Sean Griswold's Head by Lindsey Leavitt

What it's about (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.

What I learned: First of all, let me just say that the boy pictured on the cover is not Sean: in the book, his hair is clearly and repeatedly described as so blond it's almost white. Boy on the cover: not Sean. 

Anyway... it's interesting to me how a fair number of YA books have a main character who goes to some kind of counseling or therapy. I think it's great because I know that it's definitely helpful to some people, it's just something I never really thought about in a book. I also like how Payton is not Caucasian but it's not part of her "issue" in the book. It's just who she is and it's not a big deal.

I thought this book did a great job of showing how a girl who just found out her father had an incurable, progressive disease would react. I completely understand ignoring, being mean to her parents and causing other discipline problems instead of having to face the real problem: her dad's multiple sclerosis. I can't imagine how hard it would be to deal with that kind of sickness in your father, the guy a lot of people look up to as strong and steady.

I learned that there's sometimes not a "right" thing to say. There are awkward moments everywhere: talking to your boss, your significant other, your best friend, your crush, your mom, your dad... the list goes on. Sometimes it's inconsequential or funny and other times it's completely serious and you just don't know what to say. I often feel like other people know just what to say to make a situation better and it's just a skill I lack, but I really think that every single person has those moments. Sometimes there really isn't anything to say to make it all better, or understood, or right. Sometimes you just have to fight through the awkward or hard times until it gets easier. It's ok to not have all the answers and to need someone else's help, whether it's a friend, counselor, family member or therapist.

If you've read Sean Griswold's Head, what did you learn? Do you wish you always had the right answers?