Brendan and Gray have been relentlessly harassed and bullied by the jocks at Middletown high for as long as they could remember. But not anymore. They decide enough is enough. They take all their classmates hostage at a school dance with an arsenal of stolen guns. It soon becomes clear to the students during the chaos that the only thing that matters to Brendan and Gary is revenge. At points along the story, there are statistics about gun violence, further educating the reader's understanding of the backdrop of this story.
This was a good, quick, although depressing read. A fictionalized account of a school shooting in middle America, the book is told by a wide variety of characters, including the shooter's friends, enemies, and various classmates, teachers, parents, etc. Interspersed throughout the book are statistics about gun violence. The author has definite ideas, but no firm solutions, about the problem of school shootings. It is a provocative look at a disturbing and pertinent subject.
Someone who is ready for a dark read and that is ready to face the real problem of gun violence is a perfect candidate for reading this book.