Level 13

“Part of my lifestyle was filtering out all the white noise so I could keep my focus razor-sharp on video games, where it belonged.”

Cam is an imperfect character, driven by selfishness and single-mindedness which often leads him into trouble throughout the novel. In this scene, Jordan attempts to share an emotional moment with Cam, who ignores him. This interaction foreshadows future instances where Cam fails to fully engage with others' perspectives.

“He wasn’t a bad guy. I had nothing against him. But he always expected me to do things. And doing things that weren’t gaming related didn’t fit into my lifestyle.”

Cam's repeated reference to his “lifestyle” throughout the novel suggests a deep-seated commitment to gaming and streaming, often at the expense of other responsibilities or interests. His statement about Mr. Fanshaw reflects a broader pattern: Cam values autonomy and resists any demands or expectations that deviate from his gaming-centric pursuits. This stubborn adherence to his lifestyle reveals Cam's prioritization of personal passions over conventional obligations, highlighting a central conflict in his character—balancing personal fulfillment with external expectations and commitments to others, including friends and classmates.

“There was never any question that Cameron made it happen, yet he always seemed removed from it all, like it had nothing to do with him, and he was just some stranger who had wandered into a party by mistake. It defied understanding. On the one hand, he was the greatest student leader I’d ever worked with. On the other, I never really worked with him. Most of the time, I couldn’t even find him. […] And the inevitable takeaway was that this boy knew absolutely nothing about the club he’d founded—and he didn’t want to know. The only evidence to the contrary was the P.A.G. itself. It was a huge success, a town legend, and had attracted virtually every student in the entire school.”

Mr. Fanshaw's quote highlights the paradoxical nature of Cam's leadership within the P.A.G. and underscores the gaps between Expectations, Perceptions, and Reality. Despite being credited with the club's success, Cam maintains an aloof and disengaged approach to his role as its founder. This disconnect between his passive involvement and the club's thriving status makes others perceive him as an excellent leader. Cam's inclination toward slacking paradoxically fosters a collaborative spirit within the P.A.G., where members step up to compensate for his shortcomings. This dynamic suggests that effective leadership can sometimes emerge from unconventional traits and approaches.

“He went through a ton of them every streaming session. Maybe that was why he wasn’t hungry for them now. When you have to eat them for business, it makes it less fun in your free time.”

Gummy worms symbolize the Awesome Threesome's friendship throughout the novel. As Cam's streaming sessions persist, his diminishing appetite for gummy worms reflects the declining state of his relationship with the Awesome Threesome. The once-favorite snack, associated with their shared experiences and bonds, now serves as a reminder of Cam's streaming commitments.

“My brother was so lucky! I worked really hard for everything I had. Not Cam. Things dropped into his lap like manna from heaven. If he fell into a garbage dumpster, he’d come up with a gold watch. He invented a fake club to keep Mom and Dad from banning him from video games. Presto, the P.A.G. was born. He tried his hand at streaming because just playing video games twenty-four-seven wasn’t enough. Presto, thousands of followers beat a path to his door.”

In the novel, Cam's luck is portrayed as almost superhuman, prompting reasonable jealousy from Melody. However, while Melody generally has a realistic view of Cam, her perception of this matter is slightly skewed. Cam never desired to be president of the P.A.G., actively avoiding his responsibilities to the club. Likewise, despite the success of his streaming endeavors, it is making Cam miserable, a fact he has yet to acknowledge.

“Look at yourself […] Is this the lifestyle you’re always going on and on about? What’s so great about this that you have to beat your brains out to protect it? […] I think you’re so obsessed with your lifestyle that you can’t see that this isn’t it.”

Pavel's observation challenges Cam to confront the consequences of his obsessive dedication to streaming. Pavel highlights critical self-awareness by questioning the alignment of Cam's actions with his professed lifestyle goals. This quote underscores the novel's exploration of identity and the realization that one's pursuits may not always reflect one's values or aspirations.

“The biggest knock on Cam had always been that he was a slacker. I never disagreed with that. He wasn’t just a slacker; he was the slacker. For Cam, slacking was a symphony, and he was Mozart. But since GameFox229, the guy was streaming two hours every day after school, and upward of four on the weekends. Add in the setup and strike-down time, plus beaver transport, and Cam was working every free second of his life.”

Cam's transformation from a notorious slacker to a dedicated streamer illustrates a profound shift in identity. His commitment to streaming alters how others perceive him and reshapes his self-image. The quote highlights how Cam's immersion in streaming demands sacrifices of his time, energy, and health, illustrating the lengths he goes to pursue his new passion. Pavel's perspective emphasizes the complex interplay between identity, ambition, and the pressures of external expectations.

“My energy level was way down, but I didn’t let it affect my streaming. I had to be lively and funny and yakking a mile a minute to keep my audience happy. Try that on three hours’ sleep with a pounding head and a beaver pummeling you with his tail because he thinks he knows the game better than you do.”

Cam reveals the intense pressure and physical toll of maintaining an online persona. Despite his exhaustion and physical discomfort, Cam feels compelled to entertain his audience, demonstrating the demanding nature of streaming. This highlights the conflict between personal health and professional obligations in pursuing online success, emphasizing Cam's sacrifices to sustain his streaming career—something he did not expect when starting.

“I got a clear view of his face […] Weary. Unhappy. Unhealthy. ‘Have you seen yourself in a mirror lately? […] Are you sick? […] You’re skinny, you never smile, your face is the color of Cream of Wheat. I’ve seen extras on The Walking Dead who are in better shape than you.’”

Melody's observation of Cam's deteriorating health paints a stark picture of his declining physical and emotional state. Her comments highlight her concern for him and emphasize the toll Cam's obsession with streaming has taken on his well-being. This quote underscores how Cam prioritizes online success over his health.

“No imagination could invent a creep like that—paper-white skin covering a bony face that was barely more than a skull. Sunken, beady eyes. Jet-black hair and goatee. He was real, right here in Sycamore. And he was after me.”

Cam illustrates the gap between perception and reality in his reaction to his stalker. Automatically assuming the man has malicious motives, Cam actively avoids him. This paranoia underscores the pressure Cam feels. However, the stalker is revealed to be Cam's hero, the legendary gamer, Draja Dubrovnik. This highlights the disparity between Cam's initial assumptions and the truth and the potential dangers of online spaces.

“I owe you an apology, Cam. […] I was convinced that you’d never bring up your grades until you cut back on the gaming. I’ve got to hand it to you—you’re doing both, and you’re killing it. But take a word of advice from an old man who works too hard: You’re burning the candle at both ends. Mom’s noticed it, too. She thinks you’ve dropped a little weight.”

Dad's admission of underestimating Cam's ability to balance gaming and academics reflects a shift in perceptions within the family. Initially skeptical of Cam's dedication, his father acknowledges Cam's academic improvement while cautioning against overexertion. Cam's manipulation of perceptions, attributing his weight loss to academic efforts rather than the strain of gaming, illustrates the theme of Evolving Identities, Relationships, and Responsibilities. Despite concerns about his health from his family, they ultimately trust Cam to manage his well-being responsibly, highlighting the complexities of familial support amidst Cam's personal growth and ascent as a popular streamer.

“I used to be afraid of Xavier, but working side by side with him showed me what a non-scary person he could be. A lot of kids who didn’t fit in found kind of a home in the P.A.G. That went double for Xavier, who’d been held back a couple of years, and had even had problems with the law. Now, not only was he a pagger, but he’d also turned out to be one of the top art students in the whole school.”

While considering Xavier, Daphne examines The Importance of Community, Collaboration, and Friendship and the gap between Expectations, Perceptions, and Reality. The P.A.G. positively impacts the lives of several students, especially those like Xavier, who initially seemed intimidating or troubled. Daphne's observation highlights how communities like the P.A.G. can transform individuals, offering them a sense of belonging and purpose. Xavier's journey from a perceived troublemaker to a valued group member and a talented student underscores how identities evolve and the community’s power to challenge and reshape perceptions. His story also reflects on the theme of Expectations, Perceptions, and Reality, showing that initial judgments can often overlook individuals’ true potential and character within a supportive community.

“But maybe the bad feelings wouldn’t have gotten so out of control if the three of us hadn’t had so much on our shoulders. Throw Elvis into the mix, and suddenly poor Chuck was caught between loyalty to Daphne and loyalty to Cam. Technically, some of the blame went to me, too—I should have recognized the impossible situation Chuck was in. But I didn’t, and now it was too late. Quitting GameFox229 wouldn’t undo the damage. But as the old saying went: When you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.”

Pavel illustrates The Importance of Community, Collaboration, and Friendship and Evolving Identities, Relationships, and Responsibilities as he takes a minute to reflect on the breakdown of the Awesome Threesome. Pavel acknowledges the heavy burdens each member of the Awesome Threesome carried, which contributed to the breakdown of their friendship. He recognizes the strain Chuck faced between loyalty to Daphne and Cam, exacerbated by their collective responsibilities and the addition of Elvis. Pavel accepts his role in not understanding Chuck's predicament sooner, highlighting the importance of empathy and communication in maintaining strong interpersonal bonds.

“He had done it. It had started as a distant dream, and here it was, glorious reality. My feelings about the stream hadn’t changed (it wasn’t worth the aggravation). Yet I was blown away with admiration for Cam. You could depend on it: Whatever he did went big.”

Pavel reflects on Cam's achievement with awe and resignation as Cam reaches his goal of 50,000 paid subscribers. Despite Pavel's reservations about the stream's value, he recognizes Cam's ability to turn his aspirations into tangible success. Pavel expresses admiration for Cam's charismatic leadership within their community, even as it highlights the contrast in their perspectives on the stream's impact and worth.

“Ever since he’d started with Duckne, I’d accused Chuck of being a lousy friend. I’d blamed him for everything that had happened to the Awesome Threesome just because he was the first of us to get a girlfriend. And now he had acted like the best friend in the history of friendship. He had done the only thing he could think of to change the subject under extreme pressure. And in the process, he had thrown away a relationship that meant a lot to him because there was no way he could answer without betraying Cam. He had (technically) abandoned ship to protect a friend.”

In a moment of self-reflection, Pavel acknowledges the depth of his misjudgment regarding Chuck's actions and motivations. Pavel's realization highlights the theme of Evolving Identities, Relationships, and Responsibilities and shows the complexity of friendship dynamics under pressure. By recognizing Chuck's sacrifice and loyalty to their friendship, Pavel reassesses his biases and the importance of empathy in maintaining solid relationships within the Awesome Threesome. This moment underscores the novel's exploration of how personal biases can distort perceptions and the importance of understanding others' perspectives.

“But I was guilty. I’d spread the word that I was failing. I only did it to get out of my P.A.G. duties. But when all that free work showed up, I used it anyway. And I definitely didn’t tell people to stop sending it—not even when I was getting multiple versions of every assignment.”

Cam finally admits to his deceit and exploitation of his classmates' goodwill. By spreading the false narrative of his academic struggles, Cam manipulates his peers into helping him, illustrating his selfishness and lack of moral integrity. His admission underscores the theme of Expectations, Perceptions, and Reality, as Cam's dishonesty not only shapes others' perceptions of him but also highlights the gap between his public persona and actual actions. Ultimately, this moment of self-awareness is a step toward Cam's character growth and acknowledgment of his responsibilities to his peers.

“Secrets were like dominoes. Once they started to fall, they knocked each other down, until you were totally exposed.”

Cam's observation highlights the destructive nature of secrets and emphasizes how they can quickly unravel and lead to unintended consequences. The author’s use of a simile here underscores the theme of Expectations, Perceptions, and Reality, as hidden truths eventually surface and alter how people perceive each other and themselves. Cam's experience reveals that maintaining secrets often leads to greater exposure and vulnerability, illustrating the importance of honesty and transparency in preserving trust and integrity within relationships and communities.

“I’d known Cam had been run down for weeks. At first, I didn’t care. It served him right for always being up to his neck in some scheme. And later, when I started to worry about him, he swore me to secrecy. I should have spoken up sooner. If my brother was in the hospital, part of it was my fault.”

As one of the few people who knew most of Cam’s activities, Melody feels responsible for letting Cam’s illness progress to the point where he requires hospitalization. Her regret and sense of responsibility underscore the theme of Evolving Identities, Relationships, and Responsibilities, showing how individual actions and inactions can significantly impact the well-being of others. This moment emphasizes the necessity of carefulness and intervention within a community, highlighting that support often involves stepping in, even when asked to remain silent.

“It was hard to accept when someone you looked up to turned out to be someone you should have looked down on. […] You couldn’t forgive a guy who lied to you, used you, and became a streaming celebrity and valedictorian off your hard labor.”

Melody is one of the only characters in the novel who views Cam as he is rather than through a skewed perception. She cuts through Cam’s rationalizations, pointing out that he profited from his classmates’ work. Worse, his classmates offered Cam their work, believing they saved him from failing his classes. This quote underscores the theme of Expectations, Perceptions, and Reality by highlighting the disparity between Cam’s actions and the image he projected to his peers. Melody’s insight forces Cam to confront the ethical implications of his behavior and its impact on those who trusted and supported him.

“It had to be the greatest show of student leadership in history. He spearheaded a giant stealth fund-raising campaign. And even though we didn’t know it was happening, he found a way to allow us all to participate by doing his homework and being GameFox229 fans. Even when we all hated him, he didn’t say a word in his own defense.”

Daphne highlights the gap between perceptions and reality as Cam regains his school leader and hero title. While everyone's original assumptions were correct, Cam's selfless actions afterward tilt public opinion back in his favor. Ultimately, Cam's actions restore his standing in the community, proving redemption and change are possible through remorse and changed behavior.

“Pavel does. He’s the smartest kid in Sycamore by a mile—and his grades would have been even higher if he wasn’t spending all his time backing me up with the stream. Chuck, too—I was a jerk to these guys when I was GameFox229. The fact that they forgive me proves what great friends they are.”

Daphne argues that Cam should remain valedictorian, but Cam disagrees. Cam does his best to make things right by ensuring Pavel becomes valedictorian and apologizes to his friends for his behavior. This highlights Evolving Identities, Relationships, and Responsibilities as Cam acknowledges his mistakes and seeks to amend them. By prioritizing his friendships and recognizing his friends' contributions, Cam demonstrates growth and a newfound sense of accountability. His actions illustrate a shift from selfishness to selflessness, emphasizing The Importance of Community, Collaboration, and Friendship and the strength of his relationships.

“I hated it. Streaming had taken my favorite thing—gaming—and turned it into a chore, a responsibility, a misery, and a source of stress and exhaustion.”

Cam takes a step back when forced to stop streaming and reflects on how streaming negatively affected his life. What was once a source of joy became a chore, highlighting the conflict between his initial expectations and the harsh reality of his new responsibilities as a popular streamer. This quote underscores the theme of Evolving Identities, Relationships, and Responsibilities, as Cam's journey reveals the detrimental impact of turning a beloved hobby into an obligation. This shift in perspective ultimately leads Cam to reevaluate his priorities and goals and step back from his public persona.

“But more important, streaming had never totally been about money for me. It was about my lifestyle—being able to do what I loved for my real career. What I learned was I didn’t love streaming. Eventually, I started hating it. And if I hated it, it wasn’t really my lifestyle anymore. […] I had gotten obsessed with GameFox229. And it almost cost me everything: My school life—if it hadn’t been for all the money, nobody ever would have talked to me again. My friends—nothing was worth cracking up the Awesome Threesome. And even my health.”

When Cam stops streaming, he gains a new perspective on it. The process made him hate what he once loved, showing that it no longer fit his lifestyle. This realization underscores the theme of Evolving Identities, Relationships, and Responsibilities as Cam's self-discovery makes him reevaluate his identity and goals. Additionally, this quote reflects the theme of Expectations, Perceptions, and Reality. Cam expected streaming to help him maintain his lifestyle, but the opposite was true.