Hi All!
Sorry my posts have been lacking lately; I got a teaching job! It’s only a contract that ends in June, but it’s still a 1.0, 5 days a week so it’s taken most of my time and energy to build a grade 2-4 English program as well as a grade 6-8 music program, AND 6-7 drama.dance programs!
One book I did have the pleasure of picking up recently was Shooter by Caroline Pignat
First off let me start off by saying I almost never have free time anymore; but I still managed to sit down and dig into this book! Finishing it in less than two days (it would’ve been one if time permitted!) it was so insightfully written not only because it touches on a very real and scary topic for today’s youth, but also because each chapter takes the point of view of one of the 5 main characters.
Think: Breakfast Club 2.0.
You’ve got the Pretty, popular girl named Alice.
The Jock whose a little too violent (with a thing for the pretty girl) Hogan.
The academically smart, but socially struggling Xander.
The shy, quiet girl named Izzy.
And the wild card: Izzy’s autistic brother Noah.
Each chapter not only focuses on what’s going on, but it is told in a completely unique way based on the character’s experiences. For example, Noah’s chapters tend to be told in the form of picture cards one would use with an autistic student to guide them through their day. Alice’s meanwhile had a lot more dialogue as the author was often recounting her texting conversations to others in the school while things were happening in the room with the other 4 students. Overall, the book takes place only over the course of an hour, with a short epilogue at the end. And I will be the first to admit, I cried.
I cried hard at the end of this book.
You find out that Xander was one of the two kids who set up this ‘prank’ with someone he considered a friend, only to find out that the other kid had every intention of actually hurting people. Xander, scared, took off with the supplies preventing some harm from coming to others but was hesitant to share his information with anyone. In a daring change of hearts all around, Xander ends up saving everyone (landing himself in the hospital in the process) and Noah is almost killed by police who think he’s a threat for not being able to understand their shouted directions, only to be pushed aside at the last second by Hogan who takes a bullet for Noah.
Overall, about a grade 7-8 reading level, but I would suggest using it as a tool in the classroom. Either as a read aloud, where you can lead the discussions, or as literature circle activities so you can be sure to check in on the groups progress, especially nearer the end of the book.
Overall gets a 5 stars from me for being a fantastic book!