Published: 2021
Author: Natasha Preston
Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Young Adult, Mystery Thriller, Horror, Fiction, Suspense, Horror Thriller, Contemporary
Audience (Grade Levels): Grades 7-9
Number of Stars: 4 Stars
Goodreads Link: The Lake
Triggers: Fire, violence, gruesome scenes, stalking/threatening messages, child endangerment
Review By: Heather Kent
Publisher’s Summary:
INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A deadly secret resurfaces at summer camp in this thriller from #1 bestselling author Natasha Preston, where two former campers return as counselors-in-training only to discover the lake remembers everything.
Esme and Kayla once were campers at Camp Pine Lake. Now they’re back as counselors-in-training. Esme loves the little girls in her cabin and thinks it’s funny how scared they are of everything—the woods, the bugs, the boys…even swimming in the lake. It reminds her of how she and Kayla used to be. Before…
Because Esme and Kayla did something terrible when they were campers. Something they’ve kept a secret all these years. They vow that this summer will be awesome. Two months of sun, s’mores, and flirting with the cute boy counselors. But then they get a message: THE LAKE NEVER FORGETS.
The secret they’ve kept buried for so many years is about to resurface.
“[T]he strong buildup…leads to a shockingly satisfying finale. An eerie thriller reminiscent of summer horror movies that will keep readers on edge.”—Kirkus
“Pays homage to classic summer camp slasher films…horror fans will likely appreciate this paranoia-fueled tale.”—Publishers Weekly
Review:
This book grabbed my attention right from the beginning. I wanted to know the secret that Esme and Kayla were hiding. The author does a great job of keeping the reader on the case until the very end. I will admit it was a bit gruesome and violent at times. I am not sure I would send my child to a camp that handled the events the way they did and it was sometimes unbelievable. Overall it was a quick read and I enjoyed the mystery. Seventeen-year-old best friends Esme and Kayla return to Camp Pine Lake as counselors in training, but the dark secret they have been hiding for nine years is back to haunt them.
Classroom & Curricular Connections:
- English Language Arts (Homage & Media Tropes): This novel is highly effective for examining literary and cinematic subgenres, specifically paying homage to classic summer camp slasher films and eerie horror tropes. Educators can use this text to teach how authors construct paranoia, use environmental settings to build suspense, and execute dramatic pacing that mirrors modern media formats.
- Social-Emotional Learning (The Burden of Secrets): The plot centers directly on a terrible secret kept buried for nine years and how its sudden resurfacing impacts the mental health and choices of the characters. This provides a clear entryway for discussions regarding accountability, the psychological weight of guilt, and the long-term impact of childhood decisions.
Extension Activity / Library Application:
- “Slasher Film vs. Page-Turner” Media Analysis: Taking a cue from Publishers Weekly‘s commentary, challenge students to map out traditional camp-horror tropes found in the book. Students can create a comparative chart analyzing how traditional cinematic scares are translated into a fast-paced print format, evaluating whether the book’s pacing mimics a movie structure.
- “Unbelievable Responses” Creative Writing Workshop: Given the reviewer’s note that the camp’s handling of events felt unbelievable and questionable, have students re-write a key scene. They can analyze the administrative response to the crisis within the camp and script an alternative, realistic scenario mapping out how safety personnel or counselors should have managed the unfolding emergency.
Readalikes:
- The Twin by Natasha Preston
- The Fear by Natasha Preston
- Camp by L.C. Rosen
