• Age: 12 to 18
• Grade: 7 to 12

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.

Vikki VanSickle
écrit des livres et des pièces de théâtre pour les enfants. Elle est
diplômée de théâtre de l'Université de Queens, et de littérature pour
enfants de l'Université de Colombie-Britannique. Elle possède une solide
expérience dans le domaine des camps de vacances : elle travaille dans les
camps organisés par le théâtre local, mais aussi comme conseillère et
directrice d'activités au Camp Rimp Rock de Virginie Occidentale. Elle a
participé à plusieurs comédies musicales, et elle a dirigé, en 2005, la
production de Crazy for You. Ses écrits ont été publiés dans
Chameleon, un magazine pour enfants.

VIKKI VANSICKLE is an award-winning author and a devoted member of the Canadian children’s book industry. Frequently referred to as “Canada’s Judy Blume,” she is the author of a number of acclaimed books, including the picture book Anonymouse and novels Words that Start with B, Summer Days, Starry Nights and the 2018 Red Maple Award winner The Winnowing. After obtaining an MA in Children’s Literature from UBC, Vikki’s career began in bookselling at The Flying Dragon Bookshop, which earned her the 2011 CBA Young Bookseller of the Year award. She is frequently called upon to speak about kids’ books as CTV Your Morning’s resident bookworm and as Lainey Gossip’s YA mentor! Vikki lives in Toronto. Visit her at https://vikkivansickle.com/.

Vikki VanSickle's profile page

Laura K. Watson's profile page

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." —STARRED REVIEW, Quill and Quire

"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." —STARRED REVIEW, Shelf Awareness

"An inviting take on feminine wisdom and the power of collective self-transformation." —Kirkus Reviews

"[A] sweetly melancholic novel . . . tinged with nostalgia." —Booklist

"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." —School Library Journal

"[T]he bonds the girls form and the ways in which they comfort, heal, and support each other are deeply loving . . . . There's no major trauma here, just the kind of heartbreak that can seem bigger than the whole world until one realizes the universe beyond their own hurt." —The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"A heartwarming story told in accessible free verse and illustrated with Laura K. Watson’s delicate line drawings, The Lightning Circle reads like a teenager’s sketchbook/journal." —Canadian Review of Materials

"[A] tribute to girls bonding and a sensitive coming-of-age novel for teen readers." —Winnipeg Press