Lumberjanes

Friendship to the Max!

Strange things are afoot at Miss Qiunzella Thiskwin Penniquiqul Thistle Crumpet's Camp for Hardcore Lady Types. Strange things indeed. From page one we land right in the middle of the Lumberjanes' manic world as our five misfit heroines defend themselves from a horde of three-eyed foxes.

And the story just gets more mysterious and hilarious from there as the lumberjanes work together to unravel the b​igger secrets of this unusual summer camp. These new friends explore secret caves, meet shape-shifting counsellors, yetis and solve puzzles while still managing to obtain their requisite camp badges and have the best summer ever.

​Lumberjanes is part Gravity Falls, part Dungeons and Dragons, part coming of age story and all girl-power. In addition to being action-packed, Lumberjanes is also charming and sweet as the girls discover their own unique talents and rely on their bond of friendship to surmount their many challenges.

The artwork perfectly compliments the energy of the storyline and the writers throw in plenty of silly puns and clever wordplay that had both Kookoo and Little Sweetie constantly giggling. "What the junk?" can be heard around our house with unnecessary frequency but does beat the alternative. As an added bonus, the authors work in ongoing references to fascinating women throughout history which Kookoo was eager to research afterwards and provided an education for me as well.

​​Overall, Lumberjanes passes my requirement test with flying colours. The characters are courageous but have real-life vulnerabilities which adds to their complexity. While not superheroes, a few of the girls have exaggerated strengths that are simply shrugged off as normal and makes sense within its own bizarre logic. It's a great, fun read with plenty to talk about with your kids afterward. My question is why hasn't this series been adapted into a cartoon or movie yet?

Coming up next......The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl