This story relates the troubling contemporary issues regarding high school
shootings. Peter Houghteen, a teen who has been
bullied for years by the popular crows, one day brings weapons to his high school in Sterling and starts shooting. The shooting itself takes no more than 19 minutes. The result: 10 dead and 19 wounded.
The tragedy is recounted from different perspectives, including that of Peter. In flashbacks it is revealed how, as a consequence of the
bullying, Peter retreated into a world of violent computer games. Judge Alex Cormier tries to maintain her objectivity as she struggles to understand her daughter Josie, one of the surviving witnesses of the shooting. Josie was Peters only friend during childhood, but was later accepted by the popular crowd. Peter spared Josie, but killed her boyfriend.
The book lets us take a look at both the victims’ worlds and that of the shooter, who in his own way is also a victim. It also shows the alienation of the kids who do not belong to the popular inner circle in high schools and the effects of bullying.
Characters from previous books are also involved: Detective Patrick DuCharme is the one to apprehend Peter and Jordan McAfee agrees to defend the young killer. The court room drama is described at length and draws you into the situation.
This novel will undoubtedly capture considerable attention for its controversial subject and twist ending. It also provides readers the opportunity to see situations from several points of view, and that has to be applauded.