Myers, Walter Dean. Shooter.

MYERS, Walter Dean. Shooter. HarperTempest, Amistad. 223p. c2004. 0-06-447290-6. $6.99. JS

To quote the review of the hardcover in KLIATT, May 2004: The acclaimed author of Monster and many other books for YAs turns his attention to a school shooting in this disturbing look at how such a terrible event can come to pass. The novel, a collage of sorts, begins with an interview with Cameron, a 17-year-old African American student whose role in the shooting is not immediately clear. What does emerge is a portrait of an outsider, a bright but lonely boy who is befriended by Len, a white boy full of hate and anger. Len teaches Cameron to shoot and involves him in vandalizing a church. Both boys are bullied at school by jocks, but the authorities overlook it. Through more interviews, school, police, and newspaper reports, and finally Len's handwritten journal, we piece together the tragedy and the roles of each player, and understand how it came to pass.

As in Todd Strasser's Give a Boy a Gun, Myers" use of multiple viewpoints to tell the story of a school shooting gives it an impact beyond that supplied by just one perspective. Issues of racism, bullying, family dynamics, and the nature of friendship all play a role as Cameron, an articulate teenager, struggles to make sense of his participation. A sobering look at how such tragedies develop, and the kind of personalities involved. Paula Rohrlick, KLIATT

J--Recommended for junior high school students. The contents are of particular interest to young adolescents and their teachers.

S--Recommended for senior high school students.