“Haunts and dazzles . . . Immersive, atmospheric, and wise, this is a spellbinding exploration of identity, belonging, and the treacherous journey through adolescence. Needle Lake cements Justine Champine as a brilliant and original voice.”—Chelsea Bieker, author of Madwoman
“Filled with stomach-twisting turns and spot-on evocations of autistic adolescence, Needle Lake impressively blends thriller and own-voices narrative. Justine Champine truly understands the wonder, beauty, and horror of neurodivergent girlhood.”—Devon Price, PhD, author of Unmasking Autism
“The book navigates [Ida’s] intertwined challenges with a deft beauty, told in eloquent retrospect. . . . [Needle Lake’s] strength lies in its loving and fascinating exploration of its central characters, who share DNA but have grown into polar opposite teenagers.”—swamp pink
“The main message—about finding a way forward when you’re both vulnerable and fiercely intelligent—felt so powerful, and Ida’s autistic-coded voice is handled with such care; I turned the last page feeling protective, proud, and hopeful for her future.”—Biliolifestyle
“Suspenseful, immersive, and intoxicating.”—Marisa Crane, author of A Sharp Endless Need
“Haunting and gorgeously wrought, with characters so alive and real they leap off the page and prose so exacting it took my breath away . . . Justine Champine has once again proven herself to be a master of small-town American psychological drama.”—Gabrielle Korn, author of Yours for the Taking
“Needle Lake is girlhood at its most chillingly relatable. Adolescent cousins become young adults with a secret that reveals more than they bargained for about humanity—especially, and including, their own. Beautiful and deliberate prose pulses like an invigorating nightmare. . . . For fans of Brutes, Nightbitch, and Boy Parts.”—Marissa Higgins, author of A Good Happy Girl
“The heart of this coming-of-age novel beats in Champine’s careful and thorough depiction of a girl on the spectrum who also has great, yet misunderstood, academic gifts. A standout; authentic voice and gritty detail give this novel power.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Champine (Knife River) offers a coming-of-age story that starts as a slow burn but quickly ignites into a bonfire in a shocking ending.”—Library Journal
“The sharply observed sophomore effort by Champine (Knife River) examines the double-edged bond between two teen girls. . . . This satisfies.”—Publishers Weekly
“Readers who enjoy Freida McFadden’s fast-paced thrillers will appreciate Champine’s tautly plotted tale of psychological suspense with a poignant coming-of-age story at its heart.”—Booklist
QUICK VIEW
