#AmReading YA

How to Be Remy Cameron
Julian Winters
Age/Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Family, GLBT
Publisher: Duet Books
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Goodreads

Everyone on campus knows Remy Cameron. He's the out-and-proud, super-likable guy who friends, faculty, and fellow students alike admire for his cheerful confidence. The only person who isn't entirely sure about Remy Cameron is Remy himself. Under pressure to write an A+ essay defining who he is and who he wants to be, Remy embarks on an emotional journey toward reconciling the outward labels people attach to him with the real Remy Cameron within.

From the author of the bestselling novel Running With Lions, a story about overcoming the labels that try to define our lives.

Remy began suffering from an identity crisis following an AP Lit assignment. The assignment plus the emergence of a piece of his past plus a new love interest had Remy tied up in knots, but with the support of his family and friends, he came out on the other side a bit wiser and with some clarity.

Let's just get this out of the way - I LOVED Remy! Maybe it was his penchant for putting together the perfect outfit, or how much affection had for his little sister. It could have been the devotion he had for his dog, or perhaps, the genuinely loving and healthy relationship he shared with his parents. Whatever it was, I loved him, and because of that, I was delighted to be a part of his journey as he tried to figure his stuff out.

Winters gifted Remy with such an amazing community. I adored his family so much, I wanted them to adopt me. That house was overflowing with love, and they always seemed to be able to make time for each other. Every second spent with them filled me with joy, and they were all so fortunate to have each other. These are the YA families that will always own me, and I am over the moon to be seeing more and more families like this.

Remy also had some outstanding friends. They had a few ups and downs over the course of this story, but these were rock solid friendships. Their devotion to each other was not something I questioned, and each always seemed to have the other's back, when necessary. I adored his two besties, but there were these moments between Brook and Remy, that really warmed my heart. It's not as if men like them don't exist, but I am such a fan of seeing men share their feelings and emotions with each other, and it's fantastic to see more of this in books too.

One of the big things Remy struggled with was all the labels he had been assigned or had assigned himself. I was all over every second of this conversation, because I feel like we over-label these days. Maybe it's because I was a kid in the 70s, when I was taught to look at how we were all the same, but I never liked labeling or subscribing to labels. Winters approached the topic in a thoughtful manner, and did a nice job providing multiple views of it.

This book was near perfection for me. I know you all have heard me lament about this before, but I finished eight books last week, and SIX had allusions to Harry Potter. So, as I gleefully made my way through this book, I was also rolling my eyes at all the HP references. PLEASE authors, I am begging you - find another book!

Overall 

It was an utter delight getting to know Remy Cameron, and it was a privilege to be able to accompany him on his journey of self discovery. This book was brimming with introspection and thoughtful observations about the world we live it, but the best part was how it overflowed with love, and my grinch-heart got quite a workout as I read this book.

I want to thank Winters for planting all those 80s songs in my head. Many were part of my teen-soundtrack, and Ian's love for them endeared him even more to me. This one was notable. 

Suggested Reading
David Connis
Age/Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads

In this hilarious and thought-provoking contemporary teen standalone that’s perfect for fans of Moxie, a bookworm finds a way to fight back when her school bans dozens of classic and meaningful books.

Clara Evans is horrified when she discovers her principal’s “prohibited media” hit list. The iconic books on the list have been pulled from the library and aren’t allowed anywhere on the school’s premises. Students caught with the contraband will be sternly punished.

Many of these stories have changed Clara’s life, so she’s not going to sit back and watch while her draconian principal abuses his power. She’s going to strike back.

So Clara starts an underground library in her locker, doing a shady trade in titles like Speak and The Chocolate War. But when one of the books she loves most is connected to a tragedy she never saw coming, Clara’s forced to face her role in it.

Will she be able to make peace with her conflicting feelings, or is fighting for this noble cause too tough for her to bear?

Clara lived and breathed books. 😉 She had this unbridled passion for the written word and the power it possessed. Therefore, when she inadvertently learned that many of her favorite books were being placed on a "prohibited" media list, she decided to fight back, and created an underground library. However, as word of the Unlib spread, Clara found herself wondering if the rewards outweighed the risks.

This was a book about a rabid reader, which celebrated the power of books. How could I not love it!

Connis created one of my favorite bibliophiles to date - Clara. She oozed book joy, and I just about hung on her every word, when she waxed poetic about her favorites. The opening chapter, immediately embedded her in my heart, and I held her there until the very last page.

The basis of this story was the banning of books, and Connis featured many amazing examples of challenged works, but he also used that a springboard to show the different ways we connect to books, and how they can connect us to each other.

Though, the author was clearly on the side of not banning books, he did allow Clara to see both sides of the issue. There was one point in particular that comes to mind, where Clara shared a book that made her feel many positive things, but was rather damaging to another reader. It clearly depicted how powerful a story can be, but also how differently it could impact someone else.

This story was not just about books, it was also about the readers, and how their lives were changed from this assault on their freedom. The whole experience of running a renegade library allowed Clara to interact with peers she never imagined spending time with, and that in turn allowed her to grow quite a bit. She had spent many years automatically discounting the "star stars", those wealthy students, who were descendants of the academy's founders, by interacting with them on a different level, she realized there was more to them than their socioeconomic status.

I was actually a big fan of the cast of characters Connis assembled. From Clara's bestie, LiQui, to king of the star stars, Jack, each character was well developed. No matter how big or small their role, they each played a meaningful part in this tale, and I really enjoyed getting to meet each and every one of them.

Between the fantastic book quotes, the humor, and the raw passion for books displayed throughout, I couldn't help but love this book. An absolutely entertaining and thought provoking read.

Connis featured so many amazing books! Do you see any of your favorite "prohibited media" below?

**ARCs received in exchange for honest reviews.

Do you have a favorite 80s song?
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