Rating: 
Summary: A great debut novel
Review: Russell is a sophomore in high school. He is surprised to find out that he is not the only student who is gay. Russell and his new friends form the 'Geography Club' so they can meet more often. Things do not go as planned.Russell is a realistic and likeable narrator. He shows his maturity whenever he makes a decision, even if his move is not the right one. I highly recommend this book for ages eleven and up. (With some parental discretion.)
Rating:
Summary: A COMING -OF-AGE NOVEL WITH REAL BITE!
Review: Russell Middlebrook, a witty and remarkably frank high school sophomore is the narrator and protagonist of Brent Hartinger's, GEOGRAPHY CLUB. Russell's is a believably fresh and quirky voice, shining like a lighthouse beacon, in an ocean of gay coming out material. Quite possibly the most popular genre in "Gay Lit" today, the, "coming-of-age novel," dominates the Queer shelves. Unfortunately these offerings tend to be overly romanticized and just plain sappy. GEOGRAPHY CLUB is anything but. No, this is a book with real teeth and a sharp bite. This novel has more than its fair share of reality checks, yet humor and hope are never sacrificed to the standard teenage cynicism of the stories tone. Russell is gay and firmly embedded in the closet. He's not one of the popular kids, but he's not a social pariah either. Along with his friends Min and Gunnar, Russell manages to stay within the "borderland of respectability," at Goodkind High School. Russell thinks he's the only gay person in school, so he only confesses his sexuality on the internet. One night he discovers another gay teen from his high school in a chat room and the two agree to meet. "GayTeen" turns out to be Kevin Land, a hunky jock and star of the baseball team. Russell is more than a little flabbergasted. After the initial shock wears off, the two boys agree to confide in one another about their mutual concerns. Russell, so excited he can barely contain himself, decides to risk all and tell his best friend Min about the rendezvous. Much to his surprise Min reveals her bisexual nature to him. Before you know it, five gay teens (Min has a girlfriend and she's got a friend) are meeting for pizza and discovering that they are not alone, but how can they continue meeting without their secret being uncovered. They decide to form a school club so boring that no one will join, thus allowing them to meet on a twice weekly basis. The Geography Club is born. All goes swimmingly until a rumor about a gay teen sweeps the school, and the GC members start to get exceedingly nervous. Is the jig up for the closet club or will eyes be focused on Brian Bund, the schools number one outcast and overwhelming recipient of the worst kind of teasing teenagers are capable of?
Through the voice of Russell, Hartinger provides his readers with an amazingly accurate picture of what gay high school life is like today. Russell talks directly to us as if we were right there with him, shooting the breeze in the school cafeteria. He is cocky, unsure, comical, frightened and sincere, all at the same time. We get excited with him when he talks about his budding romance with Kevin, and how he joins the baseball team to be near him, and we hurt for him when fate plays an awful joke and his life is temporarily shattered. This is a kid's world and we're told about it by a gay kid. Adults play next to no role here. The story is thought provoking and wonderfully entertaining, proving the incredible highs and lows of adolescence stay unchanged from generation to generation. I can not end this review without returning once more to the character of Brian Bund. Everyone who ever attended an American high school remembers a Brian or two. Those horribly mistreated outsiders who bore their lot with quiet dignity. Hartinger obviously remembered as well. His respectful portrait of this incredibly noble individual stands amongst the finest in contemporary gay fiction. I am unquestionably impressed.
Rating:
Summary: What a great book!
Review: There are so many things to like about this book. It's a fast-paced, well-written story that isn't a downer to read. There is lots of humor, but plenty of drama, and none of the characters are perfect. I like that there are almost no adults in the book as I believe that adults and kids exist in parallel worlds that do overlap, but neither understands what is really happening in the other. I also love Russel and wonder how much he is like Mr. Hartinger. In fact, I almost feel as if I know the author through the book and think he must be an interesting fellow. I'm glad the book isn't full of doom and gloom like so many gay novels. It's refreshing to read about relatively happy, well-adjusted gay kids, and I was especially glad Russel simply accepted he was gay and didn't have to come to terms with it. You can tell from the book that the author really likes and identifies with teenagers. YA fiction is truly some of the best writing today and this is a welcome addition to the genre. I hope Mr. Hartinger has more books in the works and since I'm really a huge fan of fantasy, I would love to see a fantasy book with a gay character. How about it, Mr. Hartinger?
Rating:
Summary: Amazing Book
Review: This book captures all the feelings and emotions and fears that go with growing up gay in a high school setting - brilliantly depicted and wonderfully written - a definite page turner. It's hard to put this book down once you start. Highly recommended!
Rating:
Summary: best book for ALL teens
Review: This book is an awsome book. Brent makes the characters come to life and you can't help but feel like you actually know the chracters. Very touching story that gets every emotion possible into your head. Finally a good book for gays, lesbians, and bisexuals, but definately not reserved to only them. May help with understanding what gays, lesbian and bisexuals live with. I absolutely loved the book and I think EVERYONE should at least attempt to read it.
Rating:
Summary: Being Different & Surviving High School!
Review: This book is geared toward young adults (high school age), but I feel it's a book all ages can enjoy and benefit from, especially parents who want to better understand their gay son or daughter, and the difficulties they face while in high school.
Russel is convinced he's the only gay student at GoodKind High until his online gay-chat buddy turns out to be another student, Kevin, who is the popular closeted star baseball player of the school. Soon Russel learns his best female friend, Min, and her girlfriend, Therese, and another student called Ike, are also gay. They now have to figure out how they can all get together for talks without drawing attention to themselves. This leads them to form a club called "Geography Club". Is the "Geography Club" the answer to their problems, or will peer pressure, insecurities, unexpected members and other events, take a toll on their developing friendship, and their new club. Hartinger has written a very realistic, fast-paced story filled with love, hope, humor, and sadness that will touch anyone's heart. These young students are individuals who are mature beyond their years. The author has done a brilliant job in getting his message across by developing characters that are very believable. We need more sensitive, intelligent writing like this that can help all young people deal with being different, especially at a time when there are so many other pressures for them to bear. It's rough to be young in today's world. This is a book I recommend for all. Please don't miss this one! Joe Hanssen
Rating:
Summary: Awsome Book, must read for all gay and straight teens
Review: This book was great. The idea oh having a gay club and putting a front up of it being a geography club so no one wants to join it, is a very cool idea for a very close-minded place. This is a must read for all gay and straight teens alike. Everyone can put themselves in the spot of these teens during high school.
Rating:
Summary: The Right Thing to Do
Review: This book was truly fantastic. There are very few adult characters in it, just teenagers. "The Geography Club" discusses all sorts of issues, from popularity to homophobia. It's also a very interesting story, centered around Russel, a secretly gay teen and how he meets other gay people. There is always the underlying question: "Is it better to be a nasty popular person, or an unpopular good person?" In the end Russel has to choose, because being himself won't make him popular.
Rating:
Summary: I was Brian Bund in High School
Review: This is a great book that was written with a lot of in-depth characters and well-developed plots. I especially like this book because I could directly relate to Brian Bund. (Except I am gay). This book portrays with good quality the hardships of love and the problems with being gay in modern-day high schools. I would definetly recommend this book for everyone.
Rating:
Summary: Good story, emotionally engaging
Review: This is a story about five teens who form a club so that they can get together without drawing attention to themselves. This is a story about friendships. Good story, unique, great characters.
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