Monday, November 22, 2021

Camp by L.C. Rosen - NO

Camp by L.C. Rosen
374 pages. Little, Brown and Company, 2020 $18.

Language: PG-13 (70 swears; 1 'f'); Mature Content: R (Sexual references, sexual innuendo, on page sex) Violence: G. 

BUYING ADVISORY: NO

16 yo Randy has had a crush on campmate Hudson ever since he started coming to Camp Outland (a camp for queer teens) when he was twelve. But Hudson likes boys who are more masculine, so this year, Randy returns to camp as "Del", a masc version of himself, ready to win Hudson's heart and become his boyfriend. But that means Randy also gives up some of the things he loves best about camp, mostly the camp musical - his theater friends are surprised but supportive. His plan seems to work - Hudson asks him out right away, but how far is Randy willing to go, and how much will he have to change for Hudson. 

"Camp" is funny, and a great use of the "changing yourself for love" trope. I hate that in many YA novels the gay kids are the theater kids, so it was nice to see a story that was more rounded that way. The message of be who you are took a long time to develop, but it had a satisfying ending. There was a lot of gay culture talk and references, I liked the gay history lectures the kids attended at the end of the day. Too explicit for a school library. 

Lisa Librarian

No comments: