Plot Patterns and Happy Endings

I have a hard time keeping my seventh grade son in books. It's a nice problem to have.

After scouring some book blogs, I came up with four books that had been highly recommended by (admittedly) adults.

I put the books up in his room. After a few hours, he came out.

"Mom? I don't mean anything by this…but I hate all those books you got me."

I sat back in the chair and stared at him. "But they're supposed to be good!"

"They're depressing. I read the first four or five chapters of...