Review and Signed Bookmark Giveaway

16 Mar, 2011 by in book review 40 comments

Sean Griswold’s Head
by Lindsey Leavitt
Hardcover, 288 pages
Published March 1st 2011
by Bloomsbury USA
Children’s Books
ISBN 1599904985
4 stars

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.

I won an autographed copy of Sean Griswold’s Head on twitter…well not his actual head, but the book about his head. And, in correspondence I noticed was how genuinely nice author Lindsey Leavitt is. Her cute and tender story tugged at my heart strings.

Payton is a straight A student, slightly obsessive compulsive and highly organized person until one day she accidentally stumbles upon her father’s MS. Life at home and the world is unraveling fast. Payton is recommended to the school counselor by her parents who suggests she pick a focus object to write about…something to get her mind off of the grief and fear. What better than the head of the boy sitting directly in front of her desk? Blonde, with spiky hair, a scar and an orbit bigger than the average noggin.

What starts out as a purely scientific self-help project ends in Payton wanting to learn more about the boy, Sean who is attached to that head. The two begin biking together and in the process discover there may be more to their close proximity than just their last names. Both are facing meddling best friends with an agenda of their own. Leave it to Peyton’s overbearing bubbly BFF since birth, Jac and the goth vampire of the town to complicate matters. Sean and Payton may not work out after all.

In a sweet, fun contemporary read, Lindsey Leavitt taught me about the power of forgiveness and overcoming personal roadblocks. This is a book I would recommend to all readers over age 12. Lindsey has generously donated two author signed bookmarks to our blog followers. Simply comment below to enter. Open internationally and ends April 15, 2011.

40 Responses to “Review and Signed Bookmark Giveaway”

  2. ksmeza

    Ahh I can really relate to this story and I’ve been dying to read it! Everyone has been saying very encouraging things about it, I would love a bookmark 🙂

    Reply

  9. Cass (Words on Paper)

    Yay! I’m so excited for this book!!! Thanks for the contest!

    cc932005 at hotmail dot com

    Reply

  12. Katrina W

    Sounds like an emotional read 😉 and I belive in trying to jump all road blocks ,, 😉

    kat

    Reply

  13. Christi the Teen Librarian

    I have been waiting to read this book forever–my library has ordered it but we haven’t gotten it yet. It’s funny cause my daughter and her best friend are linked the same way Payton & Sean are…her last name starts Ald and his starts Ale…fortunately they’re friends and I don’t think she spends too much time staring at his head LOL

    caldellizzi@gmail.com

    Reply

  20. TheGirlOnFire

    I have been seeing a lot of posts about this book, its really starting to peek my interest!

    Stephanie- thegirlonfire
    thegirlonfire27 at gmail dot com

    Reply

  21. Liz. R

    I’ve seen so many positive reviews for this, I’m thinking I’ve got to read it now! Thanks for the review and giveaway :).

    planetprint8(at)gmail(dot)com

    Reply

  22. lexacd

    I definitely need to read this book! Thanks for the great review and giveaway!

    alexandra_digiorgio at comcast dot net

    Reply

  24. Chloe Booklover

    Thanks for the contest 🙂 I have been eagerly awaiting this book.

    chloe.hope.bookie(at)gmail(dot)com

    Reply

  29. Edna

    Just read this a couple of days ago and enjoyed it so much!

    Don’t count me in the giveaway. I already have a signed bookmark. 🙂

    Reply

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