The Lake

January 1, 2021

Gr 7 Up-Best friends Esme and Kayla are excited to return to their childhood summer camp, Camp Pine Lake, as counselors-in-training for the next six weeks. Pale, petite Esme and tanned, curvy Kayla hit it off with their fellow CITs: pale and bullied Rebekah; Black and gay Tia; blond-haired, blue-eyed, football player Jake; and tall, dark, and handsome Olly. Everyone is looking forward to swimming, s'mores, and campfires by the lake, but only a few days into their stay Esme and Kayla find a creepy note. Then an ominous message is written on a cabin. Could someone at camp know Esme and Kayla are keeping a secret? The setting will instantly appeal to readers who are nostalgic for outdoor activities by day and ghost stories by a lake at night. But the pace is choppy; some chapters stall on repetitive conversations while others fly by swiftly, alive with action. The characters are flat: While Esme is anxiety personified, Kayla is frightened to the point of unpleasantness. Both girls are dithering and overdramatic, while Jake and Olly are stereotypical athletes, Rebekah is a perpetual victim, and Tia-a token minority character-is used solely to further the plot. The ending abruptly turns away from the eerie threats peppered throughout the narrative to pages of sudden violence. The ultimate cliffhanger, however, is one readers won't see coming. VERDICT For libraries where Preston's previous works are popular.-Maggie Mason Smith, Clemson Univ., SC

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2021
Two teens with a dark secret return to their old summer camp. Childhood friends Esme and Kayla can't wait to return to Camp Pine Lake as counselors-in-training, ready to try everything they couldn't do when they were younger: find cute boys, stay up late, and sneak out after hours. Even Andy, their straight-laced supervisor, can't dampen their excitement, especially after they meet the crushworthy Olly and Jake. An intuitive 17-year-old, Esme is ready to jump in and teach her cute little campers. But when a threatening message appears, Esme and Kayla realize the secret they've kept hidden for nearly a decade is no longer safe. Paranoia and fear soon cause Esme and Kayla to revisit their ominous secret and realize that nobody in the camp can be trusted. The slow buildup of suspense and the use of classic horror elements contrast with lighthearted camp activities, bonding with new friends, and budding romance. Similarly, Esme's first-person point of view allows for increased tension and action as well as offering insight into her emotional and mental well-being. Discussions of adulthood, trauma, and recovery are subtle and realistic, but acts of sexism and machismo aren't fully analyzed. While the strong buildup of action comes late, it leads to a shockingly satisfying finale. Major characters are White. An eerie thriller reminiscent of summer horror movies that will keep readers on edge. (Thriller. 12-16)

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