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Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I loved Matthew Quick's book
. It was difficult, funny but always hopeful; definitely a 5 star book. I couldn't really warm up to Leonard Peacock. Quick shows us a boy who is determined to end his self loathing and a tormentor, but Leonard also likes his neighbor who smokes too much but has shared his love of Bogart movies and now Leonard sees Bogart and Bacall as a way to express himself. He tries but doesn't maintain a relationship with a Christian girl, Lauren. Leonard absolutely looks forward to his Holocaust English class because of his teacher, Herr Silverman. While he has made some decisions about what he is going to do if no one remembers his birthday; we see that Leonard was normal with a best friend as a child. It is only when he is in 6th grade that his world ends and his horrible life begins and doesn't really ever change. Furthermore, his mother is awful (leaves him and moves to NY to follow a fashion merchandising dream) and his father is never around. I didn't really like the resolution of Leonard's problem. He reaches out to his teacher but he doesn't stay around the next day for Herr Silverman to help him and him on a path to healing.
I am not sure if young adults will like this book; it is difficult material and not really hopeful.

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