The Order of the Poison Oak (Hardcover)

Russel is now at the age where sticks and stones may break his bones but names are not supposed to hurt him, but the fires that threaten him are the fires of hatred and suspicion that flicker in the eyes of his classmates. He even says that sticks and stones is a really stupid adage because any hurtful words might be a pretty good indication that the real sticks and stones are one the way. "Let's face it: being openly gay at age sixteen really, really sucks."

So when Russel gets a job as a summer camp counselor in the mountains, it sounds like the perfect getaway. He'll work with his two best friends, Min and Gunnar, and even better, he'll be a good fifty miles from everyone who knows he's gay. He's pretty sure that the three of them will have a magical summer at the lake.

But things don't work out quite as planned with his first campers are a group of ten-year-old burn survivors. He's initially taken back by their injuries, and he wants to sympathize with them, but then, when they start to misbehave, he gets angry and has to learn how to exercise authority over them. Part of Russel's growth and his gift to the boys is that he must impart to them how names can never hurt them.

Russel tells them about the rainbow crow, part of an mystical Indian legend, that says you need to have thick skin, magic skin, and the longer you have scars, the thicker the rest of your skin becomes. It won't protect you from the physical stuff, but it does protect you from words. "And when someone says something nasty about you, calls you a freak, the words can't get through that skin, it can't hurt you underneath."

Russel, intent to never let a romantic let a romantic opportunity pass him by, also falls for the hunky Web Bestian. But Min also has the hots for Web and before long, neither Min or Gunner is speaking to him. It gets even worse when his campers lose respect for him and a terrible fire begins to rage out of control on the other side of the lake.

Author, Brent Hartinger imbues Russel with such a definite moral center that it's impossible not to like him and there's a lot to learn from this funny, and frank young man. He has in inner strength and a definite feeling of surety about himself, which is reflected in Hartinger's beautiful, simplistic, and emotional prose. Although the story is told in the first person, through Russel's eyes, we never feel that he is looking down at his group of boys, or even lecturing the reader. The story is all about love, friendship, acceptance, and being true to one's self.

Written primarily for teenagers - but also suitable for adults - the novel is narrated by a remarkably trusty, very comfortable and well-adjusted, gay protagonist. It's just wonderful that Hartinger is writing such material for gay and lesbian teens, and while reading this book, I found myself wishing that there were stories like this around when I was growing up.

If only we could all have been lucky enough to have a pal like Russel, who could deftly and skillfully help us navigate through those angry, hate-fuelled fires of adolescence. Mike Leonard August 05.
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During this time, Min and Russ have their eyes on the same guy, Web, one of the other camp counselors. As for Gunner, he wants to forget girls for awhile. No relationship or tangles. However, he has met his summer match with Em.

**** Most of the book is set during the first two weeks of being counselors. The kids are used to being stared at and ridiculed, so of course they are going to test the counselors' limits. I have friends who are gay, les, and bi, so this tale made me feel as though I was getting a glimpse into their past lives. They HAD to of been through the pressure these three friends are going through. What KEPT me reading, though, were the burn survivor kids! These are some special kids! Of course, they are brats at first. (Gotta test the adults, you know.) This is not my type of book, but even so, I really enjoyed the novel. Terrific read! ****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

Im sorry - the first sequel "Geography Club" was a funny and interesting novel. This one however is not.

Theres a part where the main charcater is explaining the order of the poison oak and its one of the most cringiest moments I have read in a novel. Totally rubbish. No depth or anything in this one im afraid.