That Forgiveness Thing - Jean Baxter

He just needs the bleeding to stop. The call to 911 sets into motion events fifteen-year-old Ben Braddock never intends. His dad goes to jail. He and his little brother are sent to stay temporarily at the home of their aunt and uncle, with a cousin he can’t stand. Ben is also required to attend counseling sessions to help him eventually be reunited with his father. He comes close to revealing his darkest secrets that first night, now his lips are sealed. His new friends present troubling challenges in order to be accepted.

One bright spot amid the chaos is meeting Allie, but when she asks Ben a question a little too personal, his aggressive response shatters her trust and her heart. It spins him into a downward spiral of drinking and worse—he's becoming like his dad. His aunt is on the verge of giving up.

With his options depleted, Ben seeks out Patti, his social worker, whose help he's resisted for months. But is it too late for him and Allie? What about his dad? Every story has two sides.