The Order of the Poison Oak

High school friends Russel, Min, and Gunnar are spending the summer as counselors at a camp that has, among other things, a program for burn survivors. Russel—who is gay—is surprised to learn that he has a lot in common with these kids, when it comes to staying strong in an often insensitive and intolerant world. Meanwhile, he's also falling in love! To make things even more interesting, Min (who's bi) and Gunnar (who's straight) are tangled up in their own romances.

Russel is one of the most likeable characters I've ever met in a book. He makes a lot of mistakes, but he's always well-meaning and has a great sense of humor. I know, I know, I should probably tell you to start with The Geography Club, which is where these characters start their stories. But I like this book even better, maybe because I spent so many summers at camp as a camper and counselor myself. You can read more about these characters in Split Screen. Recommended for junior high and up.