This one was interesting in the sense of the background narrative of the Jewish culture / history including persecution, occupation, Zionism, holocaust, Israel, etc and this was fascinating with all this at the backdrop of the story…
On the other hand, this is a coming-of-age story set in a summer camp – although it felt like it was more of a free for all with everyone knocking off with everybody else… I might be a bit naïve with the going ons with summer camps in general but couldn’t quite believe how “free” it all was.. and this was on top of the drugs and rock n roll and it all just felt a bit too much..
I liked the story around the division amongst the staff counsellors with regards to the purchasing of the Crown land against the neighbouring Black Spruce First Nation and the similarity with the Jews losing their own lands.. and the other narratives such as the introduction of the Israeli soldiers… so lots going on to keep the story trundling along…
I listened to the audio narration and found it enjoyable and appealing but the whole story just felt far too long and was quite repetitive with all the sexual shenanigans going on… with the book equivalent being at over 400 pages, I felt that this book would be far more appealing if it was cut down to, at most, 300 pages…
So a thought-provoking story, interesting backdrop and a coming of age story made for a decent book but one which, in my humble opinion, could be edited into something a bit better

Many thanks to NetGalley and ECW Press Audio for the chance to review this ARC

Lake Burntshore

By Aaron Kreuter
Publishes on April 22,2025

Lake Burntshore is a coming-of-age story that is set in the summer of 2013 at a Jewish sleep away camp. We follow Ruby a 21 year old counselor and committed anti-Zionist as she navigates through a summer that is filled with political and social and cultural changes. When multiple staff are let go after being caught breaking camp rules they bring in Israeli soldiers to help fix the staffing shortage. Ruby is troubled with her moral values that could result in her being let go from the camp if she doesn’t watch how she approaches issues.
The camp experience these kids get are filled with many different elements including one that all summer camps deal with is camo romances. I really liked the complexity of all the layers that Aaron wrote into this book, for both campers and the counselors and even some of the higher up staff members who run the camp. There was a division amongst staff about the land that borders the camp and ma y have strong feelings on the issues causing a divide.
This was well written and it really made me feel that summer camp vibe.

Thank you NetGalley and ECW Press Audio for this ALC audiobook. All opinions are my own.

4.25 stars This book follows the staff at a Jewish summer camp over the course of a summer. As you would expect, it covers coming of age and teenage drama and bad behavior, but it also engages more seriously with world affairs. The camp invites Israeli soldiers to work at the camp as counselors, and the camp considers expansion by taking over a neighboring first nations tribe's land without their permission.

At times the book did feel unfocused and there were so many plots and characters that it started to feel a little slow by the end, Overall however, I felt that Kreuter was clever in the way that he wove social commentary criticizing occupations and stealing indigenous land into a cozy Jewish camp story. From my perspective as a secular Jew, the combination of familiar camp comfort and real world ethical issues resonated with how it feels be a Jewish person with a conscience today.

I listened to the audio and found the narration to be competent and engaging, but not distracting.

Thank you to ECW Press Audio for an Advance Listening Copy of this book.

The premise of this book intrigued me, but I DNF'd the book nonetheless. Both the writing and narration style felt choppy. I couldn't find my footing in the story. I didn't enjoy any of it and therefore didn't last that many chapters into the story. Perhaps a physical copy would have allowed for a different experience, though the choppy introductions and cluttered start into the novel would have been the same. So I don't know. Pass.

Thank you to Netgalley and ECW Press Audio for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

*Lake Burntshore* by Aaron Kreuter is an upcoming novel set to release on April 22, 2025. This coming-of-age story is set during the summer of 2013 at Camp Burntshore, a Jewish sleepover camp. The protagonist, Ruby, a 21-year-old counselor, navigates a summer filled with social and political change. When Israeli soldiers are hired to address staffing shortages, Ruby, a committed anti-Zionist, faces a moral dilemma that could jeopardize her place at the camp.

The novel explores themes of Jewish belonging, settler colonialism, and the camp's strained relationship with the neighboring Black Spruce First Nation. As Ruby contends with her feelings for one of the soldiers and fights against greed and colonialism, the story blends social satire, romance, and political commentary. Kreuter's writing celebrates the contemporary Jewish world while addressing complex issues, making this a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant read.

Lake Burntshore is a delightful coming-of-age novel set in a Jewish summer camp that combines humor with meaningful social commentary. The author weaves in sharp observations that feel natural, enhancing the narrative without overwhelming it. What stands out most is how the political and cultural themes—such as the presence of Israeli soldiers at camp, an Anti-Zionist counselor, and discussions of colonialism—are explored thoughtfully, respecting the camp setting and the diverse age groups involved.

The camp experience is filled with familiar elements, including camp romance, but this novel takes a distinctive approach by introducing the complex layers of heritage, land, and identity. It’s refreshing to see the characters—both campers and counselors—grappling with their understanding of the world, exploring the history of the land on which their camp stands, and discovering connections between their personal experiences and broader political issues.

Thank you NetGalley and ECW Press Audio for the chance to listen to this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is a tricky review for me to write. I didn’t hate the book infact I wholly appreciated the authors intention, the over arching message should’ve been really meaningful, but I struggled to find the satire? Or rather I struggled to find the humour in the satire.

Personally I think this would work better had it been broken down into a short series, and perhaps pitched as ya - although the sex and drugs would need a heavy edit.

Enjoyable, informative but way too long.

I enjoyed the audio narration. 2.75 🌟

My thanks to ECW Press audio via NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧