The Counselors

Gr 8 Up–Goldie Easton lives for her summers at Camp Alpine Lake, an elite summer camp she has attended since she was eight, but this summer, as she begins her second year as a counselor, things are different. Goldie had hoped being back at Camp Alpine Lake and reuniting with her best friends would help her get past the traumatic spring semester she endured. However, she can’t seem to tell her friends the truth, and as the secrets keep piling up between them, Goldie wonders if their unbreakable bond has actually reached a breaking point. Things only get worse when a townie is found dead on camp property, and Goldie becomes determined to find out the truth about his death, even if it endangers her precious camp life. The main storyline is interspersed with chapters labeled “Then,” which flash back to important parts of Goldie’s past, focusing especially on her relationship with Heller, the dead townie, and the unbearable semester that followed. This structure makes for a compelling read, revealing just enough to satisfy readers while keeping them hooked until the end. Former campers and counselors will rejoice at the setting of this novel, with its perfectly manicured fields, carefully organized waterfront, and annual events and competitions, but a significant portion of the plot revolves around the ultra-wealthy and tax evasion, which may bore the targeted readers. One of Goldie’s best friends is biracial Japanese and white; all other characters read white.