By Shannon Watters ND Stevenson Grace Ellis and Gus Allen Casey Nowak
Summer camp usually involves crafts and canoeing, but at this cabin, earning a badge might require battling a three-eyed fox.
In Lumberjanes Book One, created by the team of Shannon Watters, ND Stevenson, and Grace Ellis, the typical summer camp experience gets a supernatural remix. This middle-grade graphic novel introduces readers to five best friends—Jo, April, Mal, Molly, and Ripley—bunking together at Miss Qiunzella Thiskwin Penniquiqul Thistle Crumpet’s Camp for Hardcore Lady-Types. Instead of just weaving lanyards, the girls find themselves investigating mysterious happenings in the woods, facing off against river monsters and solving ancient puzzles. The narrative focuses on their refusal to obey the rules when adventure calls, creating a dynamic where earning a merit badge is often a matter of survival. It is a high-energy romp that perfectly blends humor, mystery, and the chaotic joy of friendship.
This volume is a strategic addition to any collection serving students who find traditional prose daunting. The graphic novel format iand the expressive art allow readers to decode plot points through character body language even if they miss specific words. For example, when the story introduces specific “camp” vocabulary or mythological terms, the illustrations provide immediate context cues that prevent frustration. The dialogue relies on short, punchy exchanges—mostly simple or compound sentences—which mimics natural conversation and keeps the pace brisk. While the characters use idiomatic expressions, these are contextualized by the action, helping English learners grasp intent without getting bogged down in syntax. The book has earned prestigious recognition, including Eisner Awards and a GLAAD Media Award, validating its quality and commitment to inclusive representation. By combining a distinct visual style with manageable text density, Lumberjanes offers hesitant readers a sense of accomplishment and a story they will be eager to finish.
