Reading Metrics
Description
On his birthday, seventeen-year-old Leonard Peacock plans to kill his former best friend and then himself using his grandfather's P-38 pistol, and he spends the day saying goodbye to the four people who matter most to him by giving each a meaningful gift. The story follows Leonard as he visits each friend, revealing his isolation, feelings of inadequacy, and the circumstances that led him to this point. The novel addresses themes of teen suicide, violence, friendship, and mental health struggles.
Quick Summary
Leonard Peacock spends his eighteenth birthday making the rounds to leave gifts for the four people who matter most to him, armed with a grandfather's WWII pistol and an unconventional birthday playlist that somehow makes dark humor work. Readers will fall for Leonard's sharp, unpredictable voice And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda way the story unfolds like a mystery as each person he visits reveals another layer of why his life turned out this way. If your kid likes The Perks of Being a Wallflower or Thirteen Reasons Why, they'll be completely drawn into this emotional gut-punch of a novel. Perfect for high schoolers in grades 10 through 12 who want a book that feels real and tackles the hard stuff without flinching.