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rogue_leader's review against another edition
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Homophobia, and Suicide
rooketj's review against another edition
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I read this book because it was a White Pine nominee, and I really enjoyed it! I read three quarters of it in one day because I couldn't put it down after a certain point, and I found the ending very rewarding. The themes are not something I would normally pick up on my own (I'm not a huge Drag Race fan - I get second-hand stress from the sassy comebacks) but I really enjoyed the ride this book took me on. Would recommend if you're looking for a funny and easy read full of small-town queer drama.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia
willgilmore_87's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Suicide, and Death of parent
that_glitter_chick_'s review
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
This book is fantastic for queer representation but I struggled a bit with how the charictors are written. That being said there is alot of charictor development throughout the plot.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
jesslinkletter's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Ugh sad to have a low rating so early on in this year's reading. This book caught my eye when it came into my library because the cover and title are fun, and I can relate to growing up queer in a rural town. I liked the representation of what it's like for rural queers, and that it tried to show there's more than one way to be gay (I say tried, because it was only mildly succesful).
My issue with this book starts with our main character. He's an insufferable bully who spends the whole book going through a poor me shtick without ever really realizing that maybe he's the problem. His "redemption" arc and apology were so hollow. I thought there was going to be some commentary on internalized homophobia with the way he always reacted to the more flamboyant characters but nope. Also, did all the characters really need to be walking stereotypes? The characters all felt like caricatures. Last, why the hell are we including the f word in books so casually and repeatedly?? It's not a fun little word to throw around, and the context it's used in is so incredibly distasteful.
Really disappointed in this one, because I loved the concept but execution was terrible. Also, there were several editing issues throughout the book which didn't help.
My issue with this book starts with our main character. He's an insufferable bully who spends the whole book going through a poor me shtick without ever really realizing that maybe he's the problem. His "redemption" arc and apology were so hollow. I thought there was going to be some commentary on internalized homophobia with the way he always reacted to the more flamboyant characters but nope. Also, did all the characters really need to be walking stereotypes? The characters all felt like caricatures. Last, why the hell are we including the f word in books so casually and repeatedly?? It's not a fun little word to throw around, and the context it's used in is so incredibly distasteful.
Really disappointed in this one, because I loved the concept but execution was terrible. Also, there were several editing issues throughout the book which didn't help.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, and Fatphobia
Moderate: Homophobia and Religious bigotry
Minor: Biphobia, Cursing, Suicide, Death of parent, and Alcohol
legalplanner's review
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
First and foremost thanks to Netgalley, Anick press, and the author for allowing me to get an advanced copy of this in exchange for my honest opinion.
At first, I found it extremely hard to get into because Peter was just a bleh kind of narrator. Not because he was brutally honest, but because he just seemed to be the backseat rider of his own life. That made it hard to want to root for him, but I suppose that is a part of the point of his story. He felt like a side character in his own story and that is always hard to overcome and find your place among things.
Alan at first was infuriating to me because he was almost ignoring who Peter is as a person and wanting Peter to be someone he's not. But I started to see that he was a friend of Peter even if he was a bit off the mark with showing it.
Overall, it was nice that this novel wasn't all rainbows and unicorns to an extent. It also felt like there was a lot more homophobia than I was prepared for. I also felt that it was infuriating that Peter wasn't "gay enough" as if someone can decide that for everyone and that gay should look the same. However, I know that in some cases that is how people see the world, black and white.
This was an interesting read and a great debut by Campbell.
At first, I found it extremely hard to get into because Peter was just a bleh kind of narrator. Not because he was brutally honest, but because he just seemed to be the backseat rider of his own life. That made it hard to want to root for him, but I suppose that is a part of the point of his story. He felt like a side character in his own story and that is always hard to overcome and find your place among things.
Alan at first was infuriating to me because he was almost ignoring who Peter is as a person and wanting Peter to be someone he's not. But I started to see that he was a friend of Peter even if he was a bit off the mark with showing it.
Overall, it was nice that this novel wasn't all rainbows and unicorns to an extent. It also felt like there was a lot more homophobia than I was prepared for. I also felt that it was infuriating that Peter wasn't "gay enough" as if someone can decide that for everyone and that gay should look the same. However, I know that in some cases that is how people see the world, black and white.
This was an interesting read and a great debut by Campbell.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Gaslighting
annamay1021's review
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
As a huge fan of drag in general and Drag Race, I had SO much fun reading this! What great representation of not only queer teens, but the diversity within the LGBTQ kids in this book is awesome- some fat, some mean, some nice, some rich, some middle class.
The way the author perfectly encompassed the awkwardness and cringey-ness of being a teenager and figuring all that out in a rural small town was so relatable.
This book was so fun, but at the same time dealt with some tough topics such as bullying (and cyber-bullying), homophobia, suicide, and more.
I can’t wait for queer kids to get their hands on this book, and to see what else the author does in the future!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Homophobia, and Violence
Moderate: Suicide and Death of parent
dogoodwithbooks's review against another edition
funny
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I would like to thank NetGalley and Annick Press for providing me with a free e-ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
In Curtis Campbell’s YA debut novel, Dragging Mason County, Peter Thompkins finds himself agreeing to produce Mason County’s first annual drag show, starring his best friend Alan Good (aka Aggie Culture), after getting himself into a fight with one of the popular guys in school. While dealing with the town’s reactions to the show as well as his complicated friendship with Alan, Peter has to learn about stepping out of the shadows on his own terms.
Dragging Mason County is a read I wasn’t quite expecting when I first got this book on NetGalley, but I did end up enjoying it. I think Campell’s decision to have Peter, a complex anti-hero, as the main character and narrator for this book was an interesting choice. While I personally wasn’t fond of him at times (I mean some of the things he says in the book are completely terrible) and there were times in the book that part of me felt like Alan might have been a better choice as the narrator/MC, I do think the message of feeling like a sidekick in your own life was presented very well in Dragging Mason County.
Other than the quarrels over who should have been the main character, I do think Campbell did well for a debut novel. The writing was solid and Campbell does a great job with world-building for the rural setting of Mason County as well as the community Peter finds while producing the drag show.
If you’re looking for a YA novel featuring a MC who’s more blunt than the average person or are looking for a queer found family YA book, you might enjoy reading Dragging Mason County.
In Curtis Campbell’s YA debut novel, Dragging Mason County, Peter Thompkins finds himself agreeing to produce Mason County’s first annual drag show, starring his best friend Alan Good (aka Aggie Culture), after getting himself into a fight with one of the popular guys in school. While dealing with the town’s reactions to the show as well as his complicated friendship with Alan, Peter has to learn about stepping out of the shadows on his own terms.
Dragging Mason County is a read I wasn’t quite expecting when I first got this book on NetGalley, but I did end up enjoying it. I think Campell’s decision to have Peter, a complex anti-hero, as the main character and narrator for this book was an interesting choice. While I personally wasn’t fond of him at times (I mean some of the things he says in the book are completely terrible) and there were times in the book that part of me felt like Alan might have been a better choice as the narrator/MC, I do think the message of feeling like a sidekick in your own life was presented very well in Dragging Mason County.
Other than the quarrels over who should have been the main character, I do think Campbell did well for a debut novel. The writing was solid and Campbell does a great job with world-building for the rural setting of Mason County as well as the community Peter finds while producing the drag show.
If you’re looking for a YA novel featuring a MC who’s more blunt than the average person or are looking for a queer found family YA book, you might enjoy reading Dragging Mason County.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Homophobia, and Violence
Minor: Suicide and Death of parent
nrogers_1030's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
slow-paced
4.0
Dragging Mason County is getting it's first drag show. Mason County could have been written about the town I live in. This book is funny, inclusive and deals with real issues teens face.
Alan is a larger-than-life character. He's very comfortable with himself and has goals he wants to meet. He kind of bulldozes the people around him to get what he wants. He's the type of character you want to love and strangle at the same time.
I really sympathized with Peter... to an extent. To his friends, he's not gay enough; to his parents, he's too gay; to his peers, he's a heartless villain. He reaches his emotional threshold because of all of these circumstances, this new guy crush Lorne and Peter's uncomfortableness in his own skin. But Peter also has a lot of growing up to do.
I wasn't a fan of the "enlightened" Lorne, but there always needs to be a douchebag you can roll your eyes at. Bailey, Tilley and Cora are great secondary characters.
I feel this is an excellent time for a book like this to be published in our current social and political climate. Alan said it best: "We are agents of change, are we not? Being an agent of change means painting a target on your back sometimes and hoping that what lands is social advancement." Dragging Mason County is just the book this country needs.
Thank you NetGalley and the Annick Press for providing an advanced reader copy of the book for an honest review. Any quote(s) used in my review have been uncorrected.
Alan is a larger-than-life character. He's very comfortable with himself and has goals he wants to meet. He kind of bulldozes the people around him to get what he wants. He's the type of character you want to love and strangle at the same time.
I really sympathized with Peter... to an extent. To his friends, he's not gay enough; to his parents, he's too gay; to his peers, he's a heartless villain. He reaches his emotional threshold because of all of these circumstances, this new guy crush Lorne and Peter's uncomfortableness in his own skin. But Peter also has a lot of growing up to do.
I wasn't a fan of the "enlightened" Lorne, but there always needs to be a douchebag you can roll your eyes at. Bailey, Tilley and Cora are great secondary characters.
I feel this is an excellent time for a book like this to be published in our current social and political climate. Alan said it best: "We are agents of change, are we not? Being an agent of change means painting a target on your back sometimes and hoping that what lands is social advancement." Dragging Mason County is just the book this country needs.
Thank you NetGalley and the Annick Press for providing an advanced reader copy of the book for an honest review. Any quote(s) used in my review have been uncorrected.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Homophobia, and Violence
Minor: Body shaming, Drug use, Fatphobia, Suicide, and Alcohol