This is a book about surfaces and what lies beneath them. The surface here is that of the teen summer camp rom-com, with a very queer twist to it. This put me in made of much queerer version of the 2003 film of the same title which has fairly similar themes.

For four weeks each summer, queer kids for all over the US (and that includes non-binary, and asexuals/aromantic kids) gather at Camp Outland, a kind a queer utopia that almost makes you want to be a teenager again just to be able to attend. There is none of the usual angsty inadequacy feelings normally found in this sort of story. This is a liberating place, a small gay haven where people can be who they really are without fear or judgement.

Except that heteronormativity has long arms and a powerful grip indeed, that manage to reach even there, making it difficult for some to discard its shackles. This is where the book dips under its rose-tinted surface of carefree fun to explores themes of self-identity, logical families, and internalised homophobia, even if this is always done in a gentle and lighthearted way.

In fact, gentleness, kindness and loveliness (as in both beautiful AND full of love) are intrinsically weaved within the narrative and Rosen's treatment of his characters. Humour is also present, creating a broth as soothing as warm soup on a cold winter's night.

For straight youths life lessons are just there for the taking, permeating the culture around them. Not so for queer youths for whom learning about themselves and who they are is often a solitary endeavour (at least at the beginning). And so, beyond its high-saccharin content, the book functions as a means of transmission for queer knowledge and wisdom from an elder to his younger audience. Which, together with its entertaining and moving qualities, makes it one of the most successful YA novels I have read so far.