Cassie W. (problematic) reviewed on + 33 more book reviews
Scholarly look at school shootings. The focus is mainly on the shootings in Westside (Jonesboro), Arkansas, and Heath (Paducah), Kentucky. It's not the easiest read because of the academic language and the web of citations and careful hedging of statements that the scholarly style entails. But the way the authors dig into the ways that teenagers interact with each other and the adults and institutions around them is fascinating. Also admirable is the authors conclusion that there is no single, easy to spot reason (like playing violent video games or wearing black or being a nerd) for school shootings, but that these events are outgrowths of a complex interaction of factors, for which there is no simple solution. A worthwhile read for those interested in how young people interact with American culture and how that influences their development and relationships.
