Weasel

Reach for this book when your child is struggling with feelings of resentment or the heavy weight of wanting to get even after being wronged. While set on the 1839 Ohio frontier, the internal struggle Nathan faces is timeless: how do we maintain our own humanity when confronted by someone who has lost theirs? This is a stark, powerful story about the difference between justice and revenge. After their father goes missing, Nathan and Molly are led into the wilderness by a mysterious man named Ezra. They soon discover their father has been injured by a cruel man known as Weasel. When Nathan later finds himself in a position of power over the villain, he must decide if following his impulse for violence will make him any better than his enemy. It is an intense but profound choice for readers ages 10 to 13 who are ready for a gritty, realistic look at morality.