Hey Everyone!!! Welcome to our new blog. Over the next couple of weeks we will be discussing Brent Hartinger's first book, "Geography Club". This book touches on the special considerations of gay teens, but anyone who has ever been a teenager will relate to it. Have you read it? Did you like it?
While you're at it, you might be interrested in reading Brent's blog: http://asifnews.blogspot.com
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A place for Colorado libraries to have their say on intellectual freedom topics.
12 comments:
I don't normally read YA fiction, but I really liked this book. I liked the voice of the narrator, and it reminded me what it was like to be a teen. Those were difficult years! YA fiction seems to be not just entertaining, but self help. I thought the author created some interesting characters and scenarios and it spurred me on to read Last Chance Texaco, which was also an enjoyable read.
I enjoy YA fiction and I particularly enjoyed this book. For me it was slow to grab my attention because the plot felt forced. Once I transported myself back to high school, I was better able to appreciate what the characters were experiencing. I think this type of book is important to open the minds of YA and to remind adults how hard being a teenager is, especially when everyone is trying to conform and not standout...even if it means to deny your true self.
hi, i have read the Geography Club and enjoyed it. I felt i could relate to the struggles of the students, high school never really changes.
my 15 year old daughter read it as well but did not feel a connection to the story. She is not uncomforable with teens who are different (one of her best buds is a transvestite) and could not understand why this was such an issue.
i do belive it would be a door into understanding for individuals who are not as comfortable with diferences.
Want to know more about author Brent Hartinger? Here are a few links to get you started...
Brent's website:
http://www.brenthartinger.com/
Brent Hartinger - Bio - Harper Collins
http://tinyurl.com/y75pga
Harper Collins interview
http://tinyurl.com/y36fhm
American Libraries articles
http://tinyurl.com/utd8g
http://tinyurl.com/ux7cf
AS IF! Authors Support Intellectual Freedom
http://asifnews.blogspot.com/
~Nicolle
One of the postings brought up a question for me. I had a friend tell me that her (straight) teen felt gays were not ostracized in her school these days. I don't have kids, and it's been a long time since I've been to high school. What do some of you think? Do you think this is the case?
i would say it depends on the school. my daughter attends an open and loving school, but even there there are some problems. a staight laced private school may make the students who are questioning their lifestyle more likely to stay underground rather then talk about it.
that was the problem in Geography Club, the charachters felt if they let the world in, the world would hate them.
wow -- great book. It's a quick read (took less than an hour) and does a great job of capturing the feeling of "belonging" that is often not available to LGBT teens.
As for whether teens are more accepting these days, I think it's better than when I was in high school, but still not great.
One of my favorite bosses passed away recently - Jeff Frisbie from Fort Lewis College, and he and his partner had been together for over 20 years; their relationship was one that any couple could have modeled proudly. Jeff was very open about his earliest memories of his feelings about being gay, and much of what he shared was accurately portrayed in Hartinger's book. In light of our discussion in regards to the Geography Club, let's also pay attention to Amendment 43 on marriage.
At first, I said that I didn't like the book because I found it so painful to read. It transported me back to a world that I haven't really want to visit again. And yet there is great humanity and depth of emotions revealed in the story. I guess that I do really like it.
There's also some great humor in it. I loved the descriptions of Russel kissing Trish. I don't recall how he put it, but something about her lips being soft and squishy. I really felt for the guy.
Wow! I really liked this book and will recommend it. I cried in the end at the act of kindness with Russel sitting down with Brian after everyone thought that Brian was the gay guy. It was one of those very believable moments of courage and generosity. Good book!
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