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Jeremy Williams-Chalmers
Arts Correspondent
@jeremydwilliams
6:00 AM 4th June 2020
arts

Review: Camp By L. C. Rosen

 
L. C. Rosen is an author who has from the very outset of his writing career not restricted his target audience. With two novels aimed at adults, two for middle-grade, he is keeping the balance with his second book aimed the young adult audience. Having appeared on the American Library Association Rainbow List Top 10 of 2018 for his first young adult novel, Jack of Hearts, his latest book, Camp, has readers awaiting it with high expectations.

Camp, as the title suggests, is not just about a summer camp, but also about the effeminate traits of the stereotypical gay man. Arguably Randy is the stereotype. He is an openly gay musical theatre loving, make-up wearing, fashion forward sixteen year old. However, the boy he is head over heels in love with, Hudson, is masc4masc.

In a conundrum as to how to finally win the heart of his long-term camp crush, Randy reinvents himself as Del. Returning to Camp Outland following a year of Hudson focused 'self-improvement', he has shed his weight, cut his hair and ditched the glittery nail varnish to play the biggest role of his life. Determined to steal Hudson's heart, rather than simply becoming another summer camp conquest, his mission is clear.

Thankfully Hudson doesn't recognise Randy post-transformation and they embark on a heated, yet somewhat innocent (for Hudson anyway) relationship. Real feelings develop, but with hidden identities needing to be revealed, can love be true if you aren't at true about who you really are?

Camp is a riveting read. From the initial moments of meeting the protagonist and his camp buddies through to the explosive and intimate moments in Randy and Hudson's romantic journey, Rosen doesn't shy away from challenging pre-conceived notions or offering his audience raw emotional insight and much-needed home truths.

A lush and heart-warming story of staying true to who you really are, Camp is a must-read.