2013 Hub Reading Challenge discussion

This was a strange read for me. I kind of felt like it was too long, but at the same time I wanted more when I finished. Anyone else feel this way?

I read this before the Hub Challenge started, so I can't count it, but I enjoyed the book a lot. At times it felt a little too much like an adult looking back on her teen years rather than an authentic teen voice, but I loved Cameron and her friends at the "camp", and the small-town and conservative-Christian attitudes were very real.

Having come from a small, rural town, I totally agree with you about the small-town and conservative-Christian attitudes, Karl. Danforth really nailed those aspects of the story. Take out the ranches and insert miles and miles of soybean fields, and the book could have been set in my hometown.

I read this one for the Morris Challenge and it was my favourite of the five. As someone who was a teen in the 90s, it was nice to revisit that time - and even without the personal nostalgia, it was great to read a book that didn't rely on technology to solve problems or further the plot. I reviewed it on my blog: here.
I've been recommending this one to teens who enjoy nicely told stories and those seeking LGBTQ novels.

I read this before the Morris Award finalists were announced, sometime in late summer I think, and I really loved it. I was glad it was a finalist, and honestly thought it was better than the winner, which I also enjoyed, but I understand how some people would lose some interest or think it's too long. It affected me in a personal way, so perhaps that's why it felt so important to me.

Just starting this one. So far I really like Danforth's style. Beautiful imagery and great word choices.

I can't say I enjoyed this book, yet I liked it. I definitely thought it suffered from it's length.

Elizabeth wrote: "This was a strange read for me. I kind of felt like it was too long, but at the same time I wanted more when I finished. Anyone else feel this way?"

Yes. I couldn't put the book down for the first half, but then around when Cam and Taylor start going to the movies is when I felt the drag. The book seemed to stretch on forever. Then I got to the end and felt "oh that's it?" She got closure with her parents which is great, but it just seems like a weird place to end the book. I was expecting the last chapter to be a quick catch up of what happened afterwords and what Cam's doing now. I thought the novel was being narrated by Cam as an adult. I'm not so sure that would be a great way to end the book either though. I don't know, either way there was just something really unsatisfying about ending.