Release Date: 3/1/11
GoodReads.com Summary: 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.
My Review:
I really enjoyed Sean Griswold's Head. Lindsey Leavitt did a great job of creating a story that incorporates family, friendship and romance- 3 huge aspects of a teen's life. Payton is a lovable and well-rounded main character- I could really relate to how she struggled to deal with not only finding out that her Dad has MS, but that the rest of the family has known for months and has been keeping it from her.
The romance that develops between Payton and Sean is very sweet, but also realistic- they have misunderstandings and obstacles to overcome. I liked that Payton did not lose herself in their relationship- she found solace in being with Sean, but she didn't totally depend on him. Another great aspect of the story is Payton's friendship with her BFF Jac, who is a fun, colorful character. This is another relationship that is depicted very realistically, and it grows and changes over the course of the book. I loved reading about Jac's well-meaning interference into Payton's love life and the sometimes disastrous consequences.
Payton definitely changes during the school year that the book covers- at the beginning she is a great student, friend and daughter, but she is also a little immature and self-centered. After she begins coping with her Dad's disease she becomes more compassionate and has a greater understanding and empathy for what other people have gone through, like her friend Jac's experience with her parent's divorce.
Although the book has some serious subject matter, it is also hilarious at times! Payton has a great sarcastic sense of humor, and her run-ins with Grady the Goth/wannabe vampire were so funny that I had to read them aloud to my husband!
Sean Griswold's Head is a great book for fans of contemporary realistic fiction! I would pair Sean Griswold's Head with the Dairy Queen series by Catherine Gilbert Murdock. Both feature strong, sporty (not to mention funny) heroines with family, friendship and romance drama.
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