Massacre at Virginia Tech: Disaster & Survival (Deadly Disasters)
The 2007 Virginia Tech shootings, though on a smaller scale than the apocalyptic modern events covered in other volumes of the Deadly Disasters series, sparked an unusually intense emotional reaction nationwide—perhaps because, unlike hurricanes or earthquakes, mad gunners could (and do) pop up anywhere. Worth delivers a spare, almost victim-by-victim account of Seung-Hui Cho’s murderous rampage. He also sketches in the killer’s troubled history, glances at similar recent mass murders, provides an evenhanded overview of the gun-control controversy, and closes with a look at the aftermath. Short, pithy, illustrated with color photos, and capped by relatively extensive endnotes and lists of further resources, this book can be used for reports as well as for those who simply want to know more. Grades 9-12. --John Peters