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A review by books_first_
Camp by L.C. Rosen
5.0
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange of an honest review.
When I first read that Lev A.C. Rosen's new novel was going to be entitled "Camp", I immediately thought of extravagance, glitter, riddiculousness and pure sass.
Then I read, that the book was going to be about an actual summer camp. Now that I have read it, I am very - very - happy to report that this is the campiest camp there ever has been and that can ever be.
Camp is all about being your true queer self - and owning it. It is about queer teens getting space to find themselves and to be unapologetically themselves without judgement from classmates, straight friends who just don't understand and most of all: parents. Camp Outland is a save space to question and to change and to just be.
It's about 16-year old Randy who butches himself up because he's fallen in love with a guy in the previous years at camp and wants to match Hudson's preference for a "masc" boyfriend. He chooses sports over theatre and mismatched clothing over glitter nailpolish and a fan, much to the disappointment and confusion to the rest of his friends (read: other theatre kids).
While Randy - who is now called Del - and Hudson get closer, Randy can't help but feel sadness at not being part of the annual musical show, especially since all his friends are and starts questioning "the plan" he had to get Hudson to fall in love with him. Can Hudson even fall in love with him if he doesn't even know him? As the summer progresses, it becomes harder and harder to keep the charade up and Randy starts to figure out that there is more to Hudson than a tough and hot exterior.
I read this book in less than 24 hours because I was immediately sucked into the world of Camp Outland. I fell in love with every single of the characters and I still cannot believe how lucky I am to have gotten to read this before it's official release date. Especially because this is one of my most anticipated reads in 2020. After reading it, I can confidently say that it is already one of my absolutely favourite reads this year.
We are introduced to camp kids in every shade of queerness and I was especially excited to see a demisexual lesbian as one of the main characters. The camp program is a mixture of queer history, fun nature trips and electives such as sports and musical theatre and I loved reading about every part of it. Of course, crushes and sex are a big topic for queer teens just as much as they are for straight teens and Camp is nothing but sex positive - in a safe way.
As I already said, Camp consists of a lot of different kids and I love how every kid gets a voice about their sexuality. I have briefly mentioned demisexuality, which I loved because I feel that it is underrepresented in fiction in general and it was lovely to read about the conversations Ashleigh had with her best friends Randy and George. George is Randy's other best friend and he is as fabulous as you can be. With a fan at the ready for dramatic effects and what feels like a thousand different shades of nail polish, he is here to slay. Besides our main trio, we are also introduced to an ex-olympist trans woman who coaches the kids in their sports electives, the musical theatre director who doubles as drag queen performer and so many more characters who will worm their way into your heart and STAY THERE.
The story itself is a whirlwind of emotion because I wanted Randy to be able to be himself, wanted Hudson to see him for who he is - the coolest kid on the block! - and for him to sing his heart out at the musical performance. At the same time, it was an absolute swoon fest. I am talking underwater kisses. I am talking kisses stolen at the back of the hut shortly between lights out. I am talking Hudson calling Randy "babe". And I am talking lots and lots and lots of hand holding.
Most importantly, though, and I know that a lot of my fellow reviewers have already talked about this: But Lev A. C. Rosen manages to take apart the concept of toxic masculinity within a couple of hundred pages. The idea that a man has to behave a certain way. The idea that the stereotype of the gay man with glitter and fans and tears and - god forbid - feelings, was something to be ashamed of. Toxic masculinity is one of the things deeply wrong with this world and with the world's society at large and here it is, a book that sings "Fuck all that" in a high note while dancing pirouettes around the haters in a bow tie and a tutu.
And while this book encourages you to search for, find and be your truest self, it also proposes to only do so "in public" when you're safe. Because safety always comes first. Camp is like a best friend who says: "even if you can't be who you are with anyone else, you can be yourself with me". Camp Outland is one of those fictional places that will always be there for the people who need a safe space to call their home, even when they're physically somewhere else.
Let this be my last point: This book should be read by everyone. I need this book to be read by everyone. I don't care about your gender or age or sexuality or beliefs: READ. THIS. BOOK. And tattoo its message onto your heart: Everyone is valid just the way they are. Be unapologetically, proudly yourself. And most importantly: Let everyone else be their best self they can be in a safe and loving environment as well.
Lev. A. C. Rosen. Damn, what a book.
When I first read that Lev A.C. Rosen's new novel was going to be entitled "Camp", I immediately thought of extravagance, glitter, riddiculousness and pure sass.
Then I read, that the book was going to be about an actual summer camp. Now that I have read it, I am very - very - happy to report that this is the campiest camp there ever has been and that can ever be.
Camp is all about being your true queer self - and owning it. It is about queer teens getting space to find themselves and to be unapologetically themselves without judgement from classmates, straight friends who just don't understand and most of all: parents. Camp Outland is a save space to question and to change and to just be.
It's about 16-year old Randy who butches himself up because he's fallen in love with a guy in the previous years at camp and wants to match Hudson's preference for a "masc" boyfriend. He chooses sports over theatre and mismatched clothing over glitter nailpolish and a fan, much to the disappointment and confusion to the rest of his friends (read: other theatre kids).
While Randy - who is now called Del - and Hudson get closer, Randy can't help but feel sadness at not being part of the annual musical show, especially since all his friends are and starts questioning "the plan" he had to get Hudson to fall in love with him. Can Hudson even fall in love with him if he doesn't even know him? As the summer progresses, it becomes harder and harder to keep the charade up and Randy starts to figure out that there is more to Hudson than a tough and hot exterior.
I read this book in less than 24 hours because I was immediately sucked into the world of Camp Outland. I fell in love with every single of the characters and I still cannot believe how lucky I am to have gotten to read this before it's official release date. Especially because this is one of my most anticipated reads in 2020. After reading it, I can confidently say that it is already one of my absolutely favourite reads this year.
We are introduced to camp kids in every shade of queerness and I was especially excited to see a demisexual lesbian as one of the main characters. The camp program is a mixture of queer history, fun nature trips and electives such as sports and musical theatre and I loved reading about every part of it. Of course, crushes and sex are a big topic for queer teens just as much as they are for straight teens and Camp is nothing but sex positive - in a safe way.
As I already said, Camp consists of a lot of different kids and I love how every kid gets a voice about their sexuality. I have briefly mentioned demisexuality, which I loved because I feel that it is underrepresented in fiction in general and it was lovely to read about the conversations Ashleigh had with her best friends Randy and George. George is Randy's other best friend and he is as fabulous as you can be. With a fan at the ready for dramatic effects and what feels like a thousand different shades of nail polish, he is here to slay. Besides our main trio, we are also introduced to an ex-olympist trans woman who coaches the kids in their sports electives, the musical theatre director who doubles as drag queen performer and so many more characters who will worm their way into your heart and STAY THERE.
The story itself is a whirlwind of emotion because I wanted Randy to be able to be himself, wanted Hudson to see him for who he is - the coolest kid on the block! - and for him to sing his heart out at the musical performance. At the same time, it was an absolute swoon fest. I am talking underwater kisses. I am talking kisses stolen at the back of the hut shortly between lights out. I am talking Hudson calling Randy "babe". And I am talking lots and lots and lots of hand holding.
Most importantly, though, and I know that a lot of my fellow reviewers have already talked about this: But Lev A. C. Rosen manages to take apart the concept of toxic masculinity within a couple of hundred pages. The idea that a man has to behave a certain way. The idea that the stereotype of the gay man with glitter and fans and tears and - god forbid - feelings, was something to be ashamed of. Toxic masculinity is one of the things deeply wrong with this world and with the world's society at large and here it is, a book that sings "Fuck all that" in a high note while dancing pirouettes around the haters in a bow tie and a tutu.
And while this book encourages you to search for, find and be your truest self, it also proposes to only do so "in public" when you're safe. Because safety always comes first. Camp is like a best friend who says: "even if you can't be who you are with anyone else, you can be yourself with me". Camp Outland is one of those fictional places that will always be there for the people who need a safe space to call their home, even when they're physically somewhere else.
Let this be my last point: This book should be read by everyone. I need this book to be read by everyone. I don't care about your gender or age or sexuality or beliefs: READ. THIS. BOOK. And tattoo its message onto your heart: Everyone is valid just the way they are. Be unapologetically, proudly yourself. And most importantly: Let everyone else be their best self they can be in a safe and loving environment as well.
Lev. A. C. Rosen. Damn, what a book.