The best book I ever read.

This sounds more like a teacher, doesn't it.  I read my favorite book of all time in 8th grade.  I had a teacher at the time who introduced us to really exciting books.  The one that has become my favorite is The Hobbit.  The story was exciting, it was suspenseful, it was totally believable.  I suppose most boys love stories that involve wizards, goblins, wharves, elves, magic, swords, and the battle between good and evil. 

I particularly liked the character of Bilbo Baggins.  He made me believe that even though I was a very average boy of 14 that I could do much more that I thought.  Bilbo is forced into an adventure that makes him complete many challenges which he though he was incapable of completing.  Mr. Baggins learns that, though he thinks he is feeble, that he can become stronger, that his hobbit skills can be sharpened though they have become almost unrecognizable through years of easy country living.

Bilbo learns to fight with his hands, he learns to fools dragons and he learns that the power of the ring is desired by everything that is evil.  Bilbo learns that if you stand for what is good or have what represents it, the forces will come looking for you.  Evil will not rest.  Edmund Burke said, ""All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."  Bilbo discovers that he cannot avoid the evil that is coming and must fight it.

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