Although many parts of this novel are quite dark and its protagonist is not always likable, Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock is a memorable and touching story of what happens when an alienated teen decides to end his life on his birthday. 
 As a teacher, I feel so many things as I read about Leonard's angst. I want to dismiss it; I empathize with it. I want to fix it. The novel made me explore how I treat my students and made me question how far I'd go to save them. It also has me questioning my parenting skills as I consider the way Leonard's mother, Linda, treats her son and try to figure out why a mother would take Linda's approach with her own son. 
 As I previously mentioned, Leonard is not always likable or reliable as a character, which often made me question his thought processes and his motives. In the end, I had to decide how I felt about Leonard, and I felt despite his troubled nature, he was worthy of my love.