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A review by featheredturtle
Camp by L.C. Rosen
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
One part the queer camp experience you've always longed for, one part bonkers romance scheme. 100% feel-good and hilarious.
The Good
– Smart, accessible approach to the culture of toxic masculinity in the queer community
– Diverse cast
– Fun and funny!
– Sex positive
– Characters who actually proudly state their sexuality
– A+ message: Be you!
– Modern, engaging, readable writing style
The Bad
– Concept of romance is a little sketchy
– Waaay too heavy on internal monologues for a bit
– Sexual content pushes the boundary of YA rating
– Goes a little too hard for Sondheim
<strong>Story</strong>—★★★★☆ (4.25 Stars)
It's Randy's fifth year at Camp Outland, a camp where queer teens get a chance to be themselves. Hoping to win over Hudson's heart—who's masc and straight passing and only seems to date other guys like himself—Randy has spent the past year reinventing himself: workout regimen, new haircut, new carefully curated wardrobe. His friends and camp counsellor all think it's a terrible idea, but what can they do but support him anyways?
<em>Camp</em> was both meaningful <em>and</em> thoroughly entertaining, which, wow, does not come around as often as we need. Rosen hits all the right ups and downs as Randy's plan unfolds: the times Hudson opens up to him, his friends' gentle teasing about his crazy plan, how he really misses participating in the yearly play his cabin puts on, struggling when he hears pieces of Hudson's prejudice toward the gay men who are "stereotypes." It's fun, it's sweet, it's incredibly easy to get lost in.
There's also an escapist fantasy element to it: Camp Outland is a place a lot of us wish we could or could have gone to. It's a sort of joy to see these characters interact and be free, but it also sparks a sort of wistfulness and longing. It's both fulfilling and a little bittersweet to think of a place like Camp Outland.
It's also a very sex positive book, or maybe a sex-normalized book? It's not over-hyped, but Randy is, well, <em>randy</em> at times, and looking forward to being together with Hudson soon (if he can get their relationship past Hudson's typical two week mark.) They're all teens, finally spending time with other teens like them. They can talk about these things without straight kids around to make them feel weird. However, there was a sex scene that kinda pushed the limits of the YA genre. No explicit terms were used and Rosen didn't linger on it, but it was clear what they were doing. I know sex scenes are very Your Mileage May Vary for people, so now you know.
However, around the mid-section and occasionally after, Randy picks up a bad habit of falling into internal monologues. These are dull, as he's only reaffirming the obvious: his romance plan is a bit sketchy. He hopes Hudson will still love him in nail polish, and he might forfeit theatre this summer to gain nothing in return. Rosen has already clarified these stakes to readers, reiterating them doesn't add tension. Instead, they are a dull spot on an otherwise vibrant and engaging story.
<strong>Characters</strong>—★★★★★ (4.5 Stars)
Randy: Between Hudson's inspiring speeches and an emotionally intimate moment they shared on their first night—that Hudson doesn't remember—Randy is 100% sure Hudson is perfect. Randy only needs to 1) work out, cut his hair, and give up theatre for the summer and 2) win Hudson over so thoroughly he doesn't turn into one of Hudson's two-week flings. But it's not that creepy, right? Right? Because once they're together, he's going to ease back into some of the more stereotypically "gay things" Hudson doesn't care for, and it will totally be fine because Hudson will love Randy for Randy by then, and not because he does or doesn't like to wear nail polish.
Unfortunately, it is definitely a bit creepy, and that puts a damper on the romance. Granted, the cast is <em>aware</em> of this and Rosen keeps the romance as uncreepy as it can possibly be, which takes an impressive bit of finesse. Randy's character development centres around trying new things while remaining true to yourself.
Hudson: The Dreamboat. A good guy with a complex and a lot of hidden insecurities. Hudson is the centre of <em>Camp</em>'s main theme: the culture of toxic masculinity, especially in the queer community. Hudson's parents are conservative, and they've instilled a certain strain of internalized homophobia in their son. Hudson doesn't understand why Randy (who he thinks is new guy "Del") hangs out with the theatre kids (~those sort of gays~) and is dismayed when he sees his best friend with painted nails. Kid's got some serious shit to unpack.
Supporting cast: George, Randy's best friend, is <em>hilarious</em>: he knows when to support Randy and when he needs a reminder that this plan is more than just a little wild. He flirts with Hudson's best friend, Brad, which creates some mild complications. Ashleigh, his other friend, keeps him on his toes while combating her own romantic woes. (The trio, together, are hilarious.) Other supporting characters support or guide Randy, or remind him he's kind of being a dick by ditching his friends 95% of the time.
Rosen does a great job with the whole cast: everyone is distinct and sharply characterized. It's easy to visualize them and easy to "hear" their voices. Several supporting characters even have their own minor character arcs, which is a nice touch and helps bring everyone to life.
<strong>Writing Style</strong>—★★★★★ (4.5 Stars)
<em>Camp</em> is written in first person, present tense from Randy's point of view in both future and flashback chapters.
Rosen's style is both vibrant, conversational, modern, and engaging. Conversation and scenes flow easily, witty lines sound natural and come about easily; the absurdity of what Randy is doing is always there, but no one ever forces it beyond belief. Rosen juggles humour, heartbreak, and storytelling with casual mastery, and his style contributes greatly to <em>Camp</em>'s success as a novel.
My only nitpicks lie around some (<em>some</em>) of Rosen's usage of the word queer. Queer is a wonderful term itself, and is great when you're referring to the community as a whole or someone who has a complicated or hard to define identity, etc., but it bothers me when it's used in a way that deliberately obscures or misrepresents our identities. The main instance in my mind is when Joan referred to the Mattachine Society as an "organization that campaigned for queer rights." But that's not 100% accurate. The Mattachine Society campaigned to protect and improve the rights of gay men, which were basically nonexistent when the group formed in 1950. There's nothing wrong with acknowledging that; throughout history, throughout the world, different parts of the community have had different needs.
<strong>Themes and Representation</strong>—★★★★☆
Rosen has provided a diverse cast in <em>Camp:</em>
Given the setting of the novel, there's an abundance of queer representation, with most characters stating their sexuality: Randy, Hudson and George are gay; Ashleigh is a demisexual lesbian; Jordan is nonbinary, possibly genderfluid; Jen is bisexual; Connie and Jimmy are transgender; Charity is aromantic and asexual. Multiple characters are gender-nonconforming.
Randy is possibly Jewish; Hudson is part Korean and possibly Jewish; George is part Middle Eastern and Jewish; Connie is Black; Paz has Afro-Brazilian heritage; and Brad is non-specified dark skin.
<em>Camp</em> centres around tackling the culture of toxic masculinity, particularly in the queer community, as well as addressing the bullying and trauma around being a gay guy interested in (what's society's deemed) feminine things.
<em>Camp</em> is about both wholeheartedly being your glorious self and also having the courage to try new things. It also refuses to inflict judgment: sometimes you're not ready, sometimes you fail, sometimes it's not safe for you to try new things, and that's okay, too.
<strong>Overall</strong>—★★★★☆ (4.25 Stars)
<strong>Recommended For...</strong>
Readers who enjoy YA and LGBT+ books; readers looking for a something fun and freeing; readers looking for something both meaningful and entertaining.
The Good
– Smart, accessible approach to the culture of toxic masculinity in the queer community
– Diverse cast
– Fun and funny!
– Sex positive
– Characters who actually proudly state their sexuality
– A+ message: Be you!
– Modern, engaging, readable writing style
The Bad
– Concept of romance is a little sketchy
– Waaay too heavy on internal monologues for a bit
– Sexual content pushes the boundary of YA rating
– Goes a little too hard for Sondheim
<strong>Story</strong>—★★★★☆ (4.25 Stars)
It's Randy's fifth year at Camp Outland, a camp where queer teens get a chance to be themselves. Hoping to win over Hudson's heart—who's masc and straight passing and only seems to date other guys like himself—Randy has spent the past year reinventing himself: workout regimen, new haircut, new carefully curated wardrobe. His friends and camp counsellor all think it's a terrible idea, but what can they do but support him anyways?
<em>Camp</em> was both meaningful <em>and</em> thoroughly entertaining, which, wow, does not come around as often as we need. Rosen hits all the right ups and downs as Randy's plan unfolds: the times Hudson opens up to him, his friends' gentle teasing about his crazy plan, how he really misses participating in the yearly play his cabin puts on, struggling when he hears pieces of Hudson's prejudice toward the gay men who are "stereotypes." It's fun, it's sweet, it's incredibly easy to get lost in.
There's also an escapist fantasy element to it: Camp Outland is a place a lot of us wish we could or could have gone to. It's a sort of joy to see these characters interact and be free, but it also sparks a sort of wistfulness and longing. It's both fulfilling and a little bittersweet to think of a place like Camp Outland.
It's also a very sex positive book, or maybe a sex-normalized book? It's not over-hyped, but Randy is, well, <em>randy</em> at times, and looking forward to being together with Hudson soon (if he can get their relationship past Hudson's typical two week mark.) They're all teens, finally spending time with other teens like them. They can talk about these things without straight kids around to make them feel weird. However, there was a sex scene that kinda pushed the limits of the YA genre. No explicit terms were used and Rosen didn't linger on it, but it was clear what they were doing. I know sex scenes are very Your Mileage May Vary for people, so now you know.
However, around the mid-section and occasionally after, Randy picks up a bad habit of falling into internal monologues. These are dull, as he's only reaffirming the obvious: his romance plan is a bit sketchy. He hopes Hudson will still love him in nail polish, and he might forfeit theatre this summer to gain nothing in return. Rosen has already clarified these stakes to readers, reiterating them doesn't add tension. Instead, they are a dull spot on an otherwise vibrant and engaging story.
<strong>Characters</strong>—★★★★★ (4.5 Stars)
Randy: Between Hudson's inspiring speeches and an emotionally intimate moment they shared on their first night—that Hudson doesn't remember—Randy is 100% sure Hudson is perfect. Randy only needs to 1) work out, cut his hair, and give up theatre for the summer and 2) win Hudson over so thoroughly he doesn't turn into one of Hudson's two-week flings. But it's not that creepy, right? Right? Because once they're together, he's going to ease back into some of the more stereotypically "gay things" Hudson doesn't care for, and it will totally be fine because Hudson will love Randy for Randy by then, and not because he does or doesn't like to wear nail polish.
Unfortunately, it is definitely a bit creepy, and that puts a damper on the romance. Granted, the cast is <em>aware</em> of this and Rosen keeps the romance as uncreepy as it can possibly be, which takes an impressive bit of finesse. Randy's character development centres around trying new things while remaining true to yourself.
Hudson: The Dreamboat. A good guy with a complex and a lot of hidden insecurities. Hudson is the centre of <em>Camp</em>'s main theme: the culture of toxic masculinity, especially in the queer community. Hudson's parents are conservative, and they've instilled a certain strain of internalized homophobia in their son. Hudson doesn't understand why Randy (who he thinks is new guy "Del") hangs out with the theatre kids (~those sort of gays~) and is dismayed when he sees his best friend with painted nails. Kid's got some serious shit to unpack.
Supporting cast: George, Randy's best friend, is <em>hilarious</em>: he knows when to support Randy and when he needs a reminder that this plan is more than just a little wild. He flirts with Hudson's best friend, Brad, which creates some mild complications. Ashleigh, his other friend, keeps him on his toes while combating her own romantic woes. (The trio, together, are hilarious.) Other supporting characters support or guide Randy, or remind him he's kind of being a dick by ditching his friends 95% of the time.
Rosen does a great job with the whole cast: everyone is distinct and sharply characterized. It's easy to visualize them and easy to "hear" their voices. Several supporting characters even have their own minor character arcs, which is a nice touch and helps bring everyone to life.
<strong>Writing Style</strong>—★★★★★ (4.5 Stars)
<em>Camp</em> is written in first person, present tense from Randy's point of view in both future and flashback chapters.
Rosen's style is both vibrant, conversational, modern, and engaging. Conversation and scenes flow easily, witty lines sound natural and come about easily; the absurdity of what Randy is doing is always there, but no one ever forces it beyond belief. Rosen juggles humour, heartbreak, and storytelling with casual mastery, and his style contributes greatly to <em>Camp</em>'s success as a novel.
My only nitpicks lie around some (<em>some</em>) of Rosen's usage of the word queer. Queer is a wonderful term itself, and is great when you're referring to the community as a whole or someone who has a complicated or hard to define identity, etc., but it bothers me when it's used in a way that deliberately obscures or misrepresents our identities. The main instance in my mind is when Joan referred to the Mattachine Society as an "organization that campaigned for queer rights." But that's not 100% accurate. The Mattachine Society campaigned to protect and improve the rights of gay men, which were basically nonexistent when the group formed in 1950. There's nothing wrong with acknowledging that; throughout history, throughout the world, different parts of the community have had different needs.
<strong>Themes and Representation</strong>—★★★★☆
Rosen has provided a diverse cast in <em>Camp:</em>
Given the setting of the novel, there's an abundance of queer representation, with most characters stating their sexuality: Randy, Hudson and George are gay; Ashleigh is a demisexual lesbian; Jordan is nonbinary, possibly genderfluid; Jen is bisexual; Connie and Jimmy are transgender; Charity is aromantic and asexual. Multiple characters are gender-nonconforming.
Randy is possibly Jewish; Hudson is part Korean and possibly Jewish; George is part Middle Eastern and Jewish; Connie is Black; Paz has Afro-Brazilian heritage; and Brad is non-specified dark skin.
<em>Camp</em> centres around tackling the culture of toxic masculinity, particularly in the queer community, as well as addressing the bullying and trauma around being a gay guy interested in (what's society's deemed) feminine things.
<em>Camp</em> is about both wholeheartedly being your glorious self and also having the courage to try new things. It also refuses to inflict judgment: sometimes you're not ready, sometimes you fail, sometimes it's not safe for you to try new things, and that's okay, too.
<strong>Overall</strong>—★★★★☆ (4.25 Stars)
<strong>Recommended For...</strong>
Readers who enjoy YA and LGBT+ books; readers looking for a something fun and freeing; readers looking for something both meaningful and entertaining.