The Firelight Girls

Written by Kaya McLaren

The past and present collide as five women work to save the summer camp of their youth in this heartwarming novel

The Firelight Girls is a story of three generations of women and men whose lives are pieced back together when they return to the place that made them who they are, a summer camp on Lake Wenatchee in Washington State. Seventy year old Ethel is directionless after losing Haddie, the love of her life, to a heart-attack. Camp was where they met way back in the fifties, and they made their home down the shore from camp. Once a vibrant, capable camp counselor, Shannon has just had her heart shattered by the loss of her job. Ruby, estranged from Ethel for fifty years, has been living with a secret for almost as long. Finally, there is Amber, a homeless teen who has been hiding out in one of the cabins, hoping that no one at school will catch on to her plight. When they learn that the camp’s future is in jeopardy, Ethel and Ruby send out the alarm, reuniting campers and staff to save the place that was so instrumental in all of their lives. A story of enduring friendship and romance, The Firelight Girls is about what has been lost and what can still be created.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brilliance Audio
• Release date: Oct 14, 2014
• ISBN: 9781491585412

Kaya McLaren

Kaya McLaren is also author of On the Divinity of Second Chances and Church of the Dog. She lives and teaches third and fourth graders on the east slope of Snoqualmie Pass in Washington State. When Kaya’s not working, she likes to telemark ski, sit in hot springs, moonlight hike, and play in lakes with her dog, Big Cedar.

Reviews for The Firelight Girls

[Madeline Sixkiller · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I was a Girl Scout back in the day this book brought back so many memories I Love it.

[Deb · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

If you ever went to Girl Scout camp (or any camp for girls), I suspect this story will be like a warm night around the campfire (with “the wind in the pines; the moon in the heavens; the stars that shine…”).

Having said that, I almost didn’t make it through because the narrators voice, delivery, and her attempt a male voices were grating, but the story swept me away and I gave in. Still, I suspect I would have liked it better with a less “mannered” reader.