Sean Griswold's Head by Lindsey Leavitt

What it's about:
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.

What I thought of it:
Despite a rather abrupt start, I thoroughly enjoyed Sean Griswold's Head (Yes, his actual head. No, just kidding).  Payton is a pretty average, self-centered teen when she finds out her dad has MS. Enter counselor, focus object, and exactly what is supposed to happen: Payton realizes she is not the only person in this world. She starts to notice things about Sean's head, like for instance, the scar on his temple. Where did he get it? When? She's known him forever. How did she not know this?  Enter stalking. That's only fun for a while. Enter growing up and just asking him. The more she gets to know about Sean, the more she likes him. Between his insane biking and his strange but true friendships, Sean's got it together, and Payton realizes she has to pull it together too.

Very cute book with a good message and a little more substance than some YA reads. A few laugh out loud moments and a lot of heart. Definitely recommend.