A lesson before dying

I didn't have to read this one in high school, which was probably a good thing. I don't know that I would have appreciated it then, the way I can now. This was really, really excellent. The last chapter in particular gutted me, but also the unexpected chapter from Jefferson's notebook. The characters were vivid, particularly teacher Grant, deputy Paul, and Sheriff Guidry, not to mention Jefferson himself, on death row for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

I love that there's room for questioning God, His existence, and also there's visible strength in the faith for those who do choose to believe. That neither Grant nor the preacher were willing to be something they weren't, nor do something they didn't believe in, but as foils for each other. That so many of the characters, even outside Jefferson, could see bigger things, wanted more, but knew they likely weren't going to get it, for reasons both within and outside of their control, and their resignation to that.