#79: Violent Ends by Shaun David Hutchinson

In a one-of-a-kind collaboration, seventeen of the most recognizable YA writers—including Shaun David Hutchinson, Neal and Brendan Shusterman, and Beth Revis—come together to share the viewpoints of a group of students affected by a school shooting.

It took only twenty-two minutes for Kirby Matheson to exit his car, march onto the school grounds, enter the gymnasium, and open fire, killing six and injuring five others.

But this isn’t a story about the shooting itself. This isn’t about recounting that one unforgettable day.

This is about Kirby and how one boy—who had friends, enjoyed reading, playing saxophone in the band, and had never been in trouble before—became a monster capable of entering his school with a loaded gun and firing on his classmates.

Each chapter is told from a different victim’s viewpoint, giving insight into who Kirby was and who he’d become. Some are sweet, some are dark; some are seemingly unrelated, about fights or first kisses or late-night parties. This is a book of perspectives—with one character and one event drawing them all together—from the minds of some of YA’s most recognizable names.

• Kindle: 2128 KB
• Print Length: 352 pages
• Publisher: Simon Pulse (September 1, 2015)
• ASIN: B00TBKYIX0

AMAZON US   |   AMAZON CA   |   AMAZON UK

About the Author

Shaun David Hutchinson lives with his partner and two dogs in South Florida and spends way too much time watching Doctor Who.

REVIEW:

Painfully powerful.

Disturbing in all the right ways, this story is so raw, so real, that you will either devour it or throw it away in a fit of sobs. 

Want to know what this book is about? Think Columbine. Think Umpqua Community College. Told from 17 points of view, this book is an enthralling account of one horrific day and the events leading up to it and prior to it. I especially appreciated the guns' point of view. Brilliant really, is what that is. 

While this book may be hard to read for the nature of the content, but with this kind of tragedy happening so often in the United States, I think everyone should read it. Get a little better understanding of why people snap and do these heinous things. The cycle has to be stopped somehow, and knowledge is usually the key to that power. In my opinion, this book is a MUST read.

5/5

**No compensation was received for posting. Compensation will be earned if purchases are made from the links within. This copy was read free at PulseIt. Opinions are owned by Freda's Voice.