I read this book and thought it was great. Im fourteen and have gay friends, and I think the way the author wrote it was amazing. His personal experience makes it so much better.
Geography Club
(2005, Fiction - Coming of age, Written by Brent Hartinger)
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
A gay student learns he's not alone.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 14–16
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of Geography Club was written by Kate Pavao
Parents need to know that this book features some strong language, cruel taunting, and other questionable behavior, including the main character's decision to go alone and at night to meet someone he just chatted with online.
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- Families can talk about sexuality and discrimination. What do you think of people who use the word "gay" to talk about anything bad or lame? If students started a gay-straight alliance at your school, would you join?
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More on Geography Club
Book Summary
Russel knows he's gay, and when he meets a cute classmate in a gay chat room, he learns shocked to learn he isn't the only one. Soon, he's discovered a handful of gay students at his school, and they form a support group (they call it the Geography Club so no one will suspect -- or want to join).
Things are going well for Russel, who's got new support, and even a new secret boyfriend. But when a teacher gives an interview to the school paper saying that -- by mere coincidence -- a gay kid at the school had approached her about starting a group, tensions begin to rise in the club. After the school outcast is incorrectly pinpointed as the gay kid, Russel has to figure out how much he's willing to risk to do the right thing.
Is It Any Good?
Readers will certainly understand gay Russel's fear of being found out, and his happiness at learning he's not alone. Even with the club, Russel is pretty much in hiding -- a more traditional plight than faced by some recent titles such as Boy Meets Boy or Far from Xanadu -- but readers will appreciate that Russel doesn't loathe himself or try to change who he is.
Some of the writing here strains credibility a bit -- Disney animation-loving Russel at times seems too stereotypical, and his romantic relationship with a popular athlete never feels authentic. But while it may not be the smoothest read, it is a book that will appeal to both straight and gay readers, and is likely to make teens think about tolerance and their own responsibility to stand up for their peers -- and themselves.
Publisher’s Details
Publisher: HarperTempest, Publication date: 6/28/2005
Number of pages: 226, Price: $6.99 (paperback)
Read Aloud: 14, Read Alone: 14
Number of pages: 226, Price: $6.99 (paperback)
Read Aloud: 14, Read Alone: 14
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Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title on for age 14 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
Amazing book.
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I rate this title on and give it
maqke them think
Students may actually think about how they treat there peers after reading this book. I found that it was a great story to uncover the truth about the injustices that we all faced in some form in high school.
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I rate this title on and give it
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I rate this title on and give it
I picked it up, and put it down completed.
Geography club is a very good book. The way Mr.Hartinger expresess the way the main character feels as a homo, and expresess his feelings and the things that he does is not only acurate, but also to the point. I am not saying that all homosexualls are like this, but the obsticals and all of the bashing that is portrayed in this story is very true. The way that the main character shares his feelings for the person that he like is very straightforward. All in all the book is great and would definitly recomend it for all people...Also really good book is Order of the poison oak, good reading
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