Looking for Group

Reviewed by: Noelle Gallant - Saco Middle School, Saco, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: January 9, 2018

Review

I loved this book and recommend it for Cream of the Crop.

In Looking For Group, we meet sixteen-year-old Dylan, who has just learned he is in sudden remission from the childhood cancer he thought would kill him. As Dylan looks to a future he never expected to see, he embarks on a journey with a friend he's only met on the internet while playing World of Warcraft. This friend, who was born David, now lives as Arden and her family struggles to accept their transgendered daughter.

To escape the troubles of his family life (a mom who uses Dylan's cancer status to get money for drugs, etc), Dylan sets off to meet Arden in real life, and together they go on a cross-country adventure similar to those they had taken together online in World of Warcraft.

While the World of Warcraft angle nearly turned me off to the book, the author didn't devote too much time to the game. Instead, Looking For Group offers rich characters and dense, crafted descriptions of the emotions of today's teens. The book reminded me, in parts, of David Levithan's _Every Day_ in the way it made me question love and gender. David fell in love with Arden's internet persona and then he met her. David is gay, and he finds himself falling in love with Arden - born male living as female. The sweet and honest love that develops between these characters, and more importantly, Harrison's craft and character development, make _Looking For Group_ an A+.

Here is a 90 Second Book Review video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Py5toc71r2Q&list=PLPH--ppuvAxBSsWFhxEm_sJ5srKw-yPH2&index=2

Overall Book Score: excellent