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Anna-Jane and the Endless Summer
Anna-Jane couldn’t wait for camp. But when the outside world goes dark, she and her friends soon realize they’re in for the adventure of their lives this summer—and maybe even beyond.
Anna-Jane is thrilled to be back at Camp Chester—the one place she feels like she belongs. She’s excited to swim in the lake, read in her favorite chair, and swap secrets with her best friend under the stars. But not long after Anna-Jane unpacks her trunk, weird things start happening.
First, townspeople near camp begin disappearing. Then, the internet, cell service, and all other forms of communication are cut off. Soon, Anna-Jane and the residents of Camp Chester realize they are completely alone.
Or so they think. Across the lake, the kids spot a strange flashing light. And when animals begin turning up with yellowed eyes and disfigured limbs, it is clear the dangers are only growing. Most alarming of all, though, is the deepening distrust among the campers themselves, which could have deadly consequences. Anna-Jane knows what to expect from a summer at camp . . . but what happens when camp lasts well beyond the summer?
Anna-Jane is thrilled to be back at Camp Chester—the one place she feels like she belongs. She’s excited to swim in the lake, read in her favorite chair, and swap secrets with her best friend under the stars. But not long after Anna-Jane unpacks her trunk, weird things start happening.
First, townspeople near camp begin disappearing. Then, the internet, cell service, and all other forms of communication are cut off. Soon, Anna-Jane and the residents of Camp Chester realize they are completely alone.
Or so they think. Across the lake, the kids spot a strange flashing light. And when animals begin turning up with yellowed eyes and disfigured limbs, it is clear the dangers are only growing. Most alarming of all, though, is the deepening distrust among the campers themselves, which could have deadly consequences. Anna-Jane knows what to expect from a summer at camp . . . but what happens when camp lasts well beyond the summer?
Audible Audio
First published April 28, 2026
About the author
Paige Classey
2 books12 followersPaige Classey is an author and school librarian who lives with her family on the Connecticut shoreline. Her articles on libraries and education have appeared in School Library Journal, TEACH Magazine, and Education Week. Her YA debut novel, Everything You Left Me, released from West 44 Books in February of 2023. Her middle grade debut, Anna-Jane and the Endless Summer, is a Junior Library Guild Selection and earned a starred review from School Library Journal.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
November 29, 2025
I did not really like this. I'd like to say that it's a great concept with flawed execution but the concept is not well thought through, so it was: quick but not good.
1) It doesn't need to be in verse. I am a fan of verse novels but this is one of those occasions where the writing does in fact feel like the frequent criticism of contemporary poetry: it's prose that has been split to 3-5 words per line so that it becomes poetry. You could stop hitting the enter key and end up with the same thing. (Good poetry is changed substantially by its line breaks. Pro tip.) With that in mind it's extremely rough to have The Poet X as a point of constant reference. Not to drag Elizabeth Acevedo into all this but Acevedo is an accomplished poet who translated her skill to verse novels exceptionally well. The reader being continually reminded of her work does not do this book any favors.
2) The logistics of the bio-attack and its symptoms do not make sense and this was distracting. How did they get sooooo much contaminated food all over a GIANT country that most people got sick, simultaneously? Do you know how big the US is? Do you know how long it takes food to move through production onto shelves? Do you think that all the food on grocery store shelves at a given time was stocked at the same time? Is there a product that every American resident eats or did they do all the foods? Do you think grocery store employees or factory employees wouldn't notice the vast number of terrorists it would take to swap out or contaminate every food in the nation? I can't think of any illness that gives you Transformative Monster Disease. It was improbable to sound cool, which is not enough reason. Also...what are the political implications of country-wide bio-attack? Who are we imagining as the enemy? Naming one would have been risky on many levels but not naming one weakens the story, because it puts the event in a vacuum of make-believe rather than giving it legs.
3) Characterization isn't super deep but there was enough that I got the sense that Morgan is maybe autistic and because the characterization wasn't super deep it had an eau de stereotype.
4) They do not worry about the right things at the right time. They do not make up from fights at the right time.
WHAT I LIKED: Kudos for the extremely funny choice of, in the midst of a novel about everyone dying but a small handful of children, casually naming three of the camp counselors after Twilight characters. Luca Jasper and Bella, huh? She puts all three names in a row at one point and it was my favorite part of the book.
[I received a free ARC of this book and this is my honest reaction.]
1) It doesn't need to be in verse. I am a fan of verse novels but this is one of those occasions where the writing does in fact feel like the frequent criticism of contemporary poetry: it's prose that has been split to 3-5 words per line so that it becomes poetry. You could stop hitting the enter key and end up with the same thing. (Good poetry is changed substantially by its line breaks. Pro tip.) With that in mind it's extremely rough to have The Poet X as a point of constant reference. Not to drag Elizabeth Acevedo into all this but Acevedo is an accomplished poet who translated her skill to verse novels exceptionally well. The reader being continually reminded of her work does not do this book any favors.
2) The logistics of the bio-attack and its symptoms do not make sense and this was distracting. How did they get sooooo much contaminated food all over a GIANT country that most people got sick, simultaneously? Do you know how big the US is? Do you know how long it takes food to move through production onto shelves? Do you think that all the food on grocery store shelves at a given time was stocked at the same time? Is there a product that every American resident eats or did they do all the foods? Do you think grocery store employees or factory employees wouldn't notice the vast number of terrorists it would take to swap out or contaminate every food in the nation? I can't think of any illness that gives you Transformative Monster Disease. It was improbable to sound cool, which is not enough reason. Also...what are the political implications of country-wide bio-attack? Who are we imagining as the enemy? Naming one would have been risky on many levels but not naming one weakens the story, because it puts the event in a vacuum of make-believe rather than giving it legs.
3) Characterization isn't super deep but there was enough that I got the sense that Morgan is maybe autistic and because the characterization wasn't super deep it had an eau de stereotype.
4) They do not worry about the right things at the right time. They do not make up from fights at the right time.
WHAT I LIKED: Kudos for the extremely funny choice of, in the midst of a novel about everyone dying but a small handful of children, casually naming three of the camp counselors after Twilight characters. Luca Jasper and Bella, huh? She puts all three names in a row at one point and it was my favorite part of the book.
[I received a free ARC of this book and this is my honest reaction.]
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
E ARC provided by Netgalley
**Spoilers**
In this novel in verse, Anna-Jane, who has just finished 7th grade, is excited to return to Camp Chester to be with her friend Amaya. She will miss her mother, who works as a waitress and saves up all year in order to send her to camp, and even then relies on a scholarship. Anna-Jane has brought several books with her and is keeping a journal on the advice of her language arts teacher, Ms. Zhang, who encourages her to write. Camp starts out fairly normally, with a helpful but reserved counselor, Bridget, and a cabin full of girls, including the shy Morgan. Anna-Jane is worried when she sees Bryce, who just graduated from her middle school, because she is afraid that he will tell people that she is poor. She also thinks he is rather cute. When the cabin is allowed to go to town for pizza and a movie, they realize that something is wrong. They only see four people in town, and they have spotty cell service. Anna-Jane does hear from her mother, but only a cryptic text that something is wrong and her mother is coming to get her. Back at the camp, the girls eavesdrop on the counselors, and know that something has taken out all of the internet, phone, and cable service, and people are ill. Some parents show up to retrieve their children, but Anna-Jane's mother never comes. Hayes, the director, tries to establish control, which the counselors like Rob don't like, and Nurse Collins tries to let the children know what is going on, and also takes good care of them. When a little boy, Thomas, is found in the woods, more details about the problem emerge. There is a sickness, and his parents left him alone while they went to the hospital. There is talk that it's an act of bioterrorism that has infected the food. As the summer drags on, the campers are put to work, and all supplies must be pooled. Morgan starts trying to determine what is wrong with the spiders around the camp; there's already been a dead, mutated wolf that the children found. Some counselors leave, and Anna-Jane has a falling out with Amara when she spends time with the charismatic Pooja. The children start hunting and fishing, but try to hold on to a routine schedule of camp activities. Things get worse when Thomas becomes ill and dies, and Rob talks about leaving camp and taking children with him. Bryce's sister Zoe, who is Rob's girlfriend, manages to talk him in to leaving with just her. Morgan thinks she has some insight into why the campers haven't gotten sick, but Nurse Collins collapses and sinks into a diabetic coma. Since Hayes has already abandoned the campers, things become even more dire. Luckily, Zoe shows up to let the children know that while most of the people in the US have died and things are not looking good for their relatives, there are people who have survived, and they are banding together. Amaya chooses to remain at the camp, but Anna-Jane goes with Zoe, Bryce, and Pooja with the team of survivors.
Strengths: I loved the premise of this and could totally see the 7th grade me constructing a rich fantasy of me leading all of the campers at Camp Kiwatani as we survived with Nurse Collins as the only adult. Anna-Jane and I would have made short work of the idiots Rob and Cody. One of the best parts of this was the sweet romance with Bryce; if the world is ending, a tween romance would definitely make things a little better. Bioterrorism and the concomitant disabling of the communication infrastructure would definitely be my top two ways that a dystopia would actually roll out. It makes sense that a camp would have decent food stores, and taking supplies from Thomas' neighborhood enables the group to survive without too much difficulty. There's just enough tween drama to make this realistic. Having read this, I'm a little surprise there aren't more surival type stories that start at summer camp and continue When Things Go Wrong.
Weaknesses: At the beginning of the pandemic, my daughters, who both read their fair share of dystopian titles, made the observation that they thought living in a dystopian world would involve a lot more running around setting cars on fire. The bioterrorist act was absolutely devastating, but the children in the camp were largely spared. Food was somewhat scarce, they had no winter clothing, and they were on alert for the camp to be attacked, but aside from some interpersonal conflicts, nothing exciting happened. The ending was bleak.
What I really think: The cover and title, combined with the fact that this is a novel in verse, might make this a book that needs to be hand sold. The description of the book tours it as "an ode to books, friendship, and the power of women". It's somewhat along the lines of Nelson's The Girl Who Owned a City and O'Brien's Z for Zachariah, but not as action packed as Walter's Rule of Three, Smith's The Switch, Freeman's Zap, or Philbrick's The Big Dark. Like Lettrick's camp-based Frenzy, the ending is fairly dire.
**Spoilers**
In this novel in verse, Anna-Jane, who has just finished 7th grade, is excited to return to Camp Chester to be with her friend Amaya. She will miss her mother, who works as a waitress and saves up all year in order to send her to camp, and even then relies on a scholarship. Anna-Jane has brought several books with her and is keeping a journal on the advice of her language arts teacher, Ms. Zhang, who encourages her to write. Camp starts out fairly normally, with a helpful but reserved counselor, Bridget, and a cabin full of girls, including the shy Morgan. Anna-Jane is worried when she sees Bryce, who just graduated from her middle school, because she is afraid that he will tell people that she is poor. She also thinks he is rather cute. When the cabin is allowed to go to town for pizza and a movie, they realize that something is wrong. They only see four people in town, and they have spotty cell service. Anna-Jane does hear from her mother, but only a cryptic text that something is wrong and her mother is coming to get her. Back at the camp, the girls eavesdrop on the counselors, and know that something has taken out all of the internet, phone, and cable service, and people are ill. Some parents show up to retrieve their children, but Anna-Jane's mother never comes. Hayes, the director, tries to establish control, which the counselors like Rob don't like, and Nurse Collins tries to let the children know what is going on, and also takes good care of them. When a little boy, Thomas, is found in the woods, more details about the problem emerge. There is a sickness, and his parents left him alone while they went to the hospital. There is talk that it's an act of bioterrorism that has infected the food. As the summer drags on, the campers are put to work, and all supplies must be pooled. Morgan starts trying to determine what is wrong with the spiders around the camp; there's already been a dead, mutated wolf that the children found. Some counselors leave, and Anna-Jane has a falling out with Amara when she spends time with the charismatic Pooja. The children start hunting and fishing, but try to hold on to a routine schedule of camp activities. Things get worse when Thomas becomes ill and dies, and Rob talks about leaving camp and taking children with him. Bryce's sister Zoe, who is Rob's girlfriend, manages to talk him in to leaving with just her. Morgan thinks she has some insight into why the campers haven't gotten sick, but Nurse Collins collapses and sinks into a diabetic coma. Since Hayes has already abandoned the campers, things become even more dire. Luckily, Zoe shows up to let the children know that while most of the people in the US have died and things are not looking good for their relatives, there are people who have survived, and they are banding together. Amaya chooses to remain at the camp, but Anna-Jane goes with Zoe, Bryce, and Pooja with the team of survivors.
Strengths: I loved the premise of this and could totally see the 7th grade me constructing a rich fantasy of me leading all of the campers at Camp Kiwatani as we survived with Nurse Collins as the only adult. Anna-Jane and I would have made short work of the idiots Rob and Cody. One of the best parts of this was the sweet romance with Bryce; if the world is ending, a tween romance would definitely make things a little better. Bioterrorism and the concomitant disabling of the communication infrastructure would definitely be my top two ways that a dystopia would actually roll out. It makes sense that a camp would have decent food stores, and taking supplies from Thomas' neighborhood enables the group to survive without too much difficulty. There's just enough tween drama to make this realistic. Having read this, I'm a little surprise there aren't more surival type stories that start at summer camp and continue When Things Go Wrong.
Weaknesses: At the beginning of the pandemic, my daughters, who both read their fair share of dystopian titles, made the observation that they thought living in a dystopian world would involve a lot more running around setting cars on fire. The bioterrorist act was absolutely devastating, but the children in the camp were largely spared. Food was somewhat scarce, they had no winter clothing, and they were on alert for the camp to be attacked, but aside from some interpersonal conflicts, nothing exciting happened. The ending was bleak.
What I really think: The cover and title, combined with the fact that this is a novel in verse, might make this a book that needs to be hand sold. The description of the book tours it as "an ode to books, friendship, and the power of women". It's somewhat along the lines of Nelson's The Girl Who Owned a City and O'Brien's Z for Zachariah, but not as action packed as Walter's Rule of Three, Smith's The Switch, Freeman's Zap, or Philbrick's The Big Dark. Like Lettrick's camp-based Frenzy, the ending is fairly dire.
December 27, 2025
3 stars
A vivid coming-of-age apocalyptic story told through poetry journal entries. The plot and characters were not particularly unique or memorable. And the sudden, mysterious epidemic was neither realistic nor believable, but it was a quick and easy read with a good overall message. I liked the emphasis on friendship and how the arts are necessary even when everything is falling apart.
I would not recommend it for readers under the age of twelve and sensitive children may find certain scenes or plot lines very distressing. I definitely would have as a child.
A vivid coming-of-age apocalyptic story told through poetry journal entries. The plot and characters were not particularly unique or memorable. And the sudden, mysterious epidemic was neither realistic nor believable, but it was a quick and easy read with a good overall message. I liked the emphasis on friendship and how the arts are necessary even when everything is falling apart.
I would not recommend it for readers under the age of twelve and sensitive children may find certain scenes or plot lines very distressing. I definitely would have as a child.
May 19, 2026
This is a middle grade post-apocalyptic book in verse. I think my rising 8th grader would enjoy it. Quick read, shorter chapters, tightly edited. Summer camp gone wrong. When something happens and the internet and phones go down, the campers must rely on each other to survive.
November 29, 2025
A lower YA dystopian novel in verse for fans of Alone by Megan E. Freeman and The Grace Year by Kim Liggett.
😷
Anna-Jane begged for her mom to let her go to camp for the summer, despite the fact that they can’t afford it. But through scholarships and her mom working extra Anna-Jane is able to have a summer she won’t forget. Until townspeople start disappearing, internet and cell service cease and animals turn up mutated. The campers come together under the nurse’s leadership, but not everyone wants to follow the new rules. Fall and winter come and tensions rise as the food and supplies dwindle and colder weather seeps in. Can these kids survive at Camp Chester or will they have to venture out into the world of unknowns?
🦠
Wow. This was not at all what I was expecting when I started this book, thinking I was in for a fun summer camp story. It starts that way then takes a hard left turn—in the best way possible because it’s such a unique story that I didn’t see coming, didn’t want to end AND want a sequel to! @paigeclassey hooked me with Everything You Left Me and now has me in a chokehold with this title that releases April 28. You’re going to want this one in your middle school library!
CW: death, disease, medical content, diabetic complications, isolation, abandonment, pandemic, classism, animal death
😷
Anna-Jane begged for her mom to let her go to camp for the summer, despite the fact that they can’t afford it. But through scholarships and her mom working extra Anna-Jane is able to have a summer she won’t forget. Until townspeople start disappearing, internet and cell service cease and animals turn up mutated. The campers come together under the nurse’s leadership, but not everyone wants to follow the new rules. Fall and winter come and tensions rise as the food and supplies dwindle and colder weather seeps in. Can these kids survive at Camp Chester or will they have to venture out into the world of unknowns?
🦠
Wow. This was not at all what I was expecting when I started this book, thinking I was in for a fun summer camp story. It starts that way then takes a hard left turn—in the best way possible because it’s such a unique story that I didn’t see coming, didn’t want to end AND want a sequel to! @paigeclassey hooked me with Everything You Left Me and now has me in a chokehold with this title that releases April 28. You’re going to want this one in your middle school library!
CW: death, disease, medical content, diabetic complications, isolation, abandonment, pandemic, classism, animal death
May 18, 2026
A timely novel-in-verse, Anna-Jane and the Endless Summer is the perfect book for teens looking for some adventure…but maybe not if they’re heading away to summer camp. The book follows 13-year old Anna-Jane as she heads off to sleepaway camp with her best friend, Amaya. Anna-Jane is looking forward to a summer of fun with her friends, but things quickly take a turn for the worst when the campers discover strange events going on in the town outside of Camp Chester. There is no internet or cell phone service, everyone in the town seems to be fleeing an unknown terror, and the campers have no idea if or when they will be rescued. A new layer of horror is added as the campers discover that some of the animals living in the woods have grown strange mutations that no one can explain. As the months progress, Anna-Jane and her fellow campers must tap into their survivalist instincts as they wait out the months quarantined in their camp, while still wondering what exactly is lurking outside their walls. Despite these terrifying circumstances, the campers still manage to make friends, try new camp activities, and even experience romance along the way. Most characters cued as white, with one South Asian character, and another character from Ireland.
I enjoyed reading this journal-style book told from Anna-Jane’s perspective. The book is printed on lined paper, which makes readers feel like they are holding a real journal written by this character during her summer at camp. The primary source feel adds to the suspense of the novel, and readers will definitely not want to put this book down for a second. The book weaves together survivalist suspense with the terror of the campers experiencing a mysterious new virus, which makes for an (unfortunately) timely story, paired with the recent news coverage of the hantavirus outbreak. Classey includes references to other survival-themed books in the story, including The Hunger Games and The Lord of the Flies. These books end up serving as foreshadowing to the actions of the characters, with Anna-Jane remarking that “maybe I’ll be as good/as Katniss Everdeen/from The Hunger Games/by the end of the summer” after signing up for an archery class at camp, and then volunteering to hunt wildlife in the forest in order to feed the rest of the campers as their food supplies dwindle. This book also stands out among other survivalist stories in that it focuses on the social relationships between the campers, and how they maintain a relatively stable society despite their circumstances. Anna-Jane and the other campers continue to do camp activities along with their new survival lessons as the weeks go by, and find comfort and routine in continuing to keep art and recreation in their schedule. I really enjoyed that the campers voted to keep their end-of-summer dance going on, and I loved the descriptions of Anna-Jane and her friends dancing together, along with Anna-Jane finally getting to dance with her crush, Bryce. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...
I enjoyed reading this journal-style book told from Anna-Jane’s perspective. The book is printed on lined paper, which makes readers feel like they are holding a real journal written by this character during her summer at camp. The primary source feel adds to the suspense of the novel, and readers will definitely not want to put this book down for a second. The book weaves together survivalist suspense with the terror of the campers experiencing a mysterious new virus, which makes for an (unfortunately) timely story, paired with the recent news coverage of the hantavirus outbreak. Classey includes references to other survival-themed books in the story, including The Hunger Games and The Lord of the Flies. These books end up serving as foreshadowing to the actions of the characters, with Anna-Jane remarking that “maybe I’ll be as good/as Katniss Everdeen/from The Hunger Games/by the end of the summer” after signing up for an archery class at camp, and then volunteering to hunt wildlife in the forest in order to feed the rest of the campers as their food supplies dwindle. This book also stands out among other survivalist stories in that it focuses on the social relationships between the campers, and how they maintain a relatively stable society despite their circumstances. Anna-Jane and the other campers continue to do camp activities along with their new survival lessons as the weeks go by, and find comfort and routine in continuing to keep art and recreation in their schedule. I really enjoyed that the campers voted to keep their end-of-summer dance going on, and I loved the descriptions of Anna-Jane and her friends dancing together, along with Anna-Jane finally getting to dance with her crush, Bryce. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was a thrilling YA novel in verse that reminded me a lot of Alone by Megan E Freeman. Full on summer camp vibes, and a much tamer nod to Lord of the Flies.
We follow Anna-Jane who thinks this will be another fun summer adventure with her best friends at camp. The campers aren’t allowed to have their phones except for one night when they have the privilege to go into town. Except that night, it’s like a ghost town and they only have enough phone reception for AJ to get a text from her mom saying something has gone wrong and that she’s coming to get her from camp. The book spirals from there as the isolated campers piece together what’s happening on the outside and try to figure out how to ration and sustain themselves at camp.
I didn’t love the novel in verse approach in this one, but it did help the story fly by. The plot is fleshed out by subplots of AJ’s crush, friendship drama, developing hunting skills, a coup, and science experiments as they start to find mutated animals in the woods. There’s a lot going on here, but it flows really well and maintains a realistic summer camp vibe throughout.
This one reminds me a LOT of Alone by Megan E Freeman.
The publisher suggests 3rd-7th grade for this one. I’d personally recommend 5th grade and up due to the heavy focus on AJ’s crush and some mild violence. See quotes below.
“Maybe she’s sneaking out to meet her boyfriend or girlfriend”
“Things you can do when the adults are distracted: Swear more, give each other wedgies and the middle finger, gamble away chores during card games.”
There are several descriptions of a rotting coyote corpse and mutated animals/insects/humans
Full crush subplot including holding hands, imagining kissing behind the boat house, a slow dance, and a brief kiss (“then his lips are pressed against mine”)
“Bryce and I ended up in the supply closet, a tangle of arms and hair and lips. I’m afraid of what might happen after kissing.” - This is the one quote I think bumps it up to a higher age group, unfortunately. Maybe it’s innocently worded enough that younger readers won’t blink?
Weapons: Gun, knives mentioned as weapons against other people, but not used
Bow and arrow used for hunting, shown on page
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I have to be honest; I didn’t like this book at all. The cover is cool and the synopsis sounded so intriguing, but Anna-Jane and the Endless Summer was majorly disappointing.
For starters, this book didn’t need to be written in verse. When done well, novels in verse are beautiful and captivating, but you have to be skilled in writing poetry in order to pull it off. Anna-Jane is written in prose that’s been split up every three words to give it the appearance of poetry. It lacks the rhythm and expression of in verse novels, which made for a very unsatisfactory reading experience.
The characterization is also incredibly weak. Anna-Jane feels out of place as “the poor kid” at camp, but I found it hard to believe she’s the only one on scholarship. There just isn’t a lot of depth to her. She likes poetry, she misses her mom, and she’s crushing on a boy who used to go to her school. Her burgeoning friendship with fellow camper Pooja is one of the high points of the novel, but I didn’t find Anna-Jane to be an engaging protagonist at all.
Other characters are similarly shallow. Despite being unlabeled, Morgan is basically a walking autistic stereotype: a bright but socially awkward kid who’s shunned by her peers until her specific skillset and knowledge become useful during a crisis. She reminded me a little of Misty from Yellowjackets in this way, but without the maiming and cannibalism. Obviously.
Speaking of Yellowjackets, the plot of Anna-Jane is reminiscent of gritty survival stories, including Lord of the Flies (which is referenced multiple times throughout the book). The story takes a couple turns I wasn’t expecting and was much darker than I had anticipated.
Unfortunately, I didn’t understand the logistics behind the bioterrorist attack, and I had no idea who the enemy was supposed to be. I honestly would have preferred a supernatural cause rather than a scientific one, because we already seem to be in the realm of make-believe.
For starters, this book didn’t need to be written in verse. When done well, novels in verse are beautiful and captivating, but you have to be skilled in writing poetry in order to pull it off. Anna-Jane is written in prose that’s been split up every three words to give it the appearance of poetry. It lacks the rhythm and expression of in verse novels, which made for a very unsatisfactory reading experience.
The characterization is also incredibly weak. Anna-Jane feels out of place as “the poor kid” at camp, but I found it hard to believe she’s the only one on scholarship. There just isn’t a lot of depth to her. She likes poetry, she misses her mom, and she’s crushing on a boy who used to go to her school. Her burgeoning friendship with fellow camper Pooja is one of the high points of the novel, but I didn’t find Anna-Jane to be an engaging protagonist at all.
Other characters are similarly shallow. Despite being unlabeled, Morgan is basically a walking autistic stereotype: a bright but socially awkward kid who’s shunned by her peers until her specific skillset and knowledge become useful during a crisis. She reminded me a little of Misty from Yellowjackets in this way, but without the maiming and cannibalism. Obviously.
Speaking of Yellowjackets, the plot of Anna-Jane is reminiscent of gritty survival stories, including Lord of the Flies (which is referenced multiple times throughout the book). The story takes a couple turns I wasn’t expecting and was much darker than I had anticipated.
Unfortunately, I didn’t understand the logistics behind the bioterrorist attack, and I had no idea who the enemy was supposed to be. I honestly would have preferred a supernatural cause rather than a scientific one, because we already seem to be in the realm of make-believe.
May 24, 2026
Anna-Jane feels a little conflicted about going to summer camp this year. On the one hand, she'll get to see her camp BFF Amaya. On the other hand, it means being apart from her mother for months and she feels a little guilty about that, especially as her mom saves money all year for this. But her mom reassures her that she'll have a great time, just like she has the last 4 years at summer camp. And, sure enough, once Amaya gets there Anna-Jane settles into the old rhythm they have always had but this year is even better. Now that they are rising 8th graders, they'll be allowed to go into town a few times a month.
On their first night out, they notice things are...weird. There are barely any people around and the CVS is closed, the one they counted on for snacks before going to the movies. Also, none of their cell phones seem to work. Anna-Jane is the only one that gets a text the whole time and it's concerning: Anna-Jane I can't get through to the camp, lines must be down or something...DON'T leave. Don't go anywhere. I will be there as soon as I can. Everything will be okay. I love you, honeybee.
As they all head back to camp they wonder--what, exactly, is going on. Clearly, something bad has happened as evidenced by other parents picking up their kids on the perimeter of camp all wearing masks. But Anna-Jane's mother never shows up and neither do the other kids' parents. Do they stay or do they go? And, if they leave camp, where can they go?
---
I was really looking forward to this novel-in-verse when I first read the premise months ago and it did not disappoint! As another reviewer said, if you listen to this in audio format you wouldn't know it's a novel-in-verse (for the most part). I found the plot gripping and really wanted to know what was going to happen next.
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Content Notes:
Sex/sexual references? None
Profanity? Maybe 1 word (wasn't the F word)
LGBTQIA+ rep? Not specified
Religious references? Nothing stood out so I don't think there were many
On their first night out, they notice things are...weird. There are barely any people around and the CVS is closed, the one they counted on for snacks before going to the movies. Also, none of their cell phones seem to work. Anna-Jane is the only one that gets a text the whole time and it's concerning: Anna-Jane I can't get through to the camp, lines must be down or something...DON'T leave. Don't go anywhere. I will be there as soon as I can. Everything will be okay. I love you, honeybee.
As they all head back to camp they wonder--what, exactly, is going on. Clearly, something bad has happened as evidenced by other parents picking up their kids on the perimeter of camp all wearing masks. But Anna-Jane's mother never shows up and neither do the other kids' parents. Do they stay or do they go? And, if they leave camp, where can they go?
---
I was really looking forward to this novel-in-verse when I first read the premise months ago and it did not disappoint! As another reviewer said, if you listen to this in audio format you wouldn't know it's a novel-in-verse (for the most part). I found the plot gripping and really wanted to know what was going to happen next.
---
Content Notes:
Sex/sexual references? None
Profanity? Maybe 1 word (wasn't the F word)
LGBTQIA+ rep? Not specified
Religious references? Nothing stood out so I don't think there were many
May 2, 2026
In this riveting novel in verse [3.5 for me!] Anna-Jane Thompson relishes the weeks she spends at camp during the summer. Camp Chester is the place where she feels most like herself whereas at school, she feels nervous and insecure. A budding writer and avid reader, she's also happy to be reunited with her best friend, Amaya. But camp barely gets started when everything changes. When the girls in her cabin go to town, they find everything closed and no one around. There's no cell phone coverage. Anna-Jane receives a single text from her mother telling her she's on the way to bring her home. Suddenly, a leisurely summer of camping becomes a battle for survival, and the campers are completely isolated. As a romance between Anna-Jane and Bryce heats up and her BFF becomes distant, she will need to dig deep within for strength and courage in order to stand up against some of the bullies within the community as well as to own up to her own mistakes. The author does a fine job of shifting from the carefree world of summer camp to the tense, unsure existence of most of the book. Readers will be unsure about what's happening since the suspense and uncertainty mirror those initial weeks during the recent pandemic when no one knew why so many individuals were getting sick and dying. As the book concludes, the future is unsure, but there's hope. And thank goodness for Morgan! Fans of medical mysteries, camp stories, and stories about the pandemic may enjoy this one.
May 5, 2026
Anna-Jane is looking forward to going to summer camp. She will see her friends and have fun. Her best friend will be there. Camp is good until the locals are disappearing. Then some of the parents of the camp attendees are picked up and taken home. With no electricity available, the director of the camp explains that he doesn’t know why there is no electricity. Then wildlife are seen not looking normal. In fact many of them have a more than one set of teeth besides other mutations. It is realized that there is no rescue coming. There is news that a virus has been released. Many people outside of the summer camp have died. With no communication available, the director speaks at a meeting that they must work together to survive while waiting out the virus. Will they be successful?
The author has written a fast-paced novel in prose. I haven’t read many books composed of prose as often I have found them not my “cup of tea.” The author has written about the emotions from delighted campers to terrified children who are determined to survive. In the novel, one sees the thrill of young love, the variability of friendship, both bullies and a science nerd. The story explores hope, friendship and moral goodness as tensions rise including relationships change and dangers appear.
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
The author has written a fast-paced novel in prose. I haven’t read many books composed of prose as often I have found them not my “cup of tea.” The author has written about the emotions from delighted campers to terrified children who are determined to survive. In the novel, one sees the thrill of young love, the variability of friendship, both bullies and a science nerd. The story explores hope, friendship and moral goodness as tensions rise including relationships change and dangers appear.
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
May 19, 2026
Anna-Jane and the Endless Summer by Paige Classey, 387 pages. NOVEL IN VERSE. Random House, 2026. $ 18
Language: G (1 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (ghost story about a drowning, mild threats of violence, gun and knife threats)
BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ESSENTIAL
APPEALS TO: MANY
13yo Anna-Jane always looks forward to her summer sleepaway camp. Even though she and her mother can’t afford the tuition, a camp scholarship helps. As she settles in, something strange happens in the outside world - a trip to the nearby town is derailed because almost no one is around and almost nothing is open. Back at camp they discover that a country wide emergency has been declared. A mysterious illness is spreading rapidly. Some kids' parents come to take them home, but a lot of campers are stuck there. Then the director leaves in the middle of the night. The camp nurse is now the only adult and a few counselors also remain. Otherwise, the whole group is on their own. As fall comes and winter approaches, food is getting short, and so are tempers.
While I normally am not a novel in verse fan, Classy paints vivid pictures with her words. And the book is long enough that I never felt cheated. However, if you listened to this as an audiobook, you would never know that it is written in verse. If your students enjoy Alone by Freeman, they will be ready to devour this next.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
Language: G (1 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (ghost story about a drowning, mild threats of violence, gun and knife threats)
BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ESSENTIAL
APPEALS TO: MANY
13yo Anna-Jane always looks forward to her summer sleepaway camp. Even though she and her mother can’t afford the tuition, a camp scholarship helps. As she settles in, something strange happens in the outside world - a trip to the nearby town is derailed because almost no one is around and almost nothing is open. Back at camp they discover that a country wide emergency has been declared. A mysterious illness is spreading rapidly. Some kids' parents come to take them home, but a lot of campers are stuck there. Then the director leaves in the middle of the night. The camp nurse is now the only adult and a few counselors also remain. Otherwise, the whole group is on their own. As fall comes and winter approaches, food is getting short, and so are tempers.
While I normally am not a novel in verse fan, Classy paints vivid pictures with her words. And the book is long enough that I never felt cheated. However, if you listened to this as an audiobook, you would never know that it is written in verse. If your students enjoy Alone by Freeman, they will be ready to devour this next.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
E-ARC provided by Random House Children's Books
Splitting up
sentences randomly every
three words
does not
make it
verse.
Honestly, the few good things about this book have a huge asterisk next to them because of the verse, which, again, is not actually verse. It's clunky and surface-level and all the references to The Poet X just made me mad. Like, the gall to bring up a fantastic book that's actually in verse. There were some interesting character conflicts here, including discussions about friendship and first love and power, but they felt haphazard and inconsistent because of the verse (and something else that I'll get to), which is a real bummer, because they were interesting in a vacuum. The other thing that messed with the plot and characters was the pacing. We meander for so long, only for all the interesting worldbuilding to happen 70% in. The interesting pieces of worldbuilding, as well as the fact that Anna-Jane, her boyfriend, and like 3 of her friends are actually well-developed and interesting characters, are the reason this is getting a 2 and not a 1 from me. Lastly, there were too many characters, especially considering that outside of the 4 characters I mentioned, the author forgot to develop or distinguish them. The adult characters felt particularly underdeveloped.
Splitting up
sentences randomly every
three words
does not
make it
verse.
Honestly, the few good things about this book have a huge asterisk next to them because of the verse, which, again, is not actually verse. It's clunky and surface-level and all the references to The Poet X just made me mad. Like, the gall to bring up a fantastic book that's actually in verse. There were some interesting character conflicts here, including discussions about friendship and first love and power, but they felt haphazard and inconsistent because of the verse (and something else that I'll get to), which is a real bummer, because they were interesting in a vacuum. The other thing that messed with the plot and characters was the pacing. We meander for so long, only for all the interesting worldbuilding to happen 70% in. The interesting pieces of worldbuilding, as well as the fact that Anna-Jane, her boyfriend, and like 3 of her friends are actually well-developed and interesting characters, are the reason this is getting a 2 and not a 1 from me. Lastly, there were too many characters, especially considering that outside of the 4 characters I mentioned, the author forgot to develop or distinguish them. The adult characters felt particularly underdeveloped.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this book .
This Children's librarian is so happy that middle grade dystopian/apocalypse fiction is making a comeback. I love a good end of the world story and I love verse, so this mash-up worked perfectly for me.
Anna-Jane goes to summer camp expecting another season of ghost stories by the fire, swimming in the lake, and sharing a cabin with her best friend. And that's how things start. But a trip into town tips off the campers that something is a little bit...off with the outside world. Wifi and cell coverage is down, and parents start arriving in droves to pick up their campers. Anna-Jane waits for her mom, who said she was on her way, but her mom never shows.
Enter an end of the world survival tale, where summer camp extends into fall, then into winter, with no real news of what's happening in the world - until a boy from across the lake shows up at camp.
This story was well crafted- perfect for older middle schoolers or younger MG readers who don't mind if their books are a little bit unsettling. I really liked Anna-Jane as a character, and there's even a very tame, MG appropriate first love romance that I think will appeal to teens. If your readers loved Alone by Megan Freeman, or Outside by Jennifer Holm, they'll probably enjoy this book.
This Children's librarian is so happy that middle grade dystopian/apocalypse fiction is making a comeback. I love a good end of the world story and I love verse, so this mash-up worked perfectly for me.
Anna-Jane goes to summer camp expecting another season of ghost stories by the fire, swimming in the lake, and sharing a cabin with her best friend. And that's how things start. But a trip into town tips off the campers that something is a little bit...off with the outside world. Wifi and cell coverage is down, and parents start arriving in droves to pick up their campers. Anna-Jane waits for her mom, who said she was on her way, but her mom never shows.
Enter an end of the world survival tale, where summer camp extends into fall, then into winter, with no real news of what's happening in the world - until a boy from across the lake shows up at camp.
This story was well crafted- perfect for older middle schoolers or younger MG readers who don't mind if their books are a little bit unsettling. I really liked Anna-Jane as a character, and there's even a very tame, MG appropriate first love romance that I think will appeal to teens. If your readers loved Alone by Megan Freeman, or Outside by Jennifer Holm, they'll probably enjoy this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Children's Books for the digital ARC!
I love a mysterious middle grade book, and to add in potential end-of-the-world vibes? Yes, please.
Anna-Jane thinks she's in for another summer of escaping her real life and fun with her best friend, Amaya. But things quickly go south as they realize something has happened back home; cell service is down, campers are getting picked up by frantic parents, and something is happening to the animals. Are they truly safe at camp? Just how long can they hold out against this mysterious illness?
There's some suspense/fear built, but it's in quick, brief intervals so that overall the effect isn't too scary but rather tense. At times, I wished I were listening to an audiobook and crunching on some popcorn. Even though this book would be accessible to younger readers, I think that in combination with the more "romantic" aspects might make this more of a 7th grade book than a 5th grade one. I didn't love how quickly and cleanly it wrapped up - it reminded me of Alone by Megan E. Freeman, not necessarily in a positive way. Otherwise, fabulous spooky vibes, would recommend!
I love a mysterious middle grade book, and to add in potential end-of-the-world vibes? Yes, please.
Anna-Jane thinks she's in for another summer of escaping her real life and fun with her best friend, Amaya. But things quickly go south as they realize something has happened back home; cell service is down, campers are getting picked up by frantic parents, and something is happening to the animals. Are they truly safe at camp? Just how long can they hold out against this mysterious illness?
There's some suspense/fear built, but it's in quick, brief intervals so that overall the effect isn't too scary but rather tense. At times, I wished I were listening to an audiobook and crunching on some popcorn. Even though this book would be accessible to younger readers, I think that in combination with the more "romantic" aspects might make this more of a 7th grade book than a 5th grade one. I didn't love how quickly and cleanly it wrapped up - it reminded me of Alone by Megan E. Freeman, not necessarily in a positive way. Otherwise, fabulous spooky vibes, would recommend!
May 1, 2026
Hello,
I hope this message finds you well.
The Literary Ladies Book Club is a close-knit community of readers who are passionate about stories that inspire thoughtful discussion and immersive reading experiences.
We recently came across your book, Anna Jane and the endless summer, and were genuinely impressed by its engaging narrative and compelling themes. It struck us as the kind of book our members would enjoy diving into and discussing together.
We’re currently planning upcoming features and would love to consider your book for one of our sessions. Our club focuses on meaningful reader interaction, and your work feels like a great fit for that.
If this sounds interesting to you, simply reply “yes,” and we’ll share more details along with available scheduling options.
We’d be delighted to potentially showcase your work within our community.
Warm regards,
Organizer, Literary Ladies Book Club
I hope this message finds you well.
The Literary Ladies Book Club is a close-knit community of readers who are passionate about stories that inspire thoughtful discussion and immersive reading experiences.
We recently came across your book, Anna Jane and the endless summer, and were genuinely impressed by its engaging narrative and compelling themes. It struck us as the kind of book our members would enjoy diving into and discussing together.
We’re currently planning upcoming features and would love to consider your book for one of our sessions. Our club focuses on meaningful reader interaction, and your work feels like a great fit for that.
If this sounds interesting to you, simply reply “yes,” and we’ll share more details along with available scheduling options.
We’d be delighted to potentially showcase your work within our community.
Warm regards,
Organizer, Literary Ladies Book Club
September 2, 2025
Anna-Jane and the Endless Summer is a novel in verse that tells the story of a girl and her friends at summer camp facing a worldwide bioterrorist attack. In their little haven, the campers are isolated from the sickness, but they are aware of what is going on. While the majority of the campers were picked up by their families at the first sign of problems, forty or so kids, including Anna-Jane and a few adults are left behind to survive with what supplies they have and whatever they can scrounge. Tempers flare, dangers arise, relationships form while others fall apart. It is a fast-paced book with twists and turns that will keep the reader on the edge of their seat through to the end. I would recommend this book to middle grades on up. There are scenes of death, but nothing is graphic.
I received a free advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.
I received a free advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Survival is Not Enough!
(I received an ARC of this book)
Anna-Jane and the Endless Summer is an emotional and thrilling coming-of-age novel in verse and a must-read in 2026. There are so many survival stories out there that blend, but Classey delivers a fresh new take on the genre. Anna-Jane and her fellow campers must come together in the face of adversity and face many trials throughout their "endless summer." The book includes the most important features of a good YA read: the fear of not fitting in, distinct characters with individual voices, and finding that survival is not just about food and water. I applaud Classey for her inclusion of neurodivergent characters, too. The character is subtle and seamless without a forced label, which is so refreshing!
Highly recommend picking this one up!
(I received an ARC of this book)
Anna-Jane and the Endless Summer is an emotional and thrilling coming-of-age novel in verse and a must-read in 2026. There are so many survival stories out there that blend, but Classey delivers a fresh new take on the genre. Anna-Jane and her fellow campers must come together in the face of adversity and face many trials throughout their "endless summer." The book includes the most important features of a good YA read: the fear of not fitting in, distinct characters with individual voices, and finding that survival is not just about food and water. I applaud Classey for her inclusion of neurodivergent characters, too. The character is subtle and seamless without a forced label, which is so refreshing!
Highly recommend picking this one up!
May 13, 2026
This felt like an absolutely gorgeous spiritual successor to Alone by Freeman (given that I was disappointed in the actual sequel to that one, I was so happy). One thing this story does so well is balances the differences between "Oh god the world might be ending what do we do?!" and "I have a crush on a boy and my best friend is being weird what do I do!?" It's also written in prose and name drops some fantastic books within it's pages so it's a relatively quick read that feels very much like a roller coaster. Part of me wants a sequel to see what's next, but having gotten a sequel to Alone and being disappointed, I also kind of don't.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is a solid summer camp adventure that blends into a “what happens if” dystopian survival story, with an underlying theme of what it means to be a good friend and good human. The characters are interesting, with at times successful attempts at developing them beyond what they appear on the surface. Kids will like the camp setting and the scary bits for sure.
This, however, is not a strong novel in verse, however, which significantly impacts the quality of the experience. It lacks the lyrical nature and nuance that verse provides over prose. The lack of precise and poignant word choice resulted in broken sentences and ideas that left me wondering what was driving the author’s choices rather than bringing the story to life. This is not a novel in verse example I would recommend, especially to those new to the genre.
Thank you to Random House Children's Books, Random House Books for Young Readers, Netgalley, and the author for early access to this middle school dystopian novel in verse.
This, however, is not a strong novel in verse, however, which significantly impacts the quality of the experience. It lacks the lyrical nature and nuance that verse provides over prose. The lack of precise and poignant word choice resulted in broken sentences and ideas that left me wondering what was driving the author’s choices rather than bringing the story to life. This is not a novel in verse example I would recommend, especially to those new to the genre.
Thank you to Random House Children's Books, Random House Books for Young Readers, Netgalley, and the author for early access to this middle school dystopian novel in verse.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I really enjoyed this dystopian summer camp YA novel in verse that has the titular character, Anna-Jane, trying to figure out what's going on in the world when everything starts shutting down and she's stuck at her beloved summer camp, miles away from home and her mother. Great on audio and just a compelling read. If you enjoy dystopian stories and novels in verse definitely give it a shot. Recommended for fans of books like Alone by Megan E. Freeman.
May 16, 2026
I inhaled this audiobook in a day! It’s a fast listen as a novel in verse, and I found it impossible to put down.
Set at summer camp, this book has a huge twist early on and turns into a dystopian survival story.
I don’t really want to give anything away. This moved along so well and is a great upper middle grade/young teen story.
Definitely a great option for fans of Alone. I also loved other literature references (Emily Dickerson, Lord of the Flies, and more).
Set at summer camp, this book has a huge twist early on and turns into a dystopian survival story.
I don’t really want to give anything away. This moved along so well and is a great upper middle grade/young teen story.
Definitely a great option for fans of Alone. I also loved other literature references (Emily Dickerson, Lord of the Flies, and more).
September 21, 2025
Anna-Jane and her cabin mates band together during summer camp to survive. The usual camp adventures take a back seat in this woods as unusual things begin to happen. The suspense builds but the character development is two dimensional. However for 9-12 year old readers, the story will hold their attention as the campers come closer to the truth.
November 9, 2025
Anna Jane and the Endless Summer is relatable and funny in all the right ways, and the side characters feel like people you’ve actually met. The writing captures that hazy, nostalgic summer vibe without ever feeling overdone. It’s heartfelt, hopeful, and just a little bittersweet — the perfect read for this age group.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Netgalley for providing an advance copy of this book.
The topic of the book is intense and could be difficult for sensitive readers. The writing in verse is well done, it is not a distraction from the story, however it does make for a quicker read. Overall it is an average book- nothing outstanding, but interesting enough to see it through to the end.
The topic of the book is intense and could be difficult for sensitive readers. The writing in verse is well done, it is not a distraction from the story, however it does make for a quicker read. Overall it is an average book- nothing outstanding, but interesting enough to see it through to the end.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Wow. Just…. Wow. Anna-Jane and the Endless Summer is beautifully written poetic prose. A YA dystopian story with a strong female lead that includes lessons on friendship, the influence of teachers, a cute little love interest, and the power of found family? I loved this book and will for sure be recommending it to all my teacher friends.
April 29, 2026
This is a riveting novel in verse that is impossible to put down. What begins as a summer camp adventure with compelling and relatable friendship issues, crushes, and homesickness evolves into a survival story when the world outside the camp experiences an act of bioterrorism that changes everything.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Reminiscent of Alone by Morgan Freeman. Written in verse, the story sucks you in and you can’t help but root for the kids to survive. The author portrays found family so beautifully. Can’t wait to see what she writes next!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Anna-Jane is at summer camp when all technology shuts down and there are rumors of a terrible sickness. As the campers struggle to survive, they try to figure out what is going on. I enjoyed this novel in verse and just wished for a bit more at the end.
May 15, 2026
I thought this was going to be a bit more survival based, and while it is the presence of so many people and adults for the majority of the novel made it feel more realistic fiction to me. It was good though.
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