Lake Burntshore

“Kreuter effortlessly captures the strange, youthful energy of the camp … Smart prose blends youthful concerns with complex issues in a timely summer read.” — Kirkus Reviews“Lake Burntshore unpacks the complicated realities of enjoying paradise at the expense of others in compelling and even funny ways. This new novel is fun, intelligent, political and, ultimately, respectful of the land I love so much.” — Waubgeshig Rice, author of Moon of the Crusted Snow“Lake Burntshore is a summer camp story like no other. Ambitious in theme and impressively effective in narrative, this novel brilliantly unpacks the extensive, harmful impacts of colonialism with nuance and care. From Palestine to Ontario cottage country, Aaron Kreuter deftly gives agency to, and celebrates the humanity of, the people of the land. To anyone in a diaspora that’s struggled under oppression for generations, this story hits very close to home. By honouring the land and the people fighting for recognition and justice, Lake Burntshore is both timely and timeless.” — Waubgeshig Rice, author of Moon of the Crusted Snow“What it manages to accomplish is nothing short of remarkable. It is premature to refer to the book as Kreuter’s magnum opus, as he still has a long career ahead, the scope of the novel, the history it packs, and the weight of centuries of choices, all bear down on the characters … The novel asks hard questions, but is so infused with humanity that the reader will set it down with the satisfaction of having taken a nice summer vacation.” — The Miramichi Reader“Lake Burntshore hooks you from the beginning. Aaron Kreuter is unafraid to examine our views of displacement and genocide and our relationship with the land. A must-read!” — Christina Wong, author of Denison Avenue“Funny, frank, and sexy, Lake Burntshore is a richly felt examination of the Jewish diaspora. Aaron Kreuter’s storytelling will transport you to your coziest, most carefree memories while also holding up a mirror to the adult you’ve become. This story really is a summer to remember.” — Gabe Liedman, writer and comedian“With this summer’s Jewish camp season still in the rear-view mirror, consider picking up a copy of Lake Burntshore. While reading it, you may feel like you’ve completed an eight-day canoeing trip, strummed some guitar chords by the campfire, or gone skinny-dipping in a lake. By the end of the book, Kreuter has immersed readers in the life of the camp, while raising uncomfortable questions about the wider world beyond its gates.” — Times of Israel“Kreuter creates a microcosm in Lake Burntshore in which geopolitical conflicts usually set on much larger scales can be boiled down and digested. By narrowing our focus and contextualizing these conflicts in a setting some readers might find nostalgic, the plot of Burntshore shows us that it’s possible to make a difference if we start at the local level, in our communities.” — The /t?mz/ Review

Aaron Kreuter is the author of five books, including the poetry collection Shifting Baseline Syndrome, a 2022 finalist for the Governor General’s Literary Award. His work has been shortlisted for two Vine Awards for Jewish Literature, a Raymond Souster Award, and a ReLit Award. He lives in Toronto.

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