Just One Tear

by K.L. Mahon, Kate Mahon, Ken Robbins (Illustrations)

A thirteen-year-old boy's diary offers an honest, raw, and unvarnished look at the difficulties of adolescence, expressing his searing emotions after he sees his father shot and killed and is forced to endure the killer's trial.

Genres: Death, Young Adult, Juvenile

58 pages, Hardcover

First published April 29, 1994

Reviews

[Talia]

author footnotes (very young author): u can find the most honest expression in diaries. so true. enjoyed the read. experience of grief is unique and individual. protagonist does eventually cry just one tear at the climatic resolution. delivered exactly what it promised. am a big fan of honest titles.

[Evonne]

Life is difficult as it is, but to lose someone closest to you makes it even harder. At a young age a boy loses his father and takes it harder than most. His mother distances herself and falls into a depression that lasts longer than his. Months after his father's death she still cried in her bad at night. The longing was so real that you could feel the energy shooting at you through every word. The main character falls into a depression himself. He wouldn't talk much and would often times sit alone and just sit and think. The beach is where he found himself venting a lot. There he meets a so called friend and later on find out he commits suicide. The affect of his friends death hit him hard with confusion. The boys friend seemed so happy and talkative yet, he was dying inside. Only to find out that he had bigger issues than he did and couldn't stand it any longer and killed himself. Eventually the boy found his happiness and was able to but, not fully move on from his father's murder. You would have to read this remarkable story to find out what happens beteween the boy and his mother's relationlship.

[Electricflower · Rating 5 out of 5]

the book was amazing, i think. it was my first book i ever read really. and i actually read it, i've been trying to look for it everywhere. i'd recommend others reading it. its a sad book but it really connected with me in middle school. it made me think about how my life is and how it is to lose someone. i love the author k. l. mahon so much for writing this book. the book is a diary and how the boys feels, thinks and how he gets through his problems. i LOVE the book once again. i love it so much because basically i connected with the boy of how he feels inside etc. also and how the boy loves the beach because it reminded him of his dad. and thats how i kind of think of people. you'd have to read the book if you want to know what i mean because i suck at explaining things. so i recommend you reading JUST ONE TEAR by K. L. MAHON :)

[Shun-Sho · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short read, you could definitely see it was written from the viewpoint of a young teen but there were some great lines in there and some true depth about dealing with guilt, sadness, and allowing others to do so as well. Great, if not extremely short, viewpoint on grieving.

[P6MariaP2015 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just One Tears is about a young boy age 14 who loses someone very special in their life, But they need to find out how and why? I enjoyed this book cause it leaves you hanging and that's common in a lot of stories. Their very interesting and they grab your attention just like this book.

[Brittany Parliament · Rating 2 out of 5]

Is this really a book? It's so short! Well anyway, it was an okay "book". The part about the main characters random suicidal friend was kind of interesting. But, that's all I can really say.

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sadly, this book written by a 14-year-old is out of print.
A gripping story of a boy who witnesses his father's shooting.

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

An emotional, two-month diary recording the trauma of a young boy who must cope with the sudden death of his father.