The book I am currently reading for this literature circle is Shooter. Shooter is told from the perspective of five kids: Isabelle, the popular, high-achieving student council president, Hogan, an ex-football player with a troubled past, Alice, an introverted writer trapped in the role of a caregiver, Noah, Alice’s autistic brother, and Xander, a socially awkward photographer.
They are all trapped in an unlocked boys bathroom during a school shooting. The experience reveals pieces of their true story and past which really gives them a new perspective in life. I really liked the way the author wrote the book in the perspective of all the characters. The book is essentially telling the same story from the point of view of five different people through unique formats such as prose, poetry, text messages, journals, photographs, and homework assignments.
Writing the book in this format was really effective because it demonstrates how someone can show negative regard towards aspects of their lives which, in the perspective of someone else, are considered positive and desired. Especially in a high school scenario, it really opens your eyes and gives you a different perspective of how others can look at things in life that you have a strong opinion about. An example of this would be Isabelle and Alice. Isabelle has too much parental pressure to be successful and wonders what her life would've been like if she wasn’t picked that day in the orphanage. While on the other hand, Alice had been deserted by her parents and is held back from progressing in her life because she is the only one left in her family that can care for her brother and grandmother. They both think that they got the lower end of the spectrum and wish that they were in each others shoes. However, when they are exposed to each others’ backgrounds, they are a little more grateful for what they do have. This book so far has been really exciting to read, with so many plot twists and surprising backgrounds of people lives. I can’t wait to see how the book will end.
