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Reviewed by Diana Lopez for Readers' Favorite
The Boy Who Ate Dirt by Michael Ringering is a short story about reflection and forgiveness. Jack Rose was known for his baseball skills from a young age, but that was not always a fulfilling experience for him. Some people were jealous, others slandered him, and some wanted to join him for convenience. When he left high school he didn't have many friends. Over time, Jack became a professional baseball player. It was when he met a former high school classmate that he heard of the death of Jeff, an acquaintance from his school days. This caused Jack to remember his childhood and brought on a sense of guilt about what happened to Jeff. Although Jack knew that he was not responsible for Jeff's death, he concluded that he could have been a better person. In retrospect, he understood that the past cannot be changed no matter how much one wants to. He must learn to cope with the pain he feels.
The Boy Who Ate Dirt is a wonderful account that teaches us that one moment we are children, but only later understand that our actions had consequences. Michael Ringering explores the problems that bullying can cause in some situations. He also examines family relationships and the constant search for acceptance. I found both Jack and Jeff to be likable characters because it was easy to empathize with them and understand their points of view, even though their lives were so different. I would have liked a more detailed description of their backgrounds to get deeper into the story, but the content was enjoyable. This is a short story with a strong message.
