Cabin Girl by Kristin Butcher (review)

For sixteen-year old Bailey, her summer cleaning cabins at Witch Lake Lodge should be about earning spending money for the coming year while getting a needed break from her parents. However, after the resort head—and family friend—promotes her to dining room waitress, she instead finds herself trying to understand her cabinmate’s sudden cold shoulder and malicious pranks, all while puzzling over the unnerving arrival of a private investigator. Though standing up to her roommate and navigating workplace politics is no campfire sing-along, she’s determined to make the best of it—and perhaps even solve a mystery in the process. Appealing and approachable, this latest addition to the Canadian hi-lo Orca Currents series offers readers a summer story succinctly told, complete with adolescent girl dynamics, first-job jitters, and even a resident ghost. This story of a balanced, relatable heroine respects its readers, giving them a novel serious in tone, smartly paced, and skillfully executed. Put this in the hands of a girl who could use an exciting but manageable journey into both the Canadian wilderness and the thrills of a first summer away from home.