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Interviews | January 24, 2012

Jill Owens: IMG Ben Marcus: The Powells.com Interview

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Ben MarcusBen Marcus's books The Age of Wire and String and Notable American Women were considered "experimental" fiction because of his unconventional use of... Continue »
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Geography Club

by Brent Hartinger

Geography Club Cover

ISBN13: 9780060012236
ISBN10: 0060012234
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Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

Russel Middlebrook is convinced he's the only gay kid at Goodkind High School.

Then his online gay chat buddy turns out to be none other than Kevin, the popular but closeted star of the school's baseball team. Soon Russel meets other gay students, too. There's his best friend Min, who reveals that she is bisexual, and her soccer-playing girlfriend Terese. Then there's Terese's politically active friend, Ike.

But how can kids this diverse get together without drawing attention to themselves?

"We just choose a club that's so boring, nobody in their right mind would ever in a million years join it. We could call it Geography Club!"

Brent Hartinger's debut novel is a fast-paced, funny, and trenchant portrait of contemporary teenagers who may not learn any actual geography in their latest club, but who learn plenty about the treacherous social terrain of high school and the even more dangerous landscape of the human heart.

Review:

"Gay high school students form a small support group called the Geography Club. According to PW, 'Overall, this novel does a fine job of presenting many of the complex realities of gay teen life, and also what it takes to be a 'thoroughly decent' person.' Ages 13-up. (Mar.)" Publishers Weekly (Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information, Inc.)

Review:

"This author has something to say here, and his message is potent and effective in its delivery. Many teens, both gay and straight, should find this novel intriguing." School Library Journal

Review:

"Things are settled a little too neatly in the end, but there's no sermonizing. With honest talk of love and cruelty, friendship and betrayal, it's Russel's realistic, funny, contemporary narrative that makes this first novel special." Booklist
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About the Author

Brent Hartinger's outstanding writing for young adults has won him numerous awards and grants, including an SCBWI/Judy Blume Grant for a Contemporary Novel for Young People. His first book, Geography Club, was a Lambda Literary Award nominee and a New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age. He has also published The Last Chance Texacoand a sequel to Geography Clubentitled The Order of the Poison Oak. Brent's other love is writing for the theater, and his plays have been performed across the country.

Brent Hartinger lives in Tacoma, Washington, with his partner, writer Michael Jensen.

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What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating based on 1 comment:
emmejo, July 1, 2010 (view all comments by emmejo)
Russel dates girls to keep his cover. Kevin can't let his team find out that he's checking them out. Min says Terese is just a friend. But being gay and alone is hard for these teens, so a couple who find out about each other start the Geography Club. No one in the school is interested in that, so they can meet in secret and talk about problems the rest of the school doesn't face.

I had some issues with the main character, Russel. He made decisions and choices that meant I really couldn't respect him as a person. I also found him very shallow and overly concerned with appearances. The other characters and the plot were well done, but my growing dislike of the weak MC meant I enjoyed the book less and less as it went on.
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Product Details

ISBN:
9780060012236
Author:
Hartinger, Brent
Publisher:
HarperTempest
Author:
by Brent Hartinger
Author:
Frank, Mary
Subject:
Children's 12-Up - Fiction - General
Subject:
Social Situations - Adolescence
Subject:
Schools
Subject:
School & Education
Subject:
High schools
Subject:
Social Situations - Homosexuality
Subject:
Social Issues - Adolescence
Subject:
Social Issues - Homosexuality
Subject:
Situations / Homosexuality
Subject:
Homosexuality
Subject:
Children s Young Adult-Social Issue Fiction-Homosexuality
Subject:
Children s Young Adult-Social Issue Fiction
Edition Description:
Paperback
Publication Date:
20040231
Binding:
TRADE PAPER
Grade Level:
from 9
Language:
English
Pages:
240
Dimensions:
9.875 x 9.875 in 39.68 oz
Age Level:
12-17
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Related Aisles

Geography Club New Trade Paper
0 stars - 0 reviews
$8.99 In Stock
Product details 240 pages HarperTempest - English 9780060012236 Reviews:
"Publishers Weekly Review" by , "Gay high school students form a small support group called the Geography Club. According to PW, 'Overall, this novel does a fine job of presenting many of the complex realities of gay teen life, and also what it takes to be a 'thoroughly decent' person.' Ages 13-up. (Mar.)" Publishers Weekly (Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information, Inc.)
"Review" by , "This author has something to say here, and his message is potent and effective in its delivery. Many teens, both gay and straight, should find this novel intriguing."
"Review" by , "Things are settled a little too neatly in the end, but there's no sermonizing. With honest talk of love and cruelty, friendship and betrayal, it's Russel's realistic, funny, contemporary narrative that makes this first novel special."
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