Lenoir, Axelle

This first step into a vulnerable life story is packed with heart, humor, and deceptively cranky commentary. Audiences not put off by the slow pace or Lenoir’s standoffish shell will be rewarded with the rich inner life of an ‘80s kid absorbed in pop culture, creepy woods, and the maddening contradictions of growing up.

There’s a lot readers will enjoy about this coming-of-age camp comedy: romance, a dose of paranormal horror, and laugh-out-loud shenanigans. It’s unfortunate that it includes a hurtful depiction of Native culture.