From Goodreads: 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 picked this one up not knowing much about it - it is one of the books for the comtemps challenge so I bought it to read as part of the challenge. I am so glad I did because it really is rather brilliant.
It follows Payton and her life after she learns her dad is diagnosed with MS. She doesn't take the news very well and goes to see a counsellor at her school. She suggests Payton find a focus object so she decides to use Sean Griswold's head...
This book is so much more than I realised it would be. It is seriously funny! There is one scene involving a bike ride that had me nearly wetting myself with laughter. But at the same time it is an honest and poignant portrayal of someone coming to terms with their father's illness.
The relationship between Payton and Sean is done well too. A genuine friendship develops between the two - it's very sweet and I'm a big fan of this type of romance.
I really enjoyed this one and will definitely be checking out more of Leavitt's work in the future.
