The Endless Game

A middle school boy gets drawn into his new town's intense summer game of capture the flag in this adventurous slice-of-life graphic novel debut perfect for fans of The Cardboard Kingdom and Craig of the Creek.

When Fred Townsend and his family move to Lakeside, Illinois, Fred is inducted into a game of capture the flag that has split the entire town in two. But this isn't a normal game. It's been going on for decades and has been passed down from generation to generation. It has its own history, laws, and institutions, with elaborate castle-like bases, dreary prisons, kid-run saloons, and even a council of home-schooled kids that preside over the rules of the game.

But for Fred, and all of Lakeside's kids, this unending war is not just about winning--it's also about learning how you want to fit into the world, the power of friendship, and making sure this summer is one they will never forget.

Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Published: 04/28/2026
ISBN: 9781665927154
Pages: 248
Size: 8.25h x 5.50w x 0.67d

Review Citations: Publishers Weekly 01/12/2026
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 03/01/2026
School Library Journal 03/01/2026 pg. 70
Kirkus Reviews 03/01/2026