Self. Destructed.

August 4, 2014
The harsh consequences of a teenager’s dangerous, impulsive actions form the core of this timely entry in the Gravel Road series, written at a third-grade reading level. Michael can hardly believe he’s dating the hot new girl at school, and he quickly becomes obsessed with her. After Ashley rejects him, Michael decides that bringing his father’s gun to school will help him make a statement. Authorities diffuse the situation, but the crime lands Michael in a juvenile detention center for a year, and a continuation school “for misfits” after that. Readers are privy to Michael’s stressful family situation as well as his confused emotional state and troubled thoughts as the brief chapters and months whiz by. Ages 12–up.

July 1, 2014
In a sparse and simply written cautionary tale, Michael Ellis brings a gun to school to scare a girl who has rejected him.Events move quickly in this fast-paced narrative. One moment, Michael and Ashley are talking in the school hallway. A chapter or two later, they're going on dates, and just shortly after that, Michael thoughtlessly insults Ashley's taste in music, and she distances herself from him. The narrative hints as to what's happening in Michael's mind and why-insecurities about being from the poor side of town, impulsive anger Michael doesn't entirely understand himself, a fixation on Ashley that readers may find troubling even though Michael does not-but immediate thoughts and actions rather than emotional analysis are the focus here. When Michael brings his father's gun to school, he is arrested before any shots can be fired. The second half of the book shows Michael's life in a juvenile-detention facility, where he largely keeps to himself, and then at Savage Continuation School, "a school for misfits." A great amount of time elapses in relatively few words, and consequently, Michael's life and emotional state seem to change somewhat quickly. Readers who discuss or analyze Michael's journey, however, will find plenty to talk and think about.A readable and timely tale that covers a lot of ground. (Fiction. 12-16)

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September 1, 2014

Gr 7 Up-Michael is a high school junior who likes to run and dreams of one day becoming a pediatrician. When Ashley, a beautiful girl from an affluent family, falls for Michael, he can hardly believe his luck. Life is grand until the couple have an argument that leads to their breakup. Unable to move on from the relationship, Michael becomes dangerously drawn to his father's gun case. He takes a gun to school with an intention that is not fully clear until the end of the book, but the weapon is never fired. Michael ends up in prison and eventually on parole. Can he change his life around, or is he on a path to his own self-destruction? Much of the story takes place within the landscape of Michael's mind. The supporting characters play only a small role in Michael's recovery, but readers become well-acquainted with the teen's internal healing process. The absence of detail about Michael's appearance makes him a kind of "everyman," but some readers may miss those specifics. Ultimately, the book's appealing design will help it find readership, and Michael's likability will have teens pulling for the troubled young man.-Alison O'Reilly Poage, formerly at Cutchogue New Suffolk Free Library, NY

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