Book Review: SEAN GRISWOLD'S HEAD

TITLE: SEAN GRISWOLD'S HEAD
AUTHOR: Lindsey Leavitt
IMPRINT: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books
PUBLICATION DATE: 1 March 2011
PREVIOUS TITLES IN SERIES: Standalone

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.

SEAN GRISWOLD'S HEAD description and cover art courtesy of Goodreads.

I received an ARC of SEAN GRISWOLD'S HEAD from the publisher Bloomsbury USA Children's Books as part of a blog tour.

THE TWEET
SEAN GRISWOLD'S HEAD is a realistic look at a girl dealing with family illness while simultanously becoming fixated on a boy in her class.

WHAT WORKED
I really liked how author Leavitt was able to inject humor into her story, despite the serious circumstances surrounding Payton's family. Payton is a down to earth main character that, in addition to her father's illness, is going through all the typical things a teen goes through - school, maintaining friendships and finding a love interest. Leavitt has weaved a very realistic and heartwarming story of a girl finding her way through grief and finding a boy who supported her through it (even when he didn't know he was).

I also loved the relationship between Payton and her best friend, Jac. Jac is not afraid to tell it like it is, no matter what the consequences. She is who she is and doesn't apologize for her behavior. I like this attitude in a teenage girl (even if it does lead to trouble) because it shows a unique personality, someone who will stand up for themselves and doesn't have the "mob mentality." Jac is the perfect foil to Payton's more conservative personality and the two of them together make a great duo.

WHAT DIDN'T WORK
I didn't like how long Payton held a grudge against her parents, particularly her father. I think she had a right to be angry that they kept something so important from her, especially since all of her brothers knew, but that it was a little immature that she refused to talk to her parents for as long as she did. To me, her actions were counterintuitive to how she wanted to be treated.

OVERALL
SEAN GRISWOLD'S HEAD is a great story about a teenage girl learning to grow up and face the difficulties of having a parent suffering from MS.

MY RATING IS

Click here to purchase SEAN GRISWOLD'S HEAD from The Book Depository.

For more information on Lindsey Leavitt and SEAN GRISWOLD'S HEAD, visit:

Lindsey Leavitt's WEBSITE
Bloomsbury Kids WEBSITE
Bloomsbury Teens FACEBOOK page