by Curtis Campbell
Critics' Opinion:
Readers' rating:
Publishes
Oct 3, 2023
220 pages
Genre: Literary Fiction
Publication Information
A laugh-out-loud YA debut that examines the realities of small-town queer life and celebrates the transformative power of drag—perfect for fans of RuPaul's Drag Race and Pumpkin.
Peter Thompkins needs a public image overhaul. After a tense confrontation with one of the few other queer kids in his small-town high school, rumors about him are becoming more elaborate by the day. Meanwhile, his best friend Alan (aka teen drag queen Aggie Culture) is throwing Mason County's debut Drag Extravaganza. Although Peter is a self-described "dragnostic," he decides to help produce the show, hoping to prove that he isn't a self-hating gay. In the process, he finds himself facing down angry guard dogs, angrier bigots, and a very high-strung church lady. As backlash grows, Peter begins to wonder whether he's setting fire to his already damaged reputation and if his friendship with Alan will survive past curtain call.
At turns touching, sharply funny, and a little absurd, Dragging Mason County explores the pains and pleasures of queer community through one teen's journey to self-acceptance.
"In taking a microscope to issues such as allyship, anti-fatness, anxiety, insecurity, and internalized homophobia, debut author Campbell presents an impassioned homage to queer community and culture that proffers clever and laugh-out-loud explorations of self-expression and acceptance." —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"The verbal swordplay from the drag queens plus the generally cutting remarks from the other high schoolers give the novel an edge; many of the characters' defenses will feel relatable for some readers. The narrative could have been tightened in places, but it offers a worthwhile message of acceptance." —Kirkus Reviews
"Showcasing a friendship that withstands hardship and disagreements, Dragging Mason County is a comedic novel in which queer teenagers butt against small minds, but still put on a heartwarming, showstopping display of self-discovery." —Foreword Reviews
"Painfully relatable and bitingly funny, Dragging Mason County is a timely tale of friendship, self-acceptance, and the importance of proper contouring." ―Kevin Christopher Snipes, author of Milo and Marcos at the End of the World
"Fast, witty, and full of heart, Dragging Mason County is an unflinching reflection of the prickly realities of small-town queer adolescence." ―Alexandra Mae Jones, author of The Queen of Junk Island
"A book filled with big heels, big laughs, and a big heart. Dragging Mason County reminds us about the importance of community, the need for visibility―regardless of where you live―and the courage it takes to be yourself." ―Brian Francis, author of Fruit
This information about Dragging Mason County was first featured
in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.
Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Curtis Campbell is a Toronto-based writer born and raised in rural Ontario. You can sometimes find him in drag as Alanis Percocet.
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