Will Grayson, Will Grayson

Green, John &; David Levithan.  Will Grayson, Will Grayson.  New York : Dutton, 2010.

ISBN: 9780525421580.  $17.99
(Image Credit: Cape May County Library)

What are chances that two strangers with the same name end crossing paths?  What if that chance meeting ends up changing their lives in ways that they could never foresee?

For the first Will Grayson, high school is a strange, and sometimes, unfriendly place due to his friend Tiny.  Tiny draws attention wherever he goes.  He's huge, like 300 lbs., nice, loud, and proudly gay.  He's been Will's best friend for his entire life, but Will feels that Tiny's good intentions always complicate his life.  Will wishes Tiny would just tone things down a little, and maybe Will's life would become easier.  He would have some of his old friends back.  Maybe girls would notice him and not only his big friend.

Then there's the other Will Grayson.  He's depressed and miserable.  His friend Maura is always trying to get him to ask her out, when Will just wants to be left alone.  He would rather be home and on the computer talking to Isaac.  Although they have never met, Will has strong feelings for Isaac.   Isaac is also Will's biggest secret.  No one knows that Will is gay.

Will Grayson, Will Grayson is more than just a book about teens and sexuality.  It's a book about friendship, love, tolerance, ignorance, and admitting when you are wrong to yourself and others.  All the characters in this book are completely relatable,  funny, witty, and charming.  As a reader, I found each one endearing with characteristics that not only show their good points, but also their flaws.  Will Grayson, Will Grayson is more a story about friendship and discovering why the people closest to you matter the most.

Check out John Green's commentary on Will Grayson, Will Grayson:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/mpd/permalink/mYTFJ1Z3DS3PS
John Green is well known for his novels:
Paper Towns
2009 Edgar Award for Best Young Adult NovelAn Abundance of Katherines
2007  Printz Award Honor Book
Looking for Alaska
2006 Printz Award
ALA's 2005 Top 10 Best Book for Young Adults

You can visit his websites:
www.sparksflyup.com
http://nerdfighters.com

David Levithan has penned:
Boy Meets Boy
Love is the Higher Law
Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist

You can visit his website:
www.davidlevithan.com

Melissa the Librarian

Geography Club

Geography Club
Hartinger, Brent. Geography Club. New York: HarperTempest, 2003.
ISBN: 0060012218
9780060012212
0060012226
9780060012229
$8.99

(Image Credit: Cape May County Library, Cape May Court House, NJ)

Annotation:
A group of high-school teenagers form the “Geography Club,” in order not to draw attention to their social and support gatherings.

Book Talk:
Have you ever felt like you are the only person in the world who feels the way you do? Do you know you might be a little bit, or a lot, different then all the other kids in school? In the Geography Club, a group of students are asking themselves the same questions. Some know they are gay or bisexual, but aren’t sure if there are other students like them. When they discover that they are not alone, seven students form the Geography Club, for a chance to get together and talk, without drawing a lot of attention to themselves. This realistic story examines, friendship, heartbreak, tolerance, prejudice, self-acceptance, and coming out. It’s about learning that you aren’t the only person who is different; it’s about discovering how many people are like you.

Awards:
ALA Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults
New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age
Book Sense Pick