Our book group just finished reading Defending Jacob by William Landay. The part I found most compelling, being a parent of teenagers, is that Jacob's parents had no idea about the reality of his-day to-day existence. Jacob is a bit of an outsider, with a very small circle of friends, all of whom have seen his explosive temper firsthand. His mother acknowledges more than his father that Jacob is different, that he has a odd way of interacting with others. His father often brushes away his son's behavior as typical teenage acting out. When Jacob is accused of murder, his father staunchly defends his son, while is mother questions the possibility of his guilt more and more. This book was difficult to put down, and the plot and characters stay with the reader long after the last page.
