Lockdown (Orca Soundings)
Readers will see how good people can make bad decisions in this trim novel about a student who, frustrated by the abuse of his peers, brings a gun to school and rampages the halls, sending the place into emergency lockdown. Interestingly, the author avoids placing the blame on that one person: I didn’t mean it’s your fault. I mean, no one stepped in. So maybe it’s everyone’s fault. And anyway, Josh isn’t crazy. He’s just different. Crazy and normal are two terms the students (and readers ) struggle to define as the story spins out. The issues are realistic, but things are tied up a bit too quickly, and there’s not enough insight into the characters’ backgrounds to place their behavior in firm context. It’s made clear early on that the shooter’s rage is the result of accumulated abuse, but readers looking for depth may not buy the premeditated nature of the young man’s actions. The language will suit less skillful readers, who will find this story of a teen-related current issue quite accessible. Grades 6-8. --Rebecca Jensen