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A review by adammm
How to Be Remy Cameron by Julian Winters
5.0
It has taken me just about 3.5 months but I have finally finished How to Be Remy Cameron by Julian Winters, and it is quite possibly one of the best YA novels I've read this year. A brief summary: Seventeen-year-old Remy is in that nebulous stage of adolescence where the labels he uses to describe himself - gay, Black, adopted - don't seem to fit. When his AP English teacher assigns an assignment instructing his class to write and present about themselves, he is thrown for a loop. Family, friend, and school-related shenanigans ensue.
I started HTBRC immediately after completing my first book by author Winters, the very strong As You Walk On By. Grad school, a brief obsession with zombies, and various personal issues led to my setting Remy aside for several months, having read only the first three chapters. A few days ago I decided to read all the books on my "currently reading" bookshelf and here I am, regretting that I didn't just finish the book months ago.
This is an incredible book. Remy reads like an authentic teenage boy struggling to figure out his place in his family, his friend group, and in school. This is by no means a plot-driven story; instead, it is highly introspective, following Remy through roughly a month in his life during his junior year of high school. But don't take the introspective nature of this novel as a sign that it is dull: Winter manages to keep the pace steady, expertly doling out events such as the search for the "Mad Tagger," an unusual graffiti artist; revelations related to family; and shifting crushes and relationships, all in an impressive manner. For a second book, this is truly excellent writing.
There are a number of reasons why this book hits so hard, but I think what stands out to me is the discussion of labels. As a teenager labels are of utmost importance: am I gay or straight or bi or pan or what? Am I a boy or a girl or a bit of both or neither? Am I popular or a nerd? Am I a STEM person or a language person? Am I too fat or too skinny? Am I smart or dumb? Is so-and-so my best friend? Am I theirs? This book does a terrific job of discussing the nuance of trying to fit into the labels we give ourselves, as well as the ones others assign to us. Remy's path towards understanding his own positionality is extremely compelling, both understated yet heart-warming. As I read the final page I found myself tearing up, which is highly unusual as I am an emotionless monster full of toxic masculinity. So yeah, this is good stuff, y'all.
Needless to say, I highly recommend How to Be Remy Cameron and I very enthusiastically look forward to reading more books by Julian Winters. Recommended if you're looking for extremely diverse YA; books where every single character has a compelling arc; discussions of labels; characters featuring intersectional identities; complicated families.
I started HTBRC immediately after completing my first book by author Winters, the very strong As You Walk On By. Grad school, a brief obsession with zombies, and various personal issues led to my setting Remy aside for several months, having read only the first three chapters. A few days ago I decided to read all the books on my "currently reading" bookshelf and here I am, regretting that I didn't just finish the book months ago.
This is an incredible book. Remy reads like an authentic teenage boy struggling to figure out his place in his family, his friend group, and in school. This is by no means a plot-driven story; instead, it is highly introspective, following Remy through roughly a month in his life during his junior year of high school. But don't take the introspective nature of this novel as a sign that it is dull: Winter manages to keep the pace steady, expertly doling out events such as the search for the "Mad Tagger," an unusual graffiti artist; revelations related to family; and shifting crushes and relationships, all in an impressive manner. For a second book, this is truly excellent writing.
There are a number of reasons why this book hits so hard, but I think what stands out to me is the discussion of labels. As a teenager labels are of utmost importance: am I gay or straight or bi or pan or what? Am I a boy or a girl or a bit of both or neither? Am I popular or a nerd? Am I a STEM person or a language person? Am I too fat or too skinny? Am I smart or dumb? Is so-and-so my best friend? Am I theirs? This book does a terrific job of discussing the nuance of trying to fit into the labels we give ourselves, as well as the ones others assign to us. Remy's path towards understanding his own positionality is extremely compelling, both understated yet heart-warming. As I read the final page I found myself tearing up, which is highly unusual as I am an emotionless monster full of toxic masculinity. So yeah, this is good stuff, y'all.
Needless to say, I highly recommend How to Be Remy Cameron and I very enthusiastically look forward to reading more books by Julian Winters. Recommended if you're looking for extremely diverse YA; books where every single character has a compelling arc; discussions of labels; characters featuring intersectional identities; complicated families.