Review: Sean Griswold's Head

Book: Sean Griswold's Head by Lindsey Leavitt
Pages: 288 Pages
Release Date: March 1, 2011
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Source: ARC from Publisher
Find the Author: Web Blog
Grade: 4.5 Stars

Synopsis:
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 Thoughts:

This is the first book I’ve read by Lindsey and I must say that I look forward to her future titles. Sean Griswold’s head is a fun quirky story about finding yourself and learning to make changes.

Sean Griswold’s head was really easy to read. Organized, perfect Payton found out that her dad had MS (Multiple Sclerosis) and kind of lost a reason to play basketball and do better in school. The school counselor then tells her to pick a focus object and to journal about it. Guess what she chooses? Yep, Sean Griswold’s head.

I liked how the book had pictures of Payton’s diagrams and flow charts, it made the book seem more realistic. It reminded me of how Amy and Roger’s Epic Detour was formatted. Also, I really liked how the book paced. Payton slowly began to know Sean and started accepting her dad’s disease. It seemed perfect.

Sean and Payton are the perfect couple! Sean was so cute with his cycling and Seinfeld genius. I liked how their relationship started as friendship and then bloomed into something more at the very end. It made me want to read a sequel.

This book is the perfect happy cheery type that makes me smile. It was funny and genius and I loved it. Can’t wait to read some more Lindsey Leavitt books!