Give a Boy a Gun

"Give a Boy a Gun" is a book written by Todd Strasser. The storyline, which is constructed by quotations made by characters in this non-fictional book, almost mimics the Columbine High School Massacre on April 20, 1999.

Plot summary (Spoiler Warning)

The main characters are Brendan Lawlor and Gary Searle, who are outcasts at their school and are bullied everyday. The book is written in flashbacks from their friends and from teachers and even bullies. Within the book it is revealed what went through both boys heads, and what they were going through. It reveals what they thought and why. It takes you into the mind of a school shooter. Throughout the book, the characters get deeper and deeper into a dark abyss and their situations get worse and worse to the point where Brendan and Gary find themselves testing bombs and guns with close friends. The line is crossed and the story is set in stone when the two boys bring the guns and rig bombs to doors of their gym at a school dance, taking all the kids and teachers hostage and threatening to kill until Gary commits suicide and afterwards, while Brendan is in shock, a bunch of boys tackle him to the ground and beat him into a coma.

Characters

* Gary Searle – one of the shooters
* Brendan Lawlor – the other shooter
* Ryan Clancy – a friend of both Gary’s and Brendan’s
* Allison Findley – Gary’s on-and-off girlfriend at Middletown High School
* TerminX – Brendan’s screen-name
* Dayzd – Gary’s screen-name
* Blkchokr – Allison’s screen-name
* Rebooto – Ryan’s screen-name
* Cynthia Searle – Gary’s mother
* Emily Kirsch – a former friend of Brendan’s
* Brett Betzig – a friend of Brendan’s from Springfield
* Julie Shore – a friend of Brendan’s from Springfield
* Beth Bender – Middletown High School counsellor
* Paul Burns – a football player at Middletown High School
* Sam Flach - a football player at Middletown High School
* Deidre Bunson – a ‘popular’ girl at Middletown High School
* Ruth Hollington – Gary’s fourth-grade teacher at Middletown Elementary School
* Stuart McEvoy – Gary’s sixth-grade teacher at Middletown Middle School
* Katherine Sullivan – Brendan’s sixth-grade teacher at Springfield Middle School
* Kit Conner – a neighbour of the Lawlors’ in Springfield
* Dustin Williams – a neighbour of Brendan’s in Middletown
* Julia Reingold – a teacher of Brendan’s at Middletown Middle School
* Dick Flanagan – Brendan’s ninth-grade English teacher at Middletown High School
* F. Douglas Ellin – a biology teacher at Middletown High School
* Allen Curry – principal of Middletown High School
* Jack Phillips – a neighbour of Brendan’s
* Chelsea Baker – a transfer student to Middletown High School
* Denise Shipley – Gary’s stepsister