Anna-Jane and the Endless Summer
Paige Classey
Random House Books for Young Readers
Published April 28, 2026

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About 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?

My Review

I didn’t realize this was a novel in verse until I started reading it. That format lends itself really well to a fast-paced story like this one. The summer camp setting also creates a perfect place where the kids are really at the center of the story and have to make decisions for themselves.

Though for the most part, I enjoyed the pacing of the story, there are a couple of things that I wish the author had explored more deeply, or maybe left out altogether. At one point, someone raises the idea that the changes Anna-Jane and the others are seeing are the result of bioterrorism. I felt like that was kind of a leap. The science behind what’s happening is explored a little bit, but it’s not truly the focus of the story.

I do like that the kids at camp each had something to contribute. I like that the crisis flipped the social hierarchy. Suddenly, the most popular kid wasn’t necessarily the best positioned to help. Perhaps the kid on the bottom rung of the social ladder would turn out to contribute the greatest value to the survival of the group.

I could definitely see fans of Megan E. Freeman’s novels in verse enjoying this one. It’s got a similar focus on surviving an event that changes life as we know it. It’s also a nice spin on summer camp stories.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 10 to 14.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
One character has a gun and implies a threat to use it. Anna-Jane learns to hunt small animals using a bow and arrows. Someone collapses due to a medical crisis. References to the death of a child.

Drug Content
None.

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