Tuesday, February 1, 2011

review: Sean Griswold's Head by Lindsey Leavitt

pub date: March 1, 2011
publisher: Bloomsbury USA
pages: 288
source: ALA Midwinter
appeals: contemporary, romance, family, illness, friendship, sports, cycling,
content: clean

blurb from goodreads:
According to her guidance counselor, fifteen-year-old Payton Gritas needs a focus object—an item to concentrate her emotions on. It's supposed to be something inanimate, but Payton decides to use the thing she stares at during class: Sean Griswold's head. They've been linked since third grade (Griswold-Gritas—it's an alphabetical order thing), but she's never really known him.

The focus object is intended to help Payton deal with her father's newly diagnosed multiple sclerosis. And it's working. With the help of her boy-crazy best friend Jac, Payton starts stalking—er, focusing on—Sean Griswold . . . all of him! He's cute, he shares her Seinfeld obsession (nobody else gets it!) and he may have a secret or two of his own.

In this sweet story of first love, Lindsey Leavitt seamlessly balances heartfelt family moments, spot-on sarcastic humor, and a budding young romance.


me:
Way. Cute. Book.

Really, I mean it.

Payton is a fun character and it was a joy to be inside her head for (almost) 300 pages. Her emotions and reactions to life's disappointments were real and deep. I never actually cried (though I might've been close), but I definitely laughed out loud. At different parts, obviously.

And Sean is so cute! Personality mostly, though he does have a nice head (even if it is blonde). And he's so sweet! The way he tells Payton he likes her...priceless. And I appreciate that he's just a normal high school kid, not the Hottest Guy Ever. I'm half in love with him myself.  

Payton's friend, Jac, was a great best friend and really tried to help Payton. Though she kind of irritated me. I'm more like Payton myself and hate to make a scene, so when Jac makes a scene, I got upset right along with Payton. I have to agree with Jac though, Payton's family is super cool. Especially her dad.

Obviously its the characters in this book that stick out the most to me. Because they are just so great. Original and real. Loved them.

I really enjoyed reading this book. So cute.

So now I've added Princess for Higher to my TBR list on goodreads. This is the kind of author I want to read again.

2 comments:

Missy said...

I've never heard of this book, but it sounds cute! Maybe one day when I can read for pleasure again, I'll pick this up. Love the review!!

resugo said...

Thanks, Missy. You really should pick it up when you're able. It's a lot of fun