A heartbreaking novel that offers no easy answers, Give a Boy a Gun addresses the growing problem of school violence. Although it is a work of fiction, it could tragically be the leading nightly news story in any community. After a high school shooting at her alma mater, a college journalism student returns home to interview students, teachers, parents, and friends of the suspects. Intermingled with her interviews are journal entries written by the two troubled boys responsible for the shooting. Their journals chronicle years of systematic abuse at the hands of their classmates and follow the boys' frustration and pain as they turn to rage. Give a Boy a Gun explores every angle and raises tough questions about peer bullying, gun control and accountability. A full cast of narrators' voices add a dramatic reality to this provocative work.
Download and start listening now!
"This book really opened my eyes to bullying and what it can drive kids to do. This book is presented in an extraordinary way and really haunted me. It was amazing and powerful and at some times I had to remind myself it was fiction but then I realized that events like this actually happen. This book not only showed the significance of banning dangerous killing weapons but shows how oblivious administrators are to bullying. I recommend this book to every single person in the world and I believe it will change every person in some way. Even if you think it is to dark or not your type I encourage you to read it."
— Danny (5 out of 5 stars)
“There are some outstanding readers among the cast. Suzanne Toren is especially good as the calm, insightful teacher, Betsy Bates, and the college student doing the interviews, Denise Shipley. The children’s voices sound so authentic and real that it’s especially chilling to hear them discussing these horrific events.”
— AudioFile“Both haunting and harrowing, the book deserves a wide readership, discussion, and debate.”
— Booklist (starred review)“Vivid, distressing, and all too real…The multiple points of view create empathy for a wide range of characters and enhance the book’s in-your-face reality. Important, insightful, and chilling.”
— Kirkus Reviews" I had to read this for one of my teaching classes and it really got to me. "
— Tiffany, 12/31/2013" I read this book in a couple hours. Very moving story about high school violence. The author does a great job of creating believable raw emotions. Also, the author puts true facts in the footnotes of almost every page. It becomes a frightening tale not because of the two main characters plot to kill those who do them harm, but of what little is done by teachers and administration to help the two suffering students. The story is told in an interview type style. "
— Haworth, 12/25/2013" Although this may not be the "best written" book, I think every Middle Schooler, High Schooler, teacher, parent, and concerned adult should read it! This is not an easy book to read. It is very short, unusually written (in flashbacks using parts of letters, texts, and interviws) and it pertains to topics REAL in the lives of teens and teachers every day. This is a book that demands discussion and hopefully, change in behavior of all who read it. "
— Ckrippner, 12/12/2013" This book was a very great and informative book. I learned many interesting facts about guns, suicide, and topics related to shootings. It was also a very touching story about kids that got tormented their whole life. What I loved about this book was that incorporated a story and a lot of facts. I would recommend this book to anyone who thinks they can handle it because it is very tough to read at times. "
— Cole, 12/12/2013" I read that will make you never want to hold gun even a nerf... it was amazing "
— Dana, 12/6/2013" One of my favorite books!!! "
— Johnathan, 11/29/2013" it was.. okay.. i found myself routeing for the Gary and Brendan... "
— Caity, 11/20/2013" I read this book in one seating, actually one walking because I was on the treadmill. It is a devastating plot, but one we cannot look away from. High school students would definitely give this book a 5 star rating. "
— Gloria, 10/2/2013" This was an insightful book that made us see exactly what it is that drives some students to start violence at school. I'd say it would be best to have every student read this book in order to be more aware of the Domino/Butterfly Effect students' actions have on a person. "
— Vanessa, 9/30/2013" I can't really say much except that this book was amazing. I mean it really helps you see that tauanting a young teen can lead to a horrible ending. "
— MON!CA, 9/10/2013" i thought that this book was really sad. this boys are made fun of by a lot of people there high school lives so they snap. And they snap hard tnot only do they want to throw away away their lives but the lives of the other kids that made their lives a living hell. "
— Paige, 8/20/2013" An interesting but disturbing look at why school shootings happen. Made me paranoid, with not a lot of hope in our society. But there is a lot to learn, as well. "
— Judy, 1/28/2013" this book was kind of sad but okey i recommend it "
— Maria, 12/26/2012" Not an enjoyable read--I had the feeling of dread in my stomach the entire time. "
— Kirwan, 9/23/2012" A very well-written (and well-rounded) account of a fictional school shooting. It has a few unexpected twists, and I think the author did a good job seeing into the minds of a community upset by violence. "
— Kate, 8/27/2012" Probably very timely when it came out. I didn't love it. Did enjoy the audio version and the character voices. "
— Jennifer, 10/31/2011" Not my kind of book! "
— Diana, 4/19/2011" I realy like the book i think its funny when they say bad words or when they plan there plan to kill students. I think everybody should read is "
— Esteban, 4/18/2011" i think this book was awesome. it was the best book i have ever read in my life. "
— Edgar, 4/18/2011" This book is about two teenage boys that struggle in high school wit kids always making fun of them and bullying them. then they get a hold of a gun and keep the school hostage at the prom. <br/> this book is very interesting. <br/> "
— Arnulfo, 4/12/2011" This book is really good. I recommend it to every one. "
— Liliana, 4/11/2011" GREAT BOOK!! people need to know the effects of Gun in Youth and the world. "
— Omar, 4/6/2011" I expected a little more in depth of the two criminals. I wanted to know more about what they were feeling rather than what everyone else thought they were or just saw how they acted. "
— Moriah, 3/6/2011" this book has some pretty harsh things in it. it has lots of conflict and is about bullying. its about jocks picking on 2 kids for years. physically and verbally. which cause both of them to go on a shooting rampage in their school in search of revenge. "
— 713james, 3/2/2011" I am on the edge about this book. I liked it, but it was a little confuzing yet unique. I liked it, but I would not read it again. Maybe once more... "
— Nicole, 2/24/2011" Didn't really hold me. Characters all sound pretty much the same. Footnotes are out of date (hardly the book's fault; I'm sure they were current on publication 12 years ago). I can see some teens being really grabbed by this, but it's not what I'm looking for right now. "
— Brandy, 2/23/2011" Looking to share this book with my students as a book choice after we read THE CHOCOLATE WAR. "
— Paige, 2/16/2011" The only good part of this book was the statistical information given on guns. "
— Shea, 2/5/2011" It been a year and some and I still haven't gave the library back the book.<br/>This book makes you rethink about how you approach someone and bulling. Also about<br/>the reaction. <strong>This book will teach you a lesson</strong> "
— Cece, 1/29/2011Todd Strasser is the internationally bestselling author of numerous books for children and teens, most notably The Wave and Give a Boy a Gun, which are taught in classrooms around the world. His popular and diverse YA and middle-grade books include the cyber thrillogy, which began with Wish You Were Dead, and the Help, I’m Trapped…series.
Carine Montbertrand is an award-winning narrator of dozens of audiobooks. When she first started working in the 1990s, she sounded younger than her years and specialized in children’s and young adult titles. Since then she has expanded to fiction for adults and has recorded everything from murder mysteries to fantasy and inspirational titles. She is adept with dialects and accents, voicing characters from countries around the world. She also specializes in English language titles with a French flavor, as she is half French. With her audiobooks, she has the opportunity to tell wonderful stories while finding voices for men, women, children, and sometimes ghosts and extraterrestrials.
Johnny Heller, winner of numerous Earphones and Audie Awards, was named a “Golden Voice” by AudioFile magazine in 2019. He has been a Publishers Weekly Listen-Up Award winner from 2008 through 2013 and he has been named a top voice of 2008 and 2009 and selected as one of the Top 50 Narrators of the Twentieth Century by AudioFile magazine.
Suzanne Toren, award-winning narrator, has over thirty years of experience in narration. She was named a “Golden Voice” by AudioFile magazine in 2019. She has won the American Foundation for the Blind’s Scourby Award for Narrator of the Year, AudioFile magazine named her the 2009 Best Voice in Nonfiction & Culture, and she is the recipient of multiple Earphones Awards. She performs on and off Broadway and in regional theaters and has appeared on Law & Order and in various soap operas.
Jack Garrett’s voice is immediately recognizable from his work in commercials and as a personality on radio stations in the West and Southwest. In addition to guest appearances on television, he has performed in dozens of theater productions on regional and New York stages, including Guys and Dolls, Hallelujah Breakdown, Prelude to a Kiss, Cast a Spell, and Bongo Fever.
Stina Nielsen is an actress and audiobook narrator. Her reading of Kevin Henke’s Junonia earned her a 2011 Best Voice from AudioFile magazine. She is the winner of three AudioFile Earphones Awards.
Robert Ramirez came to audiobook narration fresh from his MFA in classical theater. Initially answering a casting call for a narrator who spoke Spanish, Robert has used his Mexican-American background to imbue authentic flavor and dialogue in audio titles. His powerful command of language and rich voice reflect his interest in dialects. Ramirez is the winner of eight AudioFile Earphones Awards.
Scott Shina is the narrator of such audiobooks as The Kid Who Became President by Dan Gutman and Finding Caruso by Kim Barnes.