Élodie is no snark-machine Daria clone, though each character is well-drawn and unique to the book, especially the endearingly bizarre camp chief. We rejoice as Élodie makes friends and learns how to wrangle the redheads, but we still snicker at the acerbic humor on display in her diary entries. The themes of finding yourself and being open to new experiences shine through brightly without ever feeling preachy or sentimental.

The redheads, as they’re called, are also a great depiction of how weird and funny kids can be and how much they respond to people just being themselves rather than putting on a “kid-friendly” act. I thrive on chaos” is by far my favorite). The hellions in Élodie‘s charge are a highlight of the book, as the feral girls provide plenty of hilarious visual gags and some choice quotes to live by (“Hate calms me. However, through the grand YA tradition of One Magical Summer, she learns to open up to the possibility of wonder and happiness in the world and in herself…while still keeping her snarky edge.Īuthor-illustrator Axelle Lenoir’s expressive drawings are wonderfully versatile-her panels range from eerie to laugh-out-loud funny to romantic and back again, creating a wildly fun book that perfectly captures the emotional rollercoaster of the One Magical Summer. Élodie hates the outdoors and other people, especially children, so she’s not exactly looking forward to being a camp counselor. In the summer after senior year of high school, Élodie’s mom forces her to take a job at Camp Bear Lake to earn money for college.

I’d like to thank Top Shelf Productions for providing an advance copy via Edelweiss+ in exchange for review consideration.Ĭamp Spirit is a hilarious, relatable, and creepy coming-of-age graphic novel with a snarky, grunge-loving protagonist and a sweet queer love story at its center. Translation: Pablo Strauss and Aleshia Jensen.Just as Elodie starts getting used to her new environment, though-and close to one of the other counselors-a dark mystery lurking around the camp begins to haunt her dreams.

She doesn’t know the first thing about nature, or sports, of kids for that matter, and isn’t especially interested in learning…but now she’s responsible for a foul-mouthed horde of red-headed girls who just might win her over, whether she likes it or not. Summer 1994: with just two months left before college, Elodie is forced by her mother to take a job as a camp counselor. Can she confront rambunctious kids, confusing feelings, and supernatural horrors all at once? Summer camp is supposed to be about finding nirvana in a rock garden…but Elodie prefers Nirvana and Soundgarden.

Camp Spirit by Axelle Lenoir