What an absolutely essential and fantastic book.

Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock is the poignantly written story of a suicidal/homicidal teenage boy named Leonard, sometimes called Leo. Leonard is the son of absentee parents; an uppity fashion designer and a washed up rock star. As Leonard goes through what he prepares to be the last day of his life, which just so happens to be his 18th birthday, the reader is transported with him on a journey to find anyone who might just be able to stop the coming tragedy. Leonard doesn't really want to kill himself at all, so he speaks with four people in his life that he believes might be able to help him. He hopes these friends will see through his act and do something, anything.

It is tragic to watch the people in Leonard's life fail him. It is heart-wrenching to read the first person account of his pain from a situation, that although unnamed until near the end of the book, happens far too often and doesn't get the awareness needed.

I completely believe that all teachers should have to read this book. It speaks to the power of understanding the signs of suicide as well as the power we as educators can have to be a positive force in the lives of our students.