Written a decade ago, Geography Club (2004) spawned a book series and a recent TV movie. An engaging read, I can understand why this debut novel by Brent Hartinger is so successful. After all, it was written at a time when stories featuring gay characters were rare. Geography Club is the story of a Russell Middlebrook, a high schooler convinced he is the only gay teen at his high school--until he learns he is not. With his newfound knowledge and company, Russell and his other gay friends are desperate to have a safe space for them to gather and talk to each other. What other way than to create a boring club no other high schooler would be interested in joining than the Geography Club?
In the end, Geography Club is a story of identity, of people coming together to define and accept who they are. It is also the story of what seems to be the universal high school experience in which reputation creates division lines and the goal is to figure out on which side of the line to stand on.
I suppose that's where the value of this story lies, though it is littered with stock characters and includes a rather cliched romance.
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