The Lightning Circle

Shortlisted for the Canadian Children’s Book Centre’s Amy Mathers Teen Book Award, 2025
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

“Evocative and poignant, VanSickle’s novel in verse, in perfect synchronicity with Watson’s delightful and nostalgic illustrations, fully captures the magic of summer camp, the relationships that grow and blossom there, the joys and pains of growing up, and the deep abiding joy of building community . . . It is to VanSickle’s considerable credit that she is able to capture such depth of character, such universal themes of girlhood, and a wealth of experiences in so few carefully curated words.” —Canadian Children’s Book Centre

“[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