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White high school hallway with black lockers

Violent Ends

Published:
2016

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 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 bullets at 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 told from multiple perspectives—with one character and one event drawing them all together—by some of YA’s most recognizable names.

Watch our video interview with Neal Shusterman.

Watch our video interview with Cynthia Leitich Smith.

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Book lists this appears on

long hall with blue lockers

Themed Booklists

School Shootings: Trying to Understand the Unthinkable

Helping readers find empathy, sympathy, and understanding are lofty goals for YA authors who delve into the tragedy of school shootings. Told from multiple perspectives, this collection brings together many voices helping young adults process the unthinkable.