"I Will Ruin You" by Linwood Barclay

In I Will Ruin You by Linwood Barclay, English teacher, Richard Boyle, becomes a hero when he is able to stop a school shooter from causing real damage.  However, he soon finds out that being a hero comes with a price.  This is really good with lots of action and characters that I cared about.  I liked the storyline because I wasn't able to figure out how it would end.  (Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

"That's Not What Happened" by Kody Keplinger

That's NOT What Happened by Kody Keplinger is a book about six survivors of a school shooting who try to piece together what actually happened.  In a small town at the local high school, a shooting took place.  Flash forward three years and this came out to tell the story of one girl who had words with the shooter.  But one girl knows the real story of how it went down and wants the truth to come out!

If you are looking for an action book, this is not it.  It is an interesting look of how a group of teens each have their own version of what happened.  For the most part, this book kept me engaged.  The down parts were few and far between.  The best part of this book were the letters on the strength of that, I give this book 5 stars!
(Gerard's review)

That's NOT what happened by Kody Keplinger is about six survivors who actually were with classmates when they got shot.  This book focuses on the aftermath and how these six dealt with their traumatic experience.  When a story develops that isn't true about how Lee's best friend was killed, Lee decides she has to set the record straight.  She gets all the survivors to write letters telling their stories of what happened to them.

I was somewhat confused, thinking this was about the Columbine shooting; however, it is a fiction story that appears to be loosely based on that which I found kind of distasteful.  It's well written and certainly interesting. 
(Karen's review, 3 stars)

Teaser from pg. 11:  And there is so much that you--and they--don't know.  So many stories that had gotten mixed up, confused, or misrepresented.

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

"Aftermath" by Kelley Armstrong

Aftermath by Kelley Armstrong is a book straight out of the real world with a high school shooting, but this has a twist, trust me! This book deals with it three years later. Skye comes back to her hometown where her brother was the shooter. As you would expect, people do not exactly welcome her back. This book is also told by Jesse, who was Skye’s best friend/boyfriend. His brother was killed in the shooting and he is still dealing with it.

I thought this book was really good! It was told very well. Skye and Jesse were both very likeable. I thought the ending was okay but could have been better. That being said, it is still good and I give it 5 stars!
(Gerard's review)

Teaser from page 8:  I see their expressions, and I crumple to the floor.  I hear this scream, this terrible scream, and I realize it's coming from me.


Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

"Only Child" by Rhiannon Navin (School Shooting told by a child) UPDATED

In Only Child by Rhiannon Navin, there has been a school shooting at the school that Zach attends.  He is going to tell you all about it!  Zach is 6 years old.  This book centers around the shooting mostly; however, there is a whole lot more to this book than that.  The aftermath of the shooting and how it affects Zach's mom, dad and other people connected to the school. 

Here is the teaser from page 7 I'd like to share with you:  She pulled the door closed again and told me to hold the metal piece this time.  I did, even though it hurt my fingers and the door was heavy to keep closed.

 I was into this book from page 1 and I thought the pacing of it was very well done.  I really enjoyed Zach's perspective of the events going on.  Only Child is the author's first book and I will be looking forward to her next one after reading this!  With all the school shootings going on this year, this is one book you definitely should read! 
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

Karen's review 2/21/18:
Only Child by Rhiannon Navin is a contemporary fiction novel about Zach, a first grader whose fifth-grade brother was killed in a school shooting. Zach narrates the story of what happened and how his family sort of fell apart afterwards, his mixed feelings and how he spent time in his secret hideout in his brother’s closet. Zach is a cute little kid I couldn’t help but feel sorry for throughout the book.

Only Child is a touching novel that leads to healing for the family of a victim. This is an emotional read that kept my interest. I liked the ending and the child narration. Overall, it is a sad story but has some good advice for dealing with sadness. (4 stars)


Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

"Oliver Loving" by Stefan Merrill Block -- A Slow Read

Oliver Loving by Stefan Block starts with a school shooting.  Oliver is shot and now ten years later he is alive but cannot speak.  This book is more about how his family and a young lady he was fond of deals with this than the shooting.  I found this to be a slow read, but the family was interesting as they all had their own agendas concerning Oliver. 
(Gerard's review, 4 stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

"A Mother's Reckoning--Living in the Aftermath of Tragedy" by Sue Klebold

In A Mother's Reckoning by Sue Klebold, Sue is the mom of Dylan, one of the killers at Columbine High School!  She holds nothing back in describing what she felt when she found out it was her son who was one of the killers, and the reaction she received from people afterward and how she dealt with it.  She also gives us background on Dylan growing up and the lead up to the shooting.

Parts of the book were really riveting.  I have to say this was an eye opener for me!  She wrote very well too!
(Gerard's review, 5+ stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

"This is Where it Ends" by Marieke Nijkamp

This Is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp kept my attention throughout with the suspense and various points of view explaining what was happening during a school shooting in a little town.  It focused on a few best friends and some brothers and sisters.  Practically the entire book covers one hour, the time in which the whole school is in the auditorium at the beginning of the semester with the shooter who has locked them in.  Only a few kids were not in the assembly.  

I had no sympathy whatsoever for the shooter in this story.  I lot of people got shot which was sad; however, since I didn't feel any strong connection to the characters, I didn't shed any tears.  This was good, but I liked Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult and Columbine by Dave Cullen better which are also about school shootings.
(Karen's review, 1/25/16, 3 stars)

This Is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp is about a shooting at a high school. It is told by four teens who go to that school. I thought this book was really, really good! I felt like I was in the school when the shooting started. The emotions of the four teens seem very real. Once you start reading this book, it is almost impossible to put down. With all the shootings going on, this could be right out of the real news.  This is the best book I've read so far this month!
(Gerard’s review 1/22/16, 5++ stars) 

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

"The Competition" by Marcia Clark is a Real Page Turner

In The Competition by Marcia Clark, a high school gym is shot up by two shooters during a pep rally.  Two female detectives are on the hunt for them.  Will they find them before they get away or will they strike again?  This is a real page turner.  I went through a list of suspects and found clues that I thought lead to the real killers, but I was fooled.  There is plenty of action in this one—I LOVED IT!  This is my book of the month so far. 

(Gerard's review, 5++stars)

 

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"Columbine" by Dave Cullen

A Definitive Book!
Forget what you think you know about Columbine.  You will get the true story and much, much more after you read this book.  Dave Cullen had to do a job of research!  Columbine is absolutely riveting which makes it hard to put down.  It goes way beyond just the day of the shooting.  You will learn not only about Eric and Dylan but also other people affected by it too.  The story is gruesome, the writing is superb!  Put this on your "To Read" list.  This story will stay with you long after you are finished reading it.  A lot of the stories of the people whose lives were impacted by the shooting are heartbreaking, gut wrenching and one is a story of triumph!  All makes for one powerful read!  I loved this book and highly recommend it--give it 50 stars!

(Gerard's review 5/21/09)

Columbine is a comprehensive account of the school shooting that is very informative, filled with research, but became tedious for me and depressing.  The author went in-depth revealing not only what happened that day but sharing findings that revealed the thinking of the shooters, and also the horror the victims and their families endured.  I learned a lot about psychopaths by reading this book.  Rumors and myths were exposed, including the story of Cassie Bernall being a martyr and that the shooters were loners and bullied. 

I feel so sad for the victims and their families.  It was a horrible thing to have happen and I felt sad for the shooters who wasted their lives and their parents who really had no clue what their sons were doing, feeling or how to help them.  If you want to find out what really happened and why, I recommend this book.
My husband read this book too and he liked it better than I did.
(Karen's Review 1/23/10) 

Here is a video about it by the author, David Cullen:


Comments we received transferred from our other blog:

I'm still planning to read the Wally Lamb book, too. There was no time while we were getting my book to press and doing the author tour. The tour was a lot of fun, but WAY more daunting than I imagined.

By Dave Cullen on May 21, 2009

Wow. I was ten minutes away when this shooting happened. Not sure I'm ready for such an honest look at something so traumatic yet, but I'm glad that the truth is out there. Columbine is becoming a legend...

By awaitingbloom on May 21, 2009

Thanks for that, Gerard. Very kind of you. (And it did take a lot of work, but it felt worth it.) d

By Dave Cullen on May 21, 2009

Have you read The Hour I First Believed? It makes me want to read the one you suggest.  It's about Columbine, fiction but meticulously researched and quotes from the boys web emails and diaries--fascinating, but the author of I know this much is true & of She's come undone. Wally Lamb, he's spectacular.

By writing on May 21, 2009

I love reading too, this book would interest me. Gattina http://gattinawritercramps.blogspot.com/

By Gattina on January 24, 2010

Please tell us: What categories of literature do you like? What are you reading now? Who are your top five favorite authors? Have you read this one? What did you think of it?

Check out Reading, Reading & Life for a review of the audio book of Columbine.

"Nineteen Minutes" by Jodi Picoult

I found Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult almost impossible to put down. There are a lot of similarities between Peter, who was the main character and got picked on all through school, and myself who was picked on throughout my school years except I didn't shoot anybody like he did. He went on a shooting spree at his high school. I found all the characters to be very real and true to life. It had a good ending. I highly recommend it to everyone.  
(Gerard's Review 5/2007)


Much can be learned from this book about how to treat people.  I loved it!  It kept my interest all through and liked how all the characters were developed.  I think any teen would really get into it. 
(Karen's review 5/2007)

Please tell us: What categories of literature do you like? What are you reading now? Who are your top five favorite authors? Have you read this one? What did you think of it?

Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine

Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine is a novel about Caitlin, a little 5th grade girl with Asperges syndrome.  Now she has to deal with her brother getting shot in a school killing.  How she and her dad handle it is the basis of this book.  I really enjoyed Caitlin very much.  You can read it in one or two days.  It is worth your time.  This book has been nominated for book of the year in the young people’s category.  Well deserved!  I LOVED IT!!

(Gerard's review 5/18/10)

Please tell us: What categories of literature do you like? What are you reading now? Who are your top five favorite authors? Have you read this one? What did you think of it?