A swing in the forest

Abstract

This young adult novel investigates girlhood and coming-of-age through a supernatural lens. The novel follows an anxious preteen protagonist named Paul (short for Paulina). Paul’s parents sign her up for a summer-long arts camp where she develops an unhealthy obsession with one of her counsellors, Gabriel. When her best friend, Nora, joins her at the camp, Nora thrives with the artsy kids while Paul remains isolated and can’t seem to fit in, causing a rift between the two girls. Paul notices strange behaviour from Gabriel and begins to suspect that he might not be who he says he is. She gathers evidence to figure out what’s really going on with him and to win her best friend back—she needs Nora and their friendship to solve this. Lycanthropy is used to explore themes of communication, isolation, mental health, liminal spaces, gender and queerness, domestic violence, the climate crisis, feminism, and the uncomfortable transformation of puberty.