This week's pick is Sean Griswold's Head by Lindsey Leavitt, coming March 1, 2011 from Bloomsbury.Summary: Payton Gritas needs a focus object—something to focus her emotions on after discovering that her father’s been hiding his multiple sclerosis. Her guidance counselor suggested something inanimate but Payton chooses 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 noticed him before.
Payton starts stalking—er, focusing on—Sean’s big blond head, and her research quickly grows into something a little less scientific and a lot more crush-like. As Payton gets inside Sean’s head, Sean finds a way into her guarded heart. But obsessing over Sean won’t fix Payton’s fear of her dad’s illness. For that, she’ll have to focus on herself.
My Thoughts: Even though people complain about sick/dead/absent parents in YA, I like that in this case, it's that the dad has been hiding it, and I like that Leavitt it using MS. But then add in the fact that she's stalking a boy's head? This one looks like it will be a great mix of humor and laughs with the grit of sickness and twisted with emotions. This one seems to have many basic things as its starting ground, but that just means there won't be a need to explain things and can just jump right into the story. Basically, I really want this one. Then we can all wish we could stare at Sean Griswold's head when we swoon for him.
Lol, what a way to handle a crisis. Stare at someone's head! I like this! Great pick. =)
ReplyDeleteThink it is awesome that a story about the trials of an illness that a parent is hiding can be focused on an object that becomes a harbor for someone, irregardless of the object chosen. Just the fact that they can focus on something besides the tragedy and make themselves feel better is enlightening.
ReplyDeleteGreat choice - I'm glad you shared because this will be another one for my wishlist. I like the element of parent with illness and look forward to the insight of what it is like for a teen to deal with that.
ReplyDeleteThis one sounds really interesting. I love when novels deal with heavy issue in a lighter way. It makes it more accessible I think.
ReplyDeleteSounds interesting!
ReplyDeleteHere's my WoW: http://jessica-agreatread.blogspot.com/2010/10/waiting-on-wednesday_20.html