Short Series

Tears of a Tiger and Forged by Fire are two of the three books in the Hazelwood High series by Sharon M. Draper.
Tears of a Tiger was a challenge for me.  I am militant in my disgust for drunk drivers.  I admit that I have no compassion or understanding about it at all.  Yes, I judge completely when it comes to this.  To me, one makes a choice to get behind the wheel when drunk.  And that is like taking a gun and shooting it into a crowd.  Only even more dangerous because one stray bullet can most likely only kill or hurt one person, whereas a vehicle out on the road, driven by a drunk driver?  Many people can die or be injured for life.
As I have mentioned here, I call the police when I see someone driving as though they might be drunk.
In TOAT, Andy is drunk.  And he is driving and he wrecks the car and his best friend dies.  Andy's life is over, too, pretty much, as he can't live with what he has done.  I was surprised that I found myself feeling compassion for him.  And also guilt for feeling compassion.  And also guilt for not feeling compassion.  And surprise and shock and anger at the teachers and coaches and friends and counselors who did have compassion for Andy.
I really like this guy's article.   How does it work with being a Christian though?  It's so hard!!!!!!!!  But these were really, really good books.  Love Sharon Draper.  Love her.

Another one I should have read a million years ago....

Everyone has always told me that Bridge to Terabithia was an awesome book.  People couldn't believe that I hadn't read it yet. Kinda like Hatchet.  Just like Hatchet, once I read BTT, I was blown away, kicking myself for not having read it sooner, and many times over.  I wonder if that would happen if I read Harry Potter....na, I don't think I will take the chance.
I already wrote some about BTT and so I will link back to it here.   There is so much for to say about BTT.  But I can't do it justice.  If you are like I was and haven't read it yet, you really need to do yourself a favor and read it now.
One other thing that I never realized about BTT, is that it is most certainly a book that dudes would like.