Hazard by Frances O’Roark Dowell

Hazard is angry. Very angry. His dad is home from war with serious injuries, both physical and mental. When Hazard takes this anger out on the football field, he’s suspended for unsportsmanlike conduct and sent to therapy to help him deal with his rage.

Being an 8th grade boy, he’s not exactly thrilled about therapy as we see in the emails and texts he sends to his therapist, family and friends. 

As a mom to football players, I understand how important the game can be to kids. Through my work in the school system, I’ve seen it being the only thing holding a kid together. When I read Hazard, I saw so many of my former students in him. Hazard’s story will resonate with many middle school kids.

The format of this book, the length, and the subject matter are all perfect for those readers who just aren’t as confident in their stamina or ability to sustain longer books. I’d recommend this to any middle school kid, but especially boys who need to understand that talking things out is always better than holding things in.

Another excellent book by a favorite author.

Don’t miss our weekly reviews of new releases and our latest reads. If you have any questions or suggestions for future posts, contact us or leave a comment. We’d love to have you follow us on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube to see our latest reviews and reads!