgalley for the early read!

Camp Lanier is an engaging book that reveals the depths of human cruelty. In the story, Taylor is at Camp Lanier for community service when strange things start happening. As her friends disappear, she questions whether the events are supernatural or real. Taylor's experiences shed light on the struggles of people of color, and her determination despite her struggles is truly inspiring. Taylor is a strong and compassionate person who I would like to see more of in future books. Interestingly, Lake Lanier is a real location with a significant death toll, and the community of Oscarville also exists. The author beautifully combined fiction with real-life places and historical events. While I expected ghosts and nightmares, the book also deeply addresses real-life horrors, particularly racism. The book highlights the horrifying treatment of the Black population in the state and ties it into the creation of the camp by including the fictional owners as participants in the history of Oscarville.

Reading other reviews makes sense that this is a coming of age, YA horror story. Despite its relatively short length, the story felt complete. I thoroughly enjoyed it; however, as I was unaware it was a YA novel, at time some of the language was a little young. But, that is my misundertanding and overall it is a very captivating and well written story.

Thank you to Sterling and Stone, NetGalley, and Sylvester Barzey for a wonderful spooky camp horror story. It made for a fun Summerween read and I highly recommend it for a great camp adventure. The story is about Taylor Johnson who after getting caught shoplifting with her friends-her white friends-gets sent to a summer camp in order to change her life. Initially she was rather confused and shocked when she arrived but soon finds out that for decades mysterious disappearances have happened at this camp and it all relates to the curse of Lake Lanier. The story is based on urban legend of Lake Lanier, Georgia—an all black town was forced out to make way for the lake. Legend says it’s been cursed ever since.
Very well written and I really enjoyed the characters in the story. I love a great urban legend brought to life on the page, especially when it’s done well.

A fantastic YA horror read!

I know for a fact that I would have absolutely LOVED this book as a teenager! Even as an adult, I was really engaged with the story the entire time.

It's not just your average Summer Camp horror/thriller, I found the story to be really unique. I really enjoyed that although the novel is fiction, it focused on the history of Lake Lanier and the horrific things that people of colour endured during that time.

The characters, plot and writing were all perfect for a YA book.

A very enjoyable read!

The only criticism I have is that I think it could use another edit as there were quite a few spelling errors that I picked up on.

3.5 stars rounded up. This was a fun, creepy but not too creepy camp tale. I can see why the summary compared it to Get Out and Friday the 13th.

I liked the way the way historical aspect of the story was woven in. It added some depth to everything. The protagonists were all likable in this one. The villains were of the racist, mustache twirling variety but it was fun to root against them and the ending was satisfying.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.

It is a 3.5-3.8 for me. So not a full 3 but not quite a full 4.

The book started off very slow and then picked up about halfway through. It was a good book and it had a good story. But it felt rushed. This YA thriller was very short and so I think that maybe if it was a little longer there could have been some more build up. I would still recommend this book to other people but probably to younger people or people just getting into thrillers/horror.

I wish we had more background information and I was hoping the characters would start evolving some more.

I was first interested with the cover. It is a classic horror cover that will catch a reader's eye.

I will say that the storyline was a bit more young adult than I normally read but I think it would be a good book for young adults. It has some really important themes such as racism and classism that I think younger readers could use more exposure to. In the "About the Author" it states that Barzey's goal is to shine a spotlight on BIPOC characters. I think that is very necessary in the world right now. So kudos to the author!

I do think that the book has maybe too many classic horror tropes in it but hey, it makes it fun that way. I liked hearing more about the real Oscarville at the end of the book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sylvester Barzey, and Sterling & Stone for the opportunity to read Camp Lanier. I have written this review voluntarily.

Terrifying, disturbing and historical!! This book will keep you up at night thinking about all the horrible things done to the people of colour living in what is now called Lake Lanier and the social racism people of colour face everyday
The main character taylor (POC) is sent to Camp Lanier after her white friends frame her for shoplifting.
Upon arriving she notices something is off about the camp and to many people have disappeared there.
Its very short and definitely young adult friendly, with an almost scooby doo -esque mystery solving ending
I reccomend for any horror fans who enjoy realism and ghost stories come to life

Taylor has chosen the worst friends and it lands her in a world of trouble. She’s caught shoplifting and thrown under the bus by her “friends”. Instead of serving time in jail she’s given the opportunity to work at Camp Lanier for the summer. Things quickly turn dark and spooky upon arriving and it’s up to Taylor to unravel the truths behind Camp Lanier.
This was a thrilling, chilling and quick YA horror novel perfect for Summerween lovers! It was like watching a camp slasher or ghost story movie.
Each character was perfectly unique and well rounded. I fell in love with Taylor, her family and their loving dynamic.
I was surprised to learn this is a fictionalized version of an actual Lake Lanier/Ocscarville. The dark history is described in the author’s note and it’s harrowing. It’s a history everyone should know about and not stop talking about.

Black young woman main character. Taylor lands at Camp Lanier after shoplifting with her white friends goes way left. Camp is located on Lake Lanier; well-known for being haunted and responsible for multiple deaths. When Taylor hears the ghost of a missing girl while working at camp, things will get worse before better.

I enjoyed Barzey highlighting horrors inflicted upon Black Americans. Oscarville, the Atlanta Ripper, the corruption in the USA justice system. It felt ambitious to discuss all these topics in one book but all the issues are extremely interconnected. The thesis felt heavy-handed, and I appreciate that the writing style could best fit the intended audience.

A gripping YA horror/thriller novel. Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC 🩷

This book surprised me, in a good way. It is a YA book, and is written for that audience. If that’s not your genre, don’t read it, you won’t like it.
Id say it’s a YA Horror mixed with a little urban legend and a paranormal mixer. It was a fast paced read, reminding me of the 80’s slasher camp movies (which I loved). The beginning of the book was rough, the way our main character is treated as a girl-of-color was terrible, and the way she was profiled during the girls little “shoplifting spree gone wrong” shameful. Taylor is given the option of going to jail for 2 years, or working an entire summer at a camp was a no-brainer. Off to spooky camp we go! I don’t want to give too much away, but I’ll say that things start looking up for Taylor (until they don’t). Weird things start happening to her, seeing things, blackouts, etc. She needs to figure out what is going on before she is the next victim claimed by Lake Lanier.

I unfortunately could not get into this book. I felt that the writing really packed editing and was an extremely clunky read. This was a DNF for me after only a few chapters.

I do think the premise and general story were interesting, but I couldn't even make it far enough into the book to even get a handle on the plot.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC to review.

This is a YA Horror book, which I'm glad to see. There weren't many of these when I was a kid & glad it's starting.

I really enjoyed the premise and loved learning about Oscarville and Lake Lanier. I had never heard of this but of history in Atlanta and wish the book had delved in even more.

Why just a 3.5? I was about 65% in when the book finally got to the meat of the story. The build up was very long and I wish we were in the heart of it more. The character development wasn't enough IMO either and felt rushed. I also thought there was a bit too much going on: slashers, ghosts, camp story, lots of characters. For a short book I felt like it should have stuck with a little less so it felt more fleshed out.

Regardless, I loved the history, I loved the premise, and I am glad I read it.

A compelling YA thriller that takes me back to my 90's love of R.L. Stine. A fast-paced, light read for the summer but would be PERFECT for spooky season this fall. Recommended for anyone who would like a book that can easily be devoured in one sitting.

**Thank you NetGalley for a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.**

Camp Lanier by Sylvester Barzey is a thrilling blend of horror, history, and coming-of-age adventure reminiscent of several films in the Camp Horror genre. The novel tackles themes of grief, loneliness, racism, classism, friendship and resilience..The protagonist, in particular, is a standout, displaying a believable mix of bravery, vulnerability, and growth throughout the story.
However, I do feel that the lack of development of side characters does leave the reader wanting. Without building an understanding of these characters we are left without feeling for the trials they go through or understanding the motivations that lead their behaviors. This group of teenagers who find themselves in a summer camp that quickly turns into a nightmare as they face supernatural threats and their own personal demons could have been a complete ensemble cast, however we do not get the harmony that could have brought this book to the crescendo the subject matter deserves.
Barzey's writing is crisp and engaging, effectively setting a tense and eerie atmosphere from the get-go. Appealing to the Young Adult reader with the inclusion of current social media platforms and pop culture.It does read somewhat younger than YA but that may be that this is the subject matter most of the 13-17 readers I’m familiar with will enjoy. The plot is fast-paced and filled with twists and turns that can make the reader feel a bit blindsided. However, Barzey skillfully balances the horror elements with moments of humor and heart, creating a narrative that is both terrifying and emotionally resonant to younger readers.Some readers might find certain plot points to be somewhat predictable, and the resolution, while satisfying, might leave a few loose ends for those who prefer a more neatly tied-up conclusion.
I loved the inclusion of the real historical horrors of Oscarville and Lake Lanier, although I do wish these elements too were more developed and explored. The addition of another 50-100 pages of this historical element would have created a further connection with the reader that allowed the horrors of the present day camp to unfold in a way that created the suspense and connection that this subject matter deserves.
Overall, Camp Lanier is a wonderful addition to the horror genre and I do recommend it to my fellow readers.