Book Review: "Full Disclosure" by Camryn Garrett
“Full Disclosure” by Camryn Garrett
Synopsis:
Simone Garcia-Hampton is starting over at a new school, and this time things will be different. She's making real friends, making a name for herself as student director of Rent, and making a play for Miles, the guy who makes her melt every time he walks into a room. The last thing she wants is for word to get out that she's HIV-positive, because last time . . . well, last time things got ugly.
Keeping her viral load under control is easy, but keeping her diagnosis under wraps is not so simple. As Simone and Miles start going out for real--shy kisses escalating into much more--she feels an uneasiness that goes beyond butterflies. She knows she has to tell him that she's positive, especially if sex is a possibility, but she's terrified of how he'll react! And then she finds an anonymous note in her locker: I know you have HIV. You have until Thanksgiving to stop hanging out with Miles. Or everyone else will know too.
Simone's first instinct is to protect her secret at all costs, but as she gains a deeper understanding of the prejudice and fear in her community, she begins to wonder if the only way to rise above is to face the haters head-on. . . .—Knopf
Rating (out 5): 4.25
Review: Young Adult literature is such an incredible genre, and I truly think it pushes writers of adult fiction to encounter new, evolving, or taboo social issues. Camryn Garrett’s teen read (amazing fact: she’s a teen herself!) about Simone, a young woman born with HIV who is navigating love, sex, and disclosure, beautifully handles these issues in a humanizing way.
The best part of this quick read (I powered through this in the pool in about ninety minutes), is how, unlike the moralizing novels about HIV/AIDS in the early nineties, Simone leads a relatively normal life with some complications. Her relationship with her dads is deeply sweet and supportive, and her social life is as active as any normal teen: which she is!
She falls for Miles, an almost too good to be true heartthrob, who wins her over with a shared love for musicals. This is a lovely teen romance, and the way Simone learns to grapple with disclosing her HIV status to romantic partners is a bittersweet plot point.
As she’s student-directing Rent, she’s also dealing with the egos of the performers and her own insecurities as a new student at her school. She’s already developed a wonderful social circle, though she does experience some friction with others due to her headstrong nature. I did guess the culprit of the central mystery (who is leaving Simone threatening notes) pretty early on. I don’t consider that a serious flaw, and I’m also quite a bit older than the target audience.
Through the book, Simone learns to handle self-disclosure with increasing maturity. She allows herself to be seen and known and to grapple with her own shame. The ending is upbeat and hopeful, as one would likely expect from a YA novel. It’s truly an excellent read for older teens (and YA-loving adults),
TL;DR: A wonderful young adult debut from a talented young author to watch. Tackles difficult issues with aplomb.
If you liked this, try:
“History is All You Left Me” by Adam Silvera: Bookshop | Kindle
“The Knockout Queen” by Rufi Thorpe: Bookshop | Kindle (my review here)
'“Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda” by Becky Albertalli: Bookshop | Kindle
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