Camp - Lev A. C. Rosen (Blog Tour)

Date of Reading: 23/05/2020

Author: Lev A. C. Rosen

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Publication date: May 26, 2020

Source: NetGalley

Rating: 4.5/5

(This review is part of the blog tour organised by Fantastic Flying Book Club)

About the book:

From the author of the acclaimed Jack of Hearts (and other parts) comes a sweet and sharp screwball comedy that critiques the culture of toxic masculinity within the queer community.

Sixteen-year-old Randy Kapplehoff loves spending the summer at Camp Outland, a camp for queer teens. It's where he met his best friends. It's where he takes to the stage in the big musical. And it's where he fell for Hudson Aaronson-Lim - who's only into straight-acting guys and barely knows not-at-all-straight-acting Randy even exists.

This year, though, it's going to be different. Randy has reinvented himself as 'Del' - buff, masculine, and on the market. Even if it means giving up show tunes, nail polish, and his unicorn bed sheets, he's determined to get Hudson to fall for him.

But as he and Hudson grow closer, Randy has to ask himself how much is he willing to change for love. And is it really love anyway, if Hudson doesn't know who he truly is? 

Review:

      Is this one of my regular reads? Absolutely not. Changing yourself to get the man (or woman) is something abhorrent in my dictionary. Someone who is not able to love oneself can never find love. So why did I bother reading this novel? Because I wanted to tame this judgemental devil living inside me. As one of the counsellors says in the story, everyone is allowed to make their own mistakes. Isn't that the way we learn?

       'Camp' offers a unique take on an oft used plotline with Camp Outland as its setting. It is not every day we get to read a book with an all queer cast and that makes this all the more special. Sure, it is not possible to cover every aspect of the queer spectrum, but considering the length of the novel, the author has done a remarkable job in giving representation to a wide variety of gender orientations. This camp for queer teens is nothing short of paradise.

      The main story, as you have guessed already, is the love story between Randy and Hudson. Randy is determined to win over Hudson this year and thus his complete makeover as Del, a masc completely different from the femme personality of Randy. Well, we don't need an oracle to know where his crazy plan will lead to but what matters is the changes that come through this performance. 

      Simple though it may seem the novel addresses a series of issues a queer teen faces from his own family and also from the society. Seeing that we don't have that many great books in the LGBT genre, this book, without a doubt, is a rare gem. A pure delight from start to finish!

Meet the author:

Lev Rosen is the author of books for all ages. Two for adults: All Men of Genius (Amazon Best of the Month, Audie Award Finalist) and Depth (Amazon Best of the Year, Shamus Award Finalist, Kirkus Best Science Fiction for April). Two middle-grade books: Woundabout (illustrated by his brother, Ellis Rosen), and The Memory Wall. His first Young Adult Novel, Jack of Hearts (and other parts) is forthcoming in 2018. His books have been sold around the world and translated into different languages as well as being featured on many best of the year lists, and nominated for awards.

Lev is originally from lower Manhattan and now lives in even lower Manhattan, right at the edge, with his husband and a very small cat. You can find him online at LevACRosen.com and @LevACRosen.

Find the tour schedule here: 

https://fantasticflyingbookclub.blogspot.com/2020/04/tour-schedule-camp-by-lev-ac-rosen.html

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