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    Shooter
    Shooter
    Shooter
    Ebook168 pages2 hours

    Shooter

    By Walter Dean Myers

    4/5

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    About this ebook

    The groundbreaking and widely praised novel about a school shooting, from the acclaimed author of Monster. Multiple narratives, a personal journal, and newspaper and police reports add perspective and pull readers into the story.

    "Questions of guilt and innocence drive the plot and stay with the reader," said Hazel Rochman in a starred Booklist review. "Highly readable."

    "A haunting story that uncovers the pain of several high school students," according to Teenreads.com. "It explores the tragedies of school violence and how the result of bullying can go to the most dramatic extreme. Myers has a gift for expressing the voices of his characters. Shooter is not a light read, but it will leave you reeling."

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins
    Release dateOct 6, 2009
    ISBN9780061975073
    Author

    Walter Dean Myers

    Walter Dean Myers was the New York Times bestselling author of Monster, the winner of the first Michael L. Printz Award; a former National Ambassador for Young People's Literature; and an inaugural NYC Literary Honoree. Myers received every single major award in the field of children's literature. He was the author of two Newbery Honor Books and six Coretta Scott King Awardees. He was the recipient of the Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime achievement in writing for young adults, a three-time National Book Award Finalist, as well as the first-ever recipient of the Coretta Scott King-Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement.

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    Reviews for Shooter

    4/5

    15 ratings12 reviews

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    • 1/5
      I didn't like the book "Shooter" by Walter Dean Myers. The reason being because the way that they made it into a conversation didn't interest me. They have a kid and a man to ask questions, and they go back and forth asking and answering questions. The background of this book is that there was a seventeen year old kid named Leonardo that started a school shooting. Two other kids named Cameron and Carla were interviewed and asked a lot of questions because they were working with Leonardo. Some of the questions were about them, and some about Leonardo. The reason these two kids are being asked so many questions is because Leonardo had a bad childhood and started a school shooting and then in the end, killed himself. I only rated this book 1 star because it didn't interest me enough to finish the book. I would only recommend this book if you liked Walter Dean Myers other books like "Monster".
    • 3/5
      This did not feel like a cohesive storyline to me. It was OK, just not great literature.
    • 5/5
      The story is about a realistic fiction school shooting caused by 17 year old named Leonardo. Two others were thought of working with him, 17 year old Cameron and 17 year old Carla. From interviews and Leonardo’s diary, it is shown that Leonardo has been bullied a lot, hes been in a lot of trouble. Leonardo’s diary also shows that his father beats his mother, showing that he does not have a good childhood. From all of this, Leonardo started a school shooting and killed himself.One of the best books I have ever read. A very powerful story that could sadly, actually happen. The book seems so real, I actually feel bad for Leonardo’s life. It was pretty messed up! Recommend this book to any teenage or over, and as this is another Walter Dean Myers book, 5 out of 5 stars!
    • 3/5
      the book shooter is an okay book. there is unexpecting ending to it. i feel what happening in the book wasnt planed right and things went wrong from the start.
    • 4/5
      Book review by Jarred P., posted by CA Library:"I would highly recommend the book “Shooter” by Walter Dean Myers. I enjoyed this book because it was a very interesting story and it kept you thinking what happened with the shooting inside the school and who did it. Overall I would rate this book 4 out of 5 stars.This book is based on a true story about a shooting that took place at Madison High school. The book is a series of interviews that a C.I.A. investigator is doing on one of the suspects Cameron Porter about him and his friend Lenord Grey. There were many people injured and one death due to the shootings. Another big part of this book was the entries that were found in Len’s journal. He talks about the times when he and Cameron would have “fun” by doing things such as vandalizing a church. Len also talks about the family troubles he was having that may be a factor that led to the shootings he is accused of. Who will be rightfully accused for the actions? Lenord Grey or Cameron Porter?"
    • 4/5
      Cameron, Carla, and Leonard (Len) all attend Madison High School. Investigators want to know what kind of relationship the three friends had-- and who was really behind the deadly school shootings on April 22. The story is told through a series of interviews with Carla and Cameron, and then finally through Len's journal. This novel explores aspects of how well friends really know each other, why people hang on to friends in the face of obvious or even disturbing differences, and touches on prejudice in several forms. Myers writes in his usual crisp, gripping way, and the story unfolds well. Perhaps the most disturbing part of the book is at the end, when Myers writes as Len in a series of journal entries. I'll recommend this to high schoolers looking for an edgy, suspenseful read that isn't very long (this is 223 pages, mostly in dialogue format--- quick readers can finish in a couple hours).
    • 4/5
      Shooter is a suspenseful book written by Walter Dean Myers. For those who have read his previous books like Hoops or Monster, you know you will be hooked on this one too. This book is about three friends; Leonard (Leo) Gray, Cameron Peter, and Carla Evans. They are like outsiders in school and in daily life. Cameron and Carla get investigated because they were witnesses of a murder. Leo is always looking for revenge.Leo and Cameron are good friends, and Carla is Leo’s girlfriend. Leo is crazy about guns; they all go to shooting ranges. Leo is always getting into a mess or fights; getting arrested and bailed. Leo has an enemy list, and everytime someone does something he tells them, “I’m going to put you on my enemy list.” Leo is always making his friends do wrong things with him, if they don’t, he calls them traitors. Cameron wants to get through with school even with these differences because Leo and Cameron were good friends.A murder happens; you may know who did it, but this book keeps you flipping pages to find out WHY it happened. Cameron and Carla get investigated a lot by various people. It is a great book for someone who wants a career with law. Anyways, they get investigated so the detectives and police can know why it all happened. In each interview they always leave one incident out that makes you read further on. The end is pretty shocking. Want to know if your guesses are right? You’ll have to read the book now won’t you?Shooter can be related it many people’s lives. It shows how people deal with certain situations. Such situations can be like being picked on as outsiders, or even thinking about getting revenge. You should think twice before doing such things, and this book shows it!
    • 3/5
      School violence is the subject of this high interest, lo-reading level book by the author of "Monster", Walter Dean Myers. The account of a school shooting is told by Cameron Porter, a loner and friend of the shooter, through a series of interviews, articles, and the diary of the shooter. The unraveling of events leading to the violence is slow moving with the interviews at the start through the middle of the story. It relys on the very structured questions of the interviewers and repetitive responses of Cameron. The story could be used in the classroom to discuss bullying and the warning signs leading to violence.
    • 4/5
      Myers tells the story of a school shooting through interviews, newspaper articles, police reports and a diary. This unusual method of storytelling allows the reader to question what might have actually happened, and eliminates the certainty that would have most likely resulted with a traditional narrative. All the complexity of teenage life is intact, where important decisions seem to just happen rather than being made, and how other people see you is as important as who you are. Myers doesn't offer any answers or solutions which makes for a somewhat unsatisfying read, but let's face it, it's how things really are.
    • 3/5
      As an example of non-traditional narrative, Myers story of a school shooting shines. He cleverly builds suspense through police transcripts and newspaper clippings., slowly building a complete story with great characters. He also creates an entirely non-cliched and stereotypical African American character, and deals very honestly with issues of racism.
    • 5/5
      I love contemporary issue books. Myers does here what he does so well, he tells the story of an unstable, alienated white student who takes a gun to school and kills the school bully who has been tormenting him. Myers tells the story through various official records of the incident (autopsy report, police report, psychological interviews) as well as newspaper accounts and the killer’s diary. We see the same group of incidents through the eyes of three different teens; Len, the unstable killer who showed lots of warning signs that were not properly dealt with by any of the adults he came in contact with; Carla, his maybe girlfriend who was treated so badly and Cameron, his best friend, one of the few black students in the school who is also an outsider and subject to bullying. Cameron was in the school with him the day of the shootings. Looking at the same incident through the accounts of different sources is very effective to stimulate thoughtful reflection, for example, in the news paper story the murdered bully’s father says: “you don’t send your kid to school, teach him the right things to do, to have it end like this.” (p156). But Brad appears very different in Len’s diary “At the ranch, Brad called me a faggot. He pushes and pushes into me” (197). The different viewpoints -focus reinforces that people and events are not black and white; they are much more nuanced and, I hope it will promote a more thoughtful examination in everything teens read and hear. Could lead to good discussions of important topics. 12/06
    • 4/5
      Shooter includes a series of interviews, journals, and various reports that are gathered after a school shooting has happened. A heavy and interesting read that leaves you wondering if there was anything that could have been done to help Len before he decided to bring his guns to school.

    Book preview

    Shooter - Walter Dean Myers

    Shooter cover

    Dedication

    To Bill Morris,

    my friend for so many years

    Contents

    Dedication

    Begin Reading

    Appendices

    Back Ads

    About the Author

    Praise

    Books by Walter Dean Myers

    Credits

    Copyright

    About the Publisher

    Harrison County School Safety Committee

    Threat Analysis Report

    Submitted by:

    Dr. Jonathan Margolies

    Superintendent, Harrison County Board of Education

    Dr. Richard Ewings

    Senior County Psychologist

    Special Agent Victoria Lash

    F.B.I. Threat Assessment Analyst

    Dr. Franklyn Bonner

    Spectrum Group

    Sheriff William Beach Mosley

    Harrison County Criminal Bureau

    Mission Statement

    The Harrison County School Safety Committee, headed by Dr. Jonathan Margolies, is to investigate public school safety using interviews and all available records, with particular emphasis on the tragic events of last April; and to analyze and assess all possible threats and dangers within the County’s school community; and to report to the Governor of this State any findings consistent with imminent or possible threats to:

    Any student or group of students

    Any educator or administrator

    Any other person

    Any structure or building

    It is understood by the members of the Safety Committee that the generated report will not carry a prima facie legal obligation but that it might be used in some legal capacity, and that all interviewees must be informed of their Miranda rights.

    Madison High School Incident Analysis

    Report I—Interview with Cameron Porter

    Submitted by Dr. Richard Ewings,

    Senior County Psychologist

    Cameron Porter is a seventeen-year-old African American youth who attended Madison High School in Harrison County. His grades ran in the high eighties and there is no indication, in his school records, of difficulty in social adjustment. He lives in a two-parent household and is the only child. The parental income is quite high, and there is no indication of deprivation.

    Cameron has been advised that the interviews will not be privileged and that they can be subpoenaed for any subsequent legal action, but that the primary aim of the interviews is for analytical purposes. He has agreed to be interviewed in an effort to cooperate with the Analysis team and has signed a waiver to that effect.

    He appeared at my office punctually, accompanied by his mother, who then left for another appointment. Cameron is a good-looking young man, neatly dressed, of medium to dark complexion. He seems reasonably comfortable and no more nervous than would be expected under the circumstances. A letter informing Cameron of his Miranda rights was drafted, signed by him, and put on file.

    The initial taped interview began at 10:30 on the morning of October 24. This was six months after the incident at the high school.

    Notes to transcriber:

    Please return all tapes to my office as soon as possible.

    Please indicate significant pauses or other voicings in the unedited draft of this report.

    Dr. Richard Ewings

    Richard Ewings: Good morning.

    Cameron Porter: Good morning.

    RE: Do you mind if I call you Cameron?

    CP: Fine.

    RE: Cameron, can we begin by you telling me something about yourself? Where do you live? Who do you live with? That sort of thing?

    CP: Sure. I live over on Jewett Avenue. I live with my mom, Elizabeth, and my father.

    RE: Can you give me your father’s name and tell me what sort of work your parents do?

    CP: My father’s name is Norman. He does quality control for Dyna-Rod Industries. They manufacture heavy equipment, and they lease it to building contractors. What he does is travel around and check out how the leasing end of their business works. My mother works for an office-supply company.

    RE: What would heavy equipment consist of?

    CP: Cranes, derricks, specialized vehicles.

    RE: How would you describe how you get along with your parents?

    CP: Okay. Just normal I guess.

    RE: Do you go out with them much? Are there family conversations, say, around the dinner table?

    CP: My father travels a lot. He’s away about a week and a half every month. Maybe more, I don’t know. We sort of—I wouldn’t say that we talk a lot. I wouldn’t say that we don’t talk a lot, either. We go out—we used to go out to eat once a month. Arturo’s. You know where that is?

    RE: About a mile off 95, isn’t it?

    CP: Down from the mall.

    RE: Right. That’s a nice place. Good Italian food. Do you enjoy eating there?

    CP: It’s okay. No big deal. They like it.

    RE: What kinds of things do you talk about at Arturo’s? Actually, what kinds of things do you enjoy talking about with your parents?

    CP: I guess we don’t really talk that much. When we do talk—usually it’s about something—maybe about their jobs or something. They talk about their jobs a lot. They’re trying to—they have these goals they work on. You know, what they want to accomplish every year, that sort of thing.

    RE: What do you think of their goals?

    CP: Their goals? They’re okay. They have things they want to do. Financial security—that sort of thing. They’re, like, doing the right things.

    RE: When you say they’re doing the right things, do you mean that you think they’re doing the right things?

    CP: Yeah. Yes, I guess so.

    RE: How would you describe your relationship with your parents? Can you tell me how you think you get along with them, perhaps if there were different things you would have liked to have done with them than you were doing?

    CP: They asked me that at the county office.

    RE: And what did you say?

    CP: I have a good relationship with my parents. They’re okay.

    RE: Cameron, I’m not trying to suggest you don’t have a good relationship with your parents. I know that’s always the cliché that people want to drag out. But I am trying to get as full a picture of you as I can. To know you, or to try to get to know you, I need to know about your relationships. With your parents, of course, and with Leonard. I’m sure you can understand that.

    CP: Yeah. Yes.

    RE: Yeah is fine here. Do you have any hobbies? Do you play an instrument? What do you do in your spare time?

    CP: I play flute. I’m not great at it or anything. I wanted to play bass guitar. Once I rented one and I liked it, but I didn’t keep it up. Mostly I sort of do what everybody else does. I like sports, music. Regular stuff.

    RE: What kind of music do you listen to?

    CP: It changes. People think you listen to one kind of music—that’s crazy. You turn the radio on or you play your own stuff and that’s what you do. There was a big thing in the paper about Satyricon, but it was like other kids talking, not me. I listen to them, but I’m not a real freak for them, and I’m not into any Fourth Reich number. That’s why I agreed to talk with you, to get things straight.

    RE: And I really appreciate it, Cameron. One of the things that I see on a regular basis is how the media can distort reality.

    CP: I think I’m average. Pretty much average.

    RE: You don’t have an average IQ. You’ve been tested in the 140 range, which is very high. And on the test you were given, that’s the top of the range, so I know you’re above average in measurable intelligence. I scored about 15 points less than you did on that same test.

    CP: It doesn’t mean anything. I think it doesn’t mean anything.

    RE: I’m not sure. I don’t think anybody is really sure about intelligence. Or at least intelligence that’s measured on tests. . . . What do you think Leonard would say about your IQ score?

    CP: He made a big deal of it. He was into that kind of thing. A lot of people are, really. Some people say that they’re not, but then you hear them talking about who is smart or who isn’t smart. It’s the same way they talk about who can play ball or who has the best car. It’s always about comparisons. Kids measure each other and then pretend they’re not doing it.

    RE: How about your parents? They must have been proud of your grades.

    CP: They expected me to do okay. They’re not into academics. With them it’s like always knowing what’s the smart thing to do. My father always says that you can have a high IQ and still be stupid.

    RE: What’s your father’s goal in life?

    CP: One goal? I don’t know. Maybe to have everybody talking about how smart he is. Something like that.

    RE: And that was okay with you?

    CP: I don’t think about it that much. Yeah, it’s okay.

    RE: You ever just hang out with your father?

    CP: He plans things—he doesn’t just—he’s not a casual sort of guy. Neither of my parents are. They’re sort of intense. They’re not, like, super intense, but they’re pretty intense. They don’t hang out.

    RE: That describes a lot of parents.

    CP: I guess.

    RE: You look more like your father or your mother?

    CP: More like my mom’s side of the family. Not so much like her.

    RE: When did you first meet Leonard?

    CP: We were in the third grade together, but I didn’t meet him then. I mean, we were in the same class. We figured that out after we became friends, but we weren’t friends at first. We were in about three grades together without ever knowing each other that much.

    RE: How did you become friends with him?

    CP: We more or less got together in our sophomore year. I was trying out for the basketball team. He came to all the tryouts just to watch. I didn’t make the team and I felt pretty bad. One day we were walking home together—he lives near Fairmount—and Len was kidding me about not making the team. Actually he kidded me a lot, but he had a way of almost putting you down but smiling as he did it. Do you know what I mean?

    RE: No, not really.

    CP: He’d say things like, Hey, Cam, you really stunk the place up. But he’d be smiling and you felt—I felt that he was putting me down, but not in a mean way. Like when they made the final cuts, I got that far, and I wasn’t on the team and my father found out and started putting me down. Len wasn’t like that.

    RE: Your father was upset that you didn’t make the team?

    CP: You’re making like it was a big deal. It wasn’t.

    RE: I’m sorry. Why don’t you tell me about it?

    CP: My father used to be like all-world or something. He’s got a scrapbook, trophies, the whole nine yards. He played basketball in the Army and then professional

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