Review: Geography Club by Brent Hartinger

Geography Club
by Brent Hartinger

Published by: Harper Tempest
Released on:February 17th, 2004
Paperback
226 Pages
Rating: 4/5









   I was originally asked to review Brent's newest book in this series but he ended up sending me all of them! To me, that's a sweet deal. This book definitely discusses a topic that leaves people in uncomfortable situations and feeling unaccepted. Truth is, they are right. They aren't. And sometimes people are just plain mean.

   We meet Russel who knows deep down inside that he is different from all the other guys in the locker room but he also knows that he has to hide this fact. He certainly doesn't want to raise a red flag and be the school's laughing stock and throw himself out there as a target for bullies. I can't blame him. People are cruel. Kids are cruel. Everyone can be cruel at one time or another.

   When Russel is safe at home and in his room he is allowed the freedom to branch out online and be himself. But when he's chatting with someone claiming to go to the exact same school as him and who's also into the same things, he can't resist. I instantly felt like it was a trap to get him to expose his true identity but alas, I was wrong. What he found that evening on the gazebo shocked me as much as it did Russel. The truth of that night will bring so much more into Russel's life than he could have imagined.


   When Russel finally gets up the courage to tell one of his best friends about his love life, he finds out even more surprises that were totally unexpected. So, with all of them coming together, they create a name that would throw everyone off their trails. The Geography Club is introduced.

    Is it true that they can have a safe place to get together so they can all be open about their sexuality and just be themselves? Or is it too good to be true? Will they all be left exposed?


Received for review purposes from the author.