Send by Patty Blount

Dan wants to lay low at his new school, but he can’t help but intervene when he sees a boy named Brandon about to be beaten up. Dan’s desire for anonymity is because he doesn’t want anyone to find out who he really is...a convicted sex offender who spent 9 months in juvenile detention after a social media post led to a boy’s suicide. He didn't mean for any of this to happen, and his time in juvenile detention has left many physical and mental scars. His grandfather won't speak to him, and Dan just cannot forgive himself for what he did. As he starts to make new friends, Dan tries to start living a normal life and make sure Brandon is okay.

I really enjoyed Send. It was such a quick read and so relevant to what goes into today's world. Clicking SEND is so easy, but it is so important to stop and think about the repercussions.

Forgive Me Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick

I read this book after the recommendation from Mrs. Spreder because she said it was a good story, but also very heartbreaking and disturbing. This book is about the challenges a teenage boy faces with his sexuality and communicating it to those closest to him; but it's also about a decision he has already made in that he will kill himself on his birthday after he has killed his former best friend for reasons the reader will learn throughout the book. The author, Matthew Quick tells this story of a teenage boy who is silently screaming for help over the course of several days that lead up to his birthday. While there are parts that make the reader laugh out loud with Leonard's witty sense of humor, knowing the inevitable makes the reader sympathetic for Leonard and hopeful that someone will reach out and help him during his darkest times.