Geography Club by Brent Hartinger
Review by Lauren
copy sent for review, but all opinions are our own
Official Summary:
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!”
Review: I’m a huge fan of LGBT literature, and I think there should be more published by the bigger publishing companies, especially for Young Adults. However, one of those classic titles is Geography Club, which was released ten years ago! Can you believe it? I know I can’t believe it took me ten years in to finally read the novel, and I’m so happy I finally had the chance.
Geography Club isn’t about huge events, but that’s not important. It deals with emotions and feelings- the ones you want, the ones you don’t, and the ones you just don’t understand. Yet. I loved that the Geography Club wasn’t just about kids that fall under the LGBT spectrum, but encompassed anyone that felt like they had to hide their true selves or just wanted a place they could truly fit in. That’s something I can relate too, and I’m sure many others could as well.
There are more stories about Russel out too, which is exciting, since sometimes you don’t want to stop reading about characters you’ve started to enjoy. Russel doesn’t always do the right thing and sometimes you want to yell at him to think about things more, but he’s genuinely a good guy. He knows when he’s wrong and he does try to make up for things in time. I can respect someone like that for sure, and hopefully I’m not the only one who is Team Russel. I also love Brian Bund, who is kind of the school’s social pariah, but just wait until you get to know him better!
Overall, this was an enjoyable, quick read, and I’m excited to check out the next three titles!
Other Books in the Russel Middlebrook series–
The Order of the Poison Oak
Double Feature: Attack of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies/ Bride of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies
The Elephant of Surprise (released this year!!)
That’s right, Geography Club is now a movie, being released later this year (I don’t have an exact date, but I can’t wait and I hope it’s somewhere near me so I can see it ASAP).
Please Visit the Movie Page to Watch the Trailer!
Brent had this to say about the cast (read more of the interview here):
Itโs got a pretty amazing cast too: Scott Bakula (Star Trek: Enterprise), Marin Hinkle (Two and Half Men), Ana Gasteyer (SNL), Allie Gonino (The Lying Game), Allie Maki (Ten Things I Hate About You), Andrew Caldwell (Transformers), and Nikki Blonsky (Hairspray, Smash). Russel and Kevin are played by two relative unknowns, Cameron Deane Stewart (Pitch Perfect) and Justin Deeley (90210), but theyโre both just terrific.
**
Another member of the cast I’m excited about is Alex Newell (who plays Ike) because he came from last season’s The Glee Project. He’s currently on Glee as Wade ‘Unique’ Adams. It will be exciting to see him in a feature film and as another character! Congrats to him on doing more beyond Glee!
**
If your high school had a Geography Club (aka Gay/Straight Alliance), would you join?
I definitely would have! I know my college had a version of it which I joined and really enjoyed for awhile. I think it’s an important club to have, and it allows a lot of people a place to go and fit in.
I had not heard that this was going to be a movie. I loved this book in school. So excited! Thanks for sharing!
I remember reading this when it first came out. I really enjoyed the new one!
I heard about this book some time ago, but never read it. It's awesome that they're making a movie! ๐
Glad you enjoyed. Emotions are important too rather than just big events
Well I of course I have to read the book before seeing the movie!
Having heard of neither the book nor film I'm intrigued to know more. Apart from the various sporting teams and the drama club I can't think of any other clubs that our school ran – thank goodness that seems to be changing.
I have never heard of this one. I don't often read books with gay teens just because there aren't a lot out there. Interesting that this was done ten years ago. I will be on the lookout for the movie!
I agree with you about LGBT YA lit. Good ones published by big houses are few and far between (Gone, Gone, Gone; Brooklyn, Burning; Suicide Notes are those I can think of righ now), and we definitely need more.
I also know what it's like to feel so close to a character that you don't want to let him or her go. It happens to me a lot, so I reread. :))
I haven't read this one, but I have come across is several times. I didn't know it was being made into a movie! I'll definitely have to squeeze it in now before the film is released. Great review. ๐
I'm glad you enjoyed this book! I do like genuinely good guys and I like that it's a quick read.
I agree, we definitely need more LGBT content! I can't believe I've never heard of this one or the movie, as I am also a fan of LGBT fiction. Thanks for the heads up!
This sounds beautiful! I agree there should be more LGBT from mainstream pubs. Great that it's going to be a movie as well ๐
I recently added this one to my WL because I really enjoy books with GLBT characters too. I'm excited for the movie too!
This looks interesting. I read one Hartinger book already and have two others, but not this one.