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Summary

PART I: Barbara (continued)

Tracy, June 1975

Tracy learns the cabin’s fireplace was there for the Van Laars' friends during year-round hunting trips, but it is no longer used. During icebreaker exercises, she quickly realizes the other girls in her cabin have known each other for years, evident in their inside jokes and gestures. A hierarchy is already in place, and Tracy’s at the bottom. Shy about introducing herself, she unpacks in silence, eventually crying at the thought that this summer could still turn out differently despite her lack of friends. 

At the opening campfire, campers and counselors gather at the amphitheater, singing songs and performing rituals like log chopping and skits. From the crowd, conversations swirl—whispers about romantic prospects, the most attractive campers, and the quirks of both campers and counselors. One skit features a male counselor pretending to be a lost camper, demonstrating Rule #3: when lost, sit down and yell to avoid further disorientation in the Adirondack forest. 

Suddenly, T.J. takes the stage, her authority unmistakable. She reminds everyone of camp rules, including a strict curfew: any camper caught outside their cabin after hours gets two nights of Commissary duty, with further violations leading to dismissal. She also announces a change to the Survival Trip due to parental concerns: a counselor will now be stationed nearby for emergencies during the three-night excursion. 

Louise: June 1975  

On the first night of camp, Louise lies in the dark, listening as a camper, Tracy, cries. Later, the two sit together on the porch steps, where Louise gently asks Tracy if she wants to talk. Tracy shares that at dinner, she sat alone in silence, and she quietly read while the other girls laughed and played in the cabin, unsure how to join in or make friends. 

Tracy also admits she is scared about “Slitter,” a terrifying legend based on Jacob Sluiter, a man accused of 11 murders who has ties to the Van Laar Preserve and once roamed the surrounding woods. Louise reassures her that Slitter is locked up in prison two hundred miles away, but Tracy insists he escaped, repeating a rumor that spread across camp. Unconvinced, Louise argues that T.J. would have told her already and that Slitter wouldn’t travel all the way to Camp Emerson. But Tracy, still shaken, says the girls kept whispering about “the boy.” Louise knows exactly what she means. 

Louise: Two Months Later, August 1975  

Louise begins to panic, unsure of whom to call or how to report Barbara missing. She runs to the director’s cabin looking for T.J., and she decides to enter, knowing the doors have no locks. As she steps inside, memories of spending a week in this cabin flood back, along with its distinct scent of iron, musk, camphor, and tar. 

She heads to the bathroom, where she sees T.J. stepping out of the shower. Startled and annoyed, T.J. listens as Louise explains the situation. T.J. asks if anyone saw Barbara leave, but none of the girls heard anything. Louise knows T.J. will hold her accountable—it’s a counselor’s duty to keep campers safe. 

When T.J. asks if both Annabel and Louise were in the cabin last night, Louise lies, saying they were. She doesn’t like to lie, especially to T.J., whom she respects and has always been honest with. T.J. then uses the public announcement system to summon one counselor from each cabin to the director’s office. Before heading out, T.J. asks if Louise has seen John Paul this week. Again, Louise lies and says she hasn’t.  

Tracy: June 1975 

Barbara, who only lives up the road in Self-Reliance, arrives at Camp Emerson in a black town car, a quiet display of privilege. Campers watch in awe as she enters the dining hall, dressed in black punk clothing instead of the uniform. Most have only heard of her, but the Van Laar name grants her instant social advantage, and everyone wants to be her friend. 

At the beach, Barbara and her bunkmates prepare for their swim tests. Tracy, self-conscious in her swimsuit, notices the others keeping their distance. Louise introduces Barbara to her bunkmates, and the group waves back. Tracy doesn’t find Barbara particularly pretty, but her confidence is magnetic. When the test begins, Barbara reaches the buoy and returns first, proving that she’s a strong swimmer. 

Later, Barbara surprises Tracy by sitting across from her at lunch. Tracy compliments her lipstick, and Barbara offers it to her, shrugging off the camp’s no-makeup rule. Barbara says she wasn’t at orientation to learn the rules because her parents didn’t sign her up on time. Tracy understands what it feels like to be overlooked. 

The next day, the campers follow a packed schedule, including a wilderness class with T.J. where they learn to find water, set traps, and cook outdoors. The highlight of camp is the Survival Trip, a three-day solo camping trip now done in small groups under a counselor’s distant supervision. 

At the flagpole, Tracy’s group gathers, and she meets Lowell Cargill, an attractive fourteen-year-old. Distracted, she barely notices Barbara is there. In the woods, T.J. teaches them to use a compass and explains that panic, named after the Greek god Pan, causes travelers to lose their way—and their minds. She warns that fearing the forest makes it an enemy, while staying calm makes it an ally. 

On the way back, Tracy is lost in thought about Lowell before realizing Barbara has been beside her the whole time. Barbara assumes Tracy has a crush but assures her they don’t have to talk about it. Tracy stays quiet, recalling a rumor that Barbara is a replacement for her older brother. 

Later, Tracy asks if Barbara thinks Lowell is cute. Barbara shrugs—he’s not her type, and she doesn’t think much about crushes anymore. She says she has a boyfriend but doesn’t elaborate. 

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