Camp Twisted Pine - Ciera Burch

Camp Twisted Pine

By: Ciera Burch

Hardcover | 17 September 2024

At a Glance

Hardcover


$37.50

or 4 interest-free payments of $9.38 with

 or 

Aims to ship in 10 to 15 business days

Whispering Pines meets Small Spaces in this spooky “part campfire tale, part eco-fable, all charm” (Kirkus Reviews) middle grade novel about a girl whose first summer camp experience is disrupted by a menacing creature abducting her fellow campers.

Eleven-year-old Naomi loves all things outdoors—birds and beetles, bats and bunnies—in theory. She explores nature in the best possible way: the cold, hard facts in books. So when her parents’ announcement of their impending divorce comes hand in hand with sending Naomi and her younger twin brothers to summer camp while they figure things out, it’s salt in the wound for Naomi and her avoidance of hands-on experience.

Camp Twisted Pine could be worse. The counselors are nice, and Naomi likes her cabinmates, especially Jackie, whose blunt personality and frank dislike of the camp draw Naomi in quickly. Jackie is also hard of hearing and uses a hearing aid, and the girls quickly develop a routine of sign language lessons in their free time, which Naomi sees as a welcome break when all the s’mores-making and nature walks get to be a bit much.

But the campers aren’t the only ones who roam the grounds of Camp Twisted Pine. When people start to go missing, including Jackie, Naomi has to find a way to save everyone—and herself. Her practical knowledge of the outdoors may still be rudimentary at best, but she has years of studying and the scientific method to fall back on. Can Naomi identify and stop the dangerous predator before it’s too late?
Industry Reviews
Eleven-year-old Naomi Samuels spends the summer between elementary and middle school enduring both familial and paranormal aggravation in this sleepaway camp thriller by Burch (Finch House). Sent to Camp Twisted Pine by their parents, Naomi and her younger twin brothers Aman and Omar find themselves in the New Jersey Pine Barrens while the adults navigate a waning marriage. Apprehensive about the experience, science-minded Naomi nevertheless finds much to observe in the surrounding woods and befriends fellow camper Jackie, who wears hearing aids and teaches Naomi American Sign Language. Despite Naomi’s more logical thinking, she’s affected by a campfire story about the Jersey Devil and believes she encounters the folkloric creature during an unsupervised forest outing. Her fears that there’s something sinister about Camp Twisted Pine are confirmed when campers—including Aman—begin disappearing into the woods, setting Naomi on a rescue mission in a story that mixes light thrills, natural magic, and local legend. Initial horror movie flourishes give way to depictions of Naomi’s changing family relationships, stressing the interpersonal dynamics of summer camp and lending a gentler feel to this introspective dark fantasy adventure. Characters are intersectionally diverse. Ages 8–12. Agent: Trinica Sampson-Vera, New Leaf Literary. (Sept.)

More in Traditional Stories for Children

Spice And Wolf : Vol 5 - Novel - Isuna Hasekura

RRP $26.99

$19.25

29%
OFF
Into the Wild : Wolf Girl: Book 1 - Anh Do
Warriors : Dawn of the Clans Box Set : Volumes 1 to 6 - Erin Hunter
The Hive Queen : Wings of Fire : Book 12 - Tui T Sutherland
A Brush with Magic - Flora Ahn

RRP $29.99

$27.90

The Crossbow of Destiny - Brandon Hoang

RRP $29.99

$27.90

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban : MinaLima Edition - J.K. Rowling
The Secret Cave : Wolf Girl: Book 3 - Anh Do
The Traitor : Wolf Girl: Book 4 - Anh Do
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets : MinaLima Edition - J.K Rowling
Across the Sea : Wolf Girl: Book 5 - Anh Do