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Quad
Everything led up to this moment—the point when the teasing, the cruelty, the pressure all became too much. And someone finally snapped.
Now six students, from six different cliques, are trapped in the student store while a shooter terrorizes their school. The shooter's identity is teased out through the students' flashbacks until the reader breathlessly reaches the final page. It's only there that he discovers the shocking answer to the question: Who is shooting out in the quad?
This gripping thriller by educator C. G. Watson is inspired by observations made in her own high school. Quad examines in heartrending detail how even the most casual cruelties can tear people apart.
296 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2007
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2309 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
August 28, 2007
This is the kind of book you want to read in one go because the story just carries you along, the plotlines just keep getting more and more entwined and the stakes keeping go up and up so you must know what happens next!
The stakes actually start pretty high with this book. It opens in the quad of Muir High School where Ranger (a freak) is starting his day, putting up with the bullying of some jocks or "juicers" as Ranger calls them, when a series of pops slowly gets his attention. As the popping noises come nearer, preceded by a flood of panicked students, the truth sinks in: someone is shooting up the school. Ranger gets the hated jocks and a handful of other kids into the school's store. They barricade themselves in, unsure of who is shooting or why. The next chapter is the first in a series of flashbacks to a few weeks before the shooting. Clique by clique, we see the slow unwinding of events that has led each student to this moment. Told in third person, Quad tells the interconnected stories of the cheerleader-sluts, the drama queens, the choir boys, the jocks, the techs, the freaks, and the preps--and shows that each group, even the techies bent on ekeing out justice--is capable of its own patented cruelty. As the book returns to short chapters that take place in the quad, it becomes increasingly clear that several kids could potentially be the shooter, each with a fairly compelling motive for venegeance.
Who is the shooter in the quad?
The stakes actually start pretty high with this book. It opens in the quad of Muir High School where Ranger (a freak) is starting his day, putting up with the bullying of some jocks or "juicers" as Ranger calls them, when a series of pops slowly gets his attention. As the popping noises come nearer, preceded by a flood of panicked students, the truth sinks in: someone is shooting up the school. Ranger gets the hated jocks and a handful of other kids into the school's store. They barricade themselves in, unsure of who is shooting or why. The next chapter is the first in a series of flashbacks to a few weeks before the shooting. Clique by clique, we see the slow unwinding of events that has led each student to this moment. Told in third person, Quad tells the interconnected stories of the cheerleader-sluts, the drama queens, the choir boys, the jocks, the techs, the freaks, and the preps--and shows that each group, even the techies bent on ekeing out justice--is capable of its own patented cruelty. As the book returns to short chapters that take place in the quad, it becomes increasingly clear that several kids could potentially be the shooter, each with a fairly compelling motive for venegeance.
Who is the shooter in the quad?
January 5, 2012
"Why? Why do people have to be so mean?"
Quad started out confusing. There were too many characters, the chapters flipped by so quickly and bounced between the characters like a ping pong ball in a heated five-way match between pros. I kept having to turn back a few pages to check who was who and when things were happening. It was disorienting. But after getting the hang of it, I was eventually able to get into the story, and it left me frustrated. Angry. Indignant. For the characters, the victims of bullying and bad treatment, provoked or not, and the instigators.
It made me think, too. Are people like Maggie, the rear end of all these bullies, any better than people like Stone? She practically did the same thing as Stone, only in another form. It was equally despicable.
One thing though - with the pace, abundance of characters and constant switching of perspectives, there was virtually no opportunity for readers to develop any emotional attachment towards the characters at all. No extreme outrage, no urge to scream and throw the book at a wall and shout at the characters, no deep feelings, nothing. In this sense, Quad really is just a story. The author is just telling us a story about how all these kids in school are being mistreated by each other and the eventual repercussions. We barely feel anything strongly for the characters. But I guess that really isn't the point of Quad at all. Perhaps we are supposed to look at the situation in a detached, objective manner with no biased attachment to any character in particular, to really understand the big picture. I don't know.
Quad provides all readers a deep, realistic insight to how all forms of bullying affect people. Be nice. There's a limit to how much each person can take before they finally break.
Quad started out confusing. There were too many characters, the chapters flipped by so quickly and bounced between the characters like a ping pong ball in a heated five-way match between pros. I kept having to turn back a few pages to check who was who and when things were happening. It was disorienting. But after getting the hang of it, I was eventually able to get into the story, and it left me frustrated. Angry. Indignant. For the characters, the victims of bullying and bad treatment, provoked or not, and the instigators.
It made me think, too. Are people like Maggie, the rear end of all these bullies, any better than people like Stone? She practically did the same thing as Stone, only in another form. It was equally despicable.
One thing though - with the pace, abundance of characters and constant switching of perspectives, there was virtually no opportunity for readers to develop any emotional attachment towards the characters at all. No extreme outrage, no urge to scream and throw the book at a wall and shout at the characters, no deep feelings, nothing. In this sense, Quad really is just a story. The author is just telling us a story about how all these kids in school are being mistreated by each other and the eventual repercussions. We barely feel anything strongly for the characters. But I guess that really isn't the point of Quad at all. Perhaps we are supposed to look at the situation in a detached, objective manner with no biased attachment to any character in particular, to really understand the big picture. I don't know.
Quad provides all readers a deep, realistic insight to how all forms of bullying affect people. Be nice. There's a limit to how much each person can take before they finally break.
August 3, 2013
Yet another excellent book about a school shooting. It says something about our society today when there so many good books on school shootings, and in nearly every case, if not all, the sympathies of the book and the reader are with the shooter as much or more than those who get shot. We have many major problems in our public schools today, not the least of which is the fact that certain groups are indeed above the rules and the laws. It was so back in the 1970's when I was in school, and if anything it is worth with the bullying continuing over social media. Even home is no longer safe.
I sympathised with the shooter, which we do not find out which person is the shooter till the very end, even before I knew who it was. I was massively bullied in school, and I once took a gun to school to protect myself. I can completely understand the mindset that leads one to fight back, to do anything you can think of to make it stop, and to make those who practice horror on all around them pay.
I am fascinated by the genre, and leave a comment if you know of any more in this genre. This book was excellent, and hard to put down. Read it, and think about our schools.
I sympathised with the shooter, which we do not find out which person is the shooter till the very end, even before I knew who it was. I was massively bullied in school, and I once took a gun to school to protect myself. I can completely understand the mindset that leads one to fight back, to do anything you can think of to make it stop, and to make those who practice horror on all around them pay.
I am fascinated by the genre, and leave a comment if you know of any more in this genre. This book was excellent, and hard to put down. Read it, and think about our schools.
October 6, 2014
This should be required reading for about 8th or 9th graders. It addresses the anxiety teens often face of trying to fly under the radar so you are not targeted by the cool kids and/or bullies while maintaining your individuality and finding out what you're really made of.
That is a fine line most of us have walked at one time or another. I was conscious of the fact that not too many characters had cell phones which worked for the story but was a bit distracting. The story follows several key players and tells each of their stories leading up to the main event and you are kept guessing up until the end who may have been pushed too far and ended up leaping over the edge, taking casualties with them. I Highly recommend this book.
That is a fine line most of us have walked at one time or another. I was conscious of the fact that not too many characters had cell phones which worked for the story but was a bit distracting. The story follows several key players and tells each of their stories leading up to the main event and you are kept guessing up until the end who may have been pushed too far and ended up leaping over the edge, taking casualties with them. I Highly recommend this book.
March 18, 2013
The book Quad, by C.G. Watson has shown me new aspects that I have never been able to see before. I don’t think I have ever read a book formatted exactly like this, and it was interesting to actually see someone write a book this way. Furthermore, the way that it’s written contributes to the amount of action and mystery in the story. Overall it was a very interesting read.
First off, the book contains 296 pages that are split into chapters which only state the point of view and the date. From the point of view, I mean there are 5 different groups in which you see a different story from third person view. For example, you will either see it from the view of the Freaks, Jocks, Preps, Techies, Drama queens, or Choirboys. All of them contain the kind of stereotypes that you would expect from them on the outside. But on the inside, there are either deep secrets, or a different kind of personality that sets them apart from everyone else. Something that also made this book shine out was the use of teenage slang. Usually � in a realistic fiction novel � authors will not be able to use the right slang or not be able to use it at all. Yet, in the book, C.G. Watson is able to perfect this.
In addition, by learning each of their various group personalities, it becomes more of a mystery to who the person is that pops at the end. This makes the genius of C.G. Watson shine out, because she makes the people from each group become more and more predictable, until the Quad where they all have to unite and are unpredictable. He perfectly sets his Quad interludes between all of the flashback chapters, keeping a good amount of action and suspense in-between, then building up to the Quad climax at the end. The last chapter is what makes this whole book worth the while for someone who read the whole thing. It will definitely be a good read for someone from late middle-high school age to enjoy.
First off, the book contains 296 pages that are split into chapters which only state the point of view and the date. From the point of view, I mean there are 5 different groups in which you see a different story from third person view. For example, you will either see it from the view of the Freaks, Jocks, Preps, Techies, Drama queens, or Choirboys. All of them contain the kind of stereotypes that you would expect from them on the outside. But on the inside, there are either deep secrets, or a different kind of personality that sets them apart from everyone else. Something that also made this book shine out was the use of teenage slang. Usually � in a realistic fiction novel � authors will not be able to use the right slang or not be able to use it at all. Yet, in the book, C.G. Watson is able to perfect this.
In addition, by learning each of their various group personalities, it becomes more of a mystery to who the person is that pops at the end. This makes the genius of C.G. Watson shine out, because she makes the people from each group become more and more predictable, until the Quad where they all have to unite and are unpredictable. He perfectly sets his Quad interludes between all of the flashback chapters, keeping a good amount of action and suspense in-between, then building up to the Quad climax at the end. The last chapter is what makes this whole book worth the while for someone who read the whole thing. It will definitely be a good read for someone from late middle-high school age to enjoy.
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March 20, 2013Jared Widish
3/15/13
Block 5
This book was really interesting but was very confusing in some parts. I wish that in this book they would've explain some of the parts a little more. They explain all the important parts well but some of the less important ones they were just telling what was happening. The author really described the characters and the setting really well but the events were a little vague.
Now on to the whole plot of the book the plot off this weird book was to get revenge on someone in high-school that had made a huge prank on them giving her a bad reputation. So she decide to get the boy (Stone) caught on video cheating on the SAT’s. This was crucial to the book because if this didn't happen the most important event wouldn't have happened. the most important event of this book was when in a crazy turn of events Stone figured out that before Maggie could send it in that she got it on tap. When he found this out he put a poster up that said turn a video in to catch someone cheating. Maggie turned it in and then got caught for having a camera in the classroom. I think that this was important because after this she got even more rejected by everyone. This was crucial because then Maggie decide to go on a rampage and have a shooting at her high-school. The first person she killed was stone.
This was one of the better books that i have read over the past two years. I think that someone into the mysterious types of books should read this. I think that also someone who like the total twisted turn of events would also try to read this book. Overall i think that this book was pretty good except for the confusing parts.
3/15/13
Block 5
This book was really interesting but was very confusing in some parts. I wish that in this book they would've explain some of the parts a little more. They explain all the important parts well but some of the less important ones they were just telling what was happening. The author really described the characters and the setting really well but the events were a little vague.
Now on to the whole plot of the book the plot off this weird book was to get revenge on someone in high-school that had made a huge prank on them giving her a bad reputation. So she decide to get the boy (Stone) caught on video cheating on the SAT’s. This was crucial to the book because if this didn't happen the most important event wouldn't have happened. the most important event of this book was when in a crazy turn of events Stone figured out that before Maggie could send it in that she got it on tap. When he found this out he put a poster up that said turn a video in to catch someone cheating. Maggie turned it in and then got caught for having a camera in the classroom. I think that this was important because after this she got even more rejected by everyone. This was crucial because then Maggie decide to go on a rampage and have a shooting at her high-school. The first person she killed was stone.
This was one of the better books that i have read over the past two years. I think that someone into the mysterious types of books should read this. I think that also someone who like the total twisted turn of events would also try to read this book. Overall i think that this book was pretty good except for the confusing parts.
May 11, 2008
Reviewed by Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com
This fast-paced read presents the frightening side of high schools today. The action starts by page five, when an unknown shooter is heard firing shots in the high school quad. Terrified students run screaming in all directions. One small group barricades themselves in the school store.
C. G. Watson begins her story on Monday, April 6. Through flashbacks, the reader learns about the lives of the students at Muir High School. Everyone gets to tell their story - the Jocks, the Freaks, the Techies, the Drama Queens, the Choirboys, etc. Each group has the potential to have spawned the mystery shooter.
Could the violence be the result of "roid rage," homophobia, a jealous girlfriend or boyfriend, or some nerd sick of teasing and taunts? All aspects of today's teens and their roller coaster ride called high school appear in this book. The characters, though fictional, are frighteningly similar to real life. Readers will recognize their fellow students and will probably shudder to think how close to home this story hits.
QUAD speaks to the problems faced by many teens and offers many opportunities for discussion of current topics. Every library needs a copy, and perhaps every school curriculum needs to adopt it as a learning tool in the classroom.
This fast-paced read presents the frightening side of high schools today. The action starts by page five, when an unknown shooter is heard firing shots in the high school quad. Terrified students run screaming in all directions. One small group barricades themselves in the school store.
C. G. Watson begins her story on Monday, April 6. Through flashbacks, the reader learns about the lives of the students at Muir High School. Everyone gets to tell their story - the Jocks, the Freaks, the Techies, the Drama Queens, the Choirboys, etc. Each group has the potential to have spawned the mystery shooter.
Could the violence be the result of "roid rage," homophobia, a jealous girlfriend or boyfriend, or some nerd sick of teasing and taunts? All aspects of today's teens and their roller coaster ride called high school appear in this book. The characters, though fictional, are frighteningly similar to real life. Readers will recognize their fellow students and will probably shudder to think how close to home this story hits.
QUAD speaks to the problems faced by many teens and offers many opportunities for discussion of current topics. Every library needs a copy, and perhaps every school curriculum needs to adopt it as a learning tool in the classroom.
December 20, 2013
Ranger Ng was having a normal day at school—getting harassed by jocks and buying a soda—when he realized that someone had opened fire on the campus. Rushing to get students inside, he locks the door and then is left to wonder—who is doing the shooting? Quad shifts back and forth from the events leading up to the shooting to the day it happens, with a variety of students, from jocks to “drama queens� to nerds and skaters being featured, each with reasons they might be the one doing the shooting. As the treatment of these students and others is revealed, readers try to pinpoint which one snapped. When it’s revealed, everyone is surprised, but the students are left wondering how much their actions were a part of that day in the quad.
A timely novel that doesn’t let any one “type� of student off the hook, Quad will appeal to a wide audience—one that is as varied as the characters within the book. As a book club selection, a lively discussion predicting the identity of the shooter and assigning responsibility for the shootings could be had. While Watson’s character sometimes feel a bit contrived or stereotypical, there is more depth to them than is at first apparent. This title is a topical story for high school students and could lead to discussions of bullying and how to prevent it.
A timely novel that doesn’t let any one “type� of student off the hook, Quad will appeal to a wide audience—one that is as varied as the characters within the book. As a book club selection, a lively discussion predicting the identity of the shooter and assigning responsibility for the shootings could be had. While Watson’s character sometimes feel a bit contrived or stereotypical, there is more depth to them than is at first apparent. This title is a topical story for high school students and could lead to discussions of bullying and how to prevent it.
October 18, 2009
QUAD is more of a straight thriller compared to HATE LIST, which I read right before QUAD. Both are about school shootings, but while HATE LIST is more concerned with the event and the recovery of those most affected by it, QUAD shows the escalation of a pattern of abuse by the ruling jock and social girl cliques, leading to the tragic collapse of one of their victims. Like HATE LIST, QUAD jumps backward and forward in time from the crucial month before the shootings start to the actual day.
The tension is just about unbearable. The things the kids do and the things they get away with make me want to reach into the book and shake them, yet they make very real decisions. My one quibble is that the teachers seem permissive and passive, not keeping an eye on what is going on. A certain amount of that is impossible, because it takes place off-stage, and certainly much of the plot is pure juggernaut, toiling uphill until it reaches the point where one push will send it crashing down on everyone.
If you like thrillers with very high stakes, this is one.
The tension is just about unbearable. The things the kids do and the things they get away with make me want to reach into the book and shake them, yet they make very real decisions. My one quibble is that the teachers seem permissive and passive, not keeping an eye on what is going on. A certain amount of that is impossible, because it takes place off-stage, and certainly much of the plot is pure juggernaut, toiling uphill until it reaches the point where one push will send it crashing down on everyone.
If you like thrillers with very high stakes, this is one.
January 21, 2011
Young Adult books are generally geared for readers between twelve and eighteen years of age. By any standards that is too broad of a range.
Anyway, this might be an okay read for middle-schoolers even though the plot revolves around a high school shooting. I had a problem with the author's generalizations. She groups the students into clichéd categories: drama queens, jocks, techies and freaks. These kinds of categories are fine for identifying interests but the author attributes certain character traits to the groups that, in my opinion, are not only off base but dangerous. Not all jocks are steroid-using bullies. Not all boys who participate in choir or drama are gay…and the girls aren’t all paisley-wearing hippy chicks.
I didn’t care for the book but it earned an extra star because I read the entire thing.
Anyway, this might be an okay read for middle-schoolers even though the plot revolves around a high school shooting. I had a problem with the author's generalizations. She groups the students into clichéd categories: drama queens, jocks, techies and freaks. These kinds of categories are fine for identifying interests but the author attributes certain character traits to the groups that, in my opinion, are not only off base but dangerous. Not all jocks are steroid-using bullies. Not all boys who participate in choir or drama are gay…and the girls aren’t all paisley-wearing hippy chicks.
I didn’t care for the book but it earned an extra star because I read the entire thing.
October 24, 2023
I sat down and started this book and finished three hours later. It was very fast paced and thrilling and I simply couldn't put it down. I kept thinking I knew who the shooter was and then more things were revealed and then I thought it was someone else?! This book greatly showed the disastrous effects bullying has and should honestly be required reading. It was scary because I could relate to a lot of the emotions the characters were feeling and reminded me that anyone could snap and turn into the shooter in this novel. Furthermore, the message found it truly important and would recommend this to everyone.
July 22, 2014
I couldn't put this book down, I read it within a span of a day and a half. I would put it down and pick it right back up again because I just had to know who commited the act.
I especially love that you don't read about one of the characters and think to yourself 'Oh well its OBVIOUSLY them!'. Each character introduced has something going on in their life or something that has happened to them that could send them sprialing over the edge.
Also..why, why, WHY is this the only book by this author?! I would love to read more of her work!!
I especially love that you don't read about one of the characters and think to yourself 'Oh well its OBVIOUSLY them!'. Each character introduced has something going on in their life or something that has happened to them that could send them sprialing over the edge.
Also..why, why, WHY is this the only book by this author?! I would love to read more of her work!!
May 31, 2015
Someone is out in the quad shooting. But who?
As they hear gunfire ring out, several students duck into the nearest safe space, and for many, it's the student store. There, each student introduced throughout the novel states their own theories about who could be the shooter. They've all got reasons and responses.
Each chapter of this book focuses on a different group of people and their interactions. Only at the end does everything pull together to make horrible, tragic sense.
As they hear gunfire ring out, several students duck into the nearest safe space, and for many, it's the student store. There, each student introduced throughout the novel states their own theories about who could be the shooter. They've all got reasons and responses.
Each chapter of this book focuses on a different group of people and their interactions. Only at the end does everything pull together to make horrible, tragic sense.
August 10, 2012
I came for a school shooting. Not a flashback book about various forms of bullying from countless different viewpoints (all of them boring), with 10% waiting room anxiety and 5 pages for the shooter to be revealed at the end like an afterthought.
September 26, 2012
Just far too simplistic in dealing with such a heavy topic.
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June 11, 2013I would give this book a 2.7. It was alright and I saw the ending coming. It wasn't very original and it was a very quick read. Good for freshman in high school
October 29, 2014
I love this book :)
February 17, 2024
You know how the story ends. The question is how did it get there.
"Quad" has a lot of characters and you get a lot of different POVs. I didn't have a problem with keeping up with them, but if you're someone who does or doesn't like multiple POVs then this may not be for you. It also jumps back and fourth timeline wise. You'll get a couple of chapters set in the past and then you'll get one set in the present day which is the school shooting.
I think it did a good job of keeping me interested. Even though there were a lot of POVs the chapters were short and quick to go through. Definitely a fast read. I would have liked more present day chapters and honestly more time with the characters in general. I think most people will probably like it to some extent.
"Quad" has a lot of characters and you get a lot of different POVs. I didn't have a problem with keeping up with them, but if you're someone who does or doesn't like multiple POVs then this may not be for you. It also jumps back and fourth timeline wise. You'll get a couple of chapters set in the past and then you'll get one set in the present day which is the school shooting.
I think it did a good job of keeping me interested. Even though there were a lot of POVs the chapters were short and quick to go through. Definitely a fast read. I would have liked more present day chapters and honestly more time with the characters in general. I think most people will probably like it to some extent.
October 10, 2017
4.5 Rating
This book took me by surprise. I thought it would be a similar style pf writing to the Outsiders or some other older book but as I got into it, I couldn't stop. I loved the mystery, characters and conclusion. Definitely one of my favorites.
This book took me by surprise. I thought it would be a similar style pf writing to the Outsiders or some other older book but as I got into it, I couldn't stop. I loved the mystery, characters and conclusion. Definitely one of my favorites.
March 2, 2017
I did really enjoy this book I just didn't really connect to the characters and I really didn't feel for any of them.
May 27, 2017
The story is good, the writing and execution isn't too great.
January 6, 2022
So very good and so very haunting. My heart breaks because we all know high school is exactly like this.
August 23, 2023
This kept you focused on the feelings kids have when they are made to feel worthless and below their classmates. The book was very good.
February 16, 2024
3.5 stars. An intriguing little book, lacking contribution or at least a climax heavily. Most characters do not get their conclusions.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 2, 2023
Books about school shootings never get easy and you never get used to what you read. This book was truly heartbreaking. It's hard to say much in this review other than the fact that bullying is real and everyone is hiding behind a mask to conceal a life story no one knows anything about. It acts as a reminder for people to truly be kinder to one another and to stop taking people's weaknesses as an advantage to hurt them.
This book makes you sympathize with the shooter which is something that scares me because nothing ever justifies the killing of innocent (or mean) human beings. It gets tricky when you read this book to stop and reflect on your emotions and feelings in regards to the shooter and the atrocious act of killing. But this book is real and it makes your heart hurt and rage boil. It's not an easy read.
This book makes you sympathize with the shooter which is something that scares me because nothing ever justifies the killing of innocent (or mean) human beings. It gets tricky when you read this book to stop and reflect on your emotions and feelings in regards to the shooter and the atrocious act of killing. But this book is real and it makes your heart hurt and rage boil. It's not an easy read.
September 11, 2008
This is a unique book in the sense that it keeps flashing foreward to a high school shooting. On April 6 a violent shooting erupts in the quads at Muir high School, an area very much the commons here at Milford High School. Six different people from six different cliques barracade themselves inside the school store. They all wonder who the shooter is.
In the parts before the flash forward it describes different events that take plack at the school from different points of view from the six cliques.
-Freaks: Ranger and Rufus are the school freaks. They are constantly picked on by the jocks. As payback, Ranger and Rufus steal all of the jocks marijuana that they hid in Rufus' unused gym locker. (Rufus was forced to let the jocks use it)
-Choirboys: Chris and Perry are knows as the choir queers. They are constantly picked on because of their sexual orientation. They are even beat up.
-Drama Queens: Paisly is trying to find a place to fit in. She always auditions for the school musical but never makes it. On her last attempt at making the musical she fails but she doesnt know that. To be mean the other kids add her name to the list so she gets excited only to be even more disappointed when she finds out what they did from an underground school newspaper. Her friend Sage is the only one that comforts her.
-Jocks: The jocks, "juicers" as they are called because of their excessive steroid use, are the one of the groups that do the most bullying. The leader, Stone, is the worst. During a party he tries to force himself on Paisley, ripping her shirt off sending her running out of the party half naked and crying.
-Preps: These girls will do anything for attention. They think they are the most important thing in the world because they can afford expensive clothes.
-Techies: Theo and Maggie are focused on one thing. Exposing everyone for what they are. Theo is making a video about all the bad things the other five groups are doing and posting it on the web while Maggie writes embarrasing articles in an undreground newspaper called the metro.
Paisley is stuck in a bad place. The whole school is making fun of her for the prank that was played on her involving the aduitions and she was just practically raped by the football captain. She doesent know what to do and just snaps. She goes on a shooting rampage to kill the people that hurt her and it ends with Sage getting her to put the gun down.
Overall I really liked this book. It was very suspensful and there was always something going on. The flash forwards always ended at the height of suspense making me want to read more. This was a great book.
In the parts before the flash forward it describes different events that take plack at the school from different points of view from the six cliques.
-Freaks: Ranger and Rufus are the school freaks. They are constantly picked on by the jocks. As payback, Ranger and Rufus steal all of the jocks marijuana that they hid in Rufus' unused gym locker. (Rufus was forced to let the jocks use it)
-Choirboys: Chris and Perry are knows as the choir queers. They are constantly picked on because of their sexual orientation. They are even beat up.
-Drama Queens: Paisly is trying to find a place to fit in. She always auditions for the school musical but never makes it. On her last attempt at making the musical she fails but she doesnt know that. To be mean the other kids add her name to the list so she gets excited only to be even more disappointed when she finds out what they did from an underground school newspaper. Her friend Sage is the only one that comforts her.
-Jocks: The jocks, "juicers" as they are called because of their excessive steroid use, are the one of the groups that do the most bullying. The leader, Stone, is the worst. During a party he tries to force himself on Paisley, ripping her shirt off sending her running out of the party half naked and crying.
-Preps: These girls will do anything for attention. They think they are the most important thing in the world because they can afford expensive clothes.
-Techies: Theo and Maggie are focused on one thing. Exposing everyone for what they are. Theo is making a video about all the bad things the other five groups are doing and posting it on the web while Maggie writes embarrasing articles in an undreground newspaper called the metro.
Paisley is stuck in a bad place. The whole school is making fun of her for the prank that was played on her involving the aduitions and she was just practically raped by the football captain. She doesent know what to do and just snaps. She goes on a shooting rampage to kill the people that hurt her and it ends with Sage getting her to put the gun down.
Overall I really liked this book. It was very suspensful and there was always something going on. The flash forwards always ended at the height of suspense making me want to read more. This was a great book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 3, 2015
If I could I'd give this book 3.5 stars, but since I can't, it get three.
I really enjoyed the premise of this book- from the beginning, you know that there is a shooter in the school, but you have no idea who it is. Then you are brought back to all of these different moments in the point of view of different characters. You get to see each character's motive, while you are trying to figure out who the shooter is.
I liked that I never guessed correctly who the shooter was, which is rare for me. I did have two problems with the book, which resulted in my 3 star rating. The 1st was that it was a bit hard to keep track of all the characters in the beginning, but I did get the hang of it eventually. I just think there were many a few too many characters- the author could have gotten rid of one or two characters without effecting the story and it would have made things easier. Anyway, this wasn't such a huge deal because I eventually was able to keep the characters straight. The bigger problem I had was with the ending. I really enjoyed the book, but I felt like the ending was just so sudden. You see what happens at the party and all of a sudden, the shooter is revealed. I would have liked a little bit more. I would have enjoyed hearing a little more from Paisley, Perry, Theo, Maggie and Stone. I also would have liked some more from after the shooting. It would have been nice to hear each character's perspective on the shooting and how this experience has changed them or made them better people. I felt like the story was over too quickly. I just wanted more- even just a little more would have been nice
Overall, I thought it was a good, fast paced story with a unique premise. It's also a quick read, so it's definitely worth checking out, even if you're unsure about it. I'd still recommend it, though. I just think it could have been much better if there had been some additions.
I really enjoyed the premise of this book- from the beginning, you know that there is a shooter in the school, but you have no idea who it is. Then you are brought back to all of these different moments in the point of view of different characters. You get to see each character's motive, while you are trying to figure out who the shooter is.
I liked that I never guessed correctly who the shooter was, which is rare for me. I did have two problems with the book, which resulted in my 3 star rating. The 1st was that it was a bit hard to keep track of all the characters in the beginning, but I did get the hang of it eventually. I just think there were many a few too many characters- the author could have gotten rid of one or two characters without effecting the story and it would have made things easier. Anyway, this wasn't such a huge deal because I eventually was able to keep the characters straight. The bigger problem I had was with the ending. I really enjoyed the book, but I felt like the ending was just so sudden. You see what happens at the party and all of a sudden, the shooter is revealed. I would have liked a little bit more. I would have enjoyed hearing a little more from Paisley, Perry, Theo, Maggie and Stone. I also would have liked some more from after the shooting. It would have been nice to hear each character's perspective on the shooting and how this experience has changed them or made them better people. I felt like the story was over too quickly. I just wanted more- even just a little more would have been nice
Overall, I thought it was a good, fast paced story with a unique premise. It's also a quick read, so it's definitely worth checking out, even if you're unsure about it. I'd still recommend it, though. I just think it could have been much better if there had been some additions.
Read
July 30, 2011The premise of the book is interesting and... well, I suppose we sadly can't say fresh, but different, and that's why I picked it up.
That said, while the idea of the book is very good, the mechanics of it need some work. As the plot is that the reader is supposed to figure out the whodunnit, the book didn't need nearly as much emphasis on making every single character a suspect. I mean, we're reading about them because they already are suspects, right? Generally, as soon as the author gave a character a cryptic utterance, I crossed them off my mental suspect list. I mean, the last character ends with "I'll see you in the quad!" Gee, I wonder if the whole mystery of this book has really just been handed to me on a platter. I think probably not.
The book did have some things going for it. It was a quick read, and while the prose was sparing, it was also surprisingly up-to-date. Normally authors get teenage slang wrong, and it ends up as some strange hybrid between what they said when they were that age and parts of remarks that were said within the last... ten, fifteen years. The slang and idioms in this book were, in my opinion, current up to the time the book was written. (At which point I was in high school, so I should know =p)
All in all, this is not a great read, and it's not something you'll think about much after you're done, or rave about to friends, but if it's a sunny summer day, it is worth a skim.
That said, while the idea of the book is very good, the mechanics of it need some work. As the plot is that the reader is supposed to figure out the whodunnit, the book didn't need nearly as much emphasis on making every single character a suspect. I mean, we're reading about them because they already are suspects, right? Generally, as soon as the author gave a character a cryptic utterance, I crossed them off my mental suspect list. I mean, the last character ends with "I'll see you in the quad!" Gee, I wonder if the whole mystery of this book has really just been handed to me on a platter. I think probably not.
The book did have some things going for it. It was a quick read, and while the prose was sparing, it was also surprisingly up-to-date. Normally authors get teenage slang wrong, and it ends up as some strange hybrid between what they said when they were that age and parts of remarks that were said within the last... ten, fifteen years. The slang and idioms in this book were, in my opinion, current up to the time the book was written. (At which point I was in high school, so I should know =p)
All in all, this is not a great read, and it's not something you'll think about much after you're done, or rave about to friends, but if it's a sunny summer day, it is worth a skim.
June 12, 2012
For some reason I absolutely love school shooter books. I don't know what it is about them, but I'm fascinated with them. We Need to Talk About Kevin is probably my favorite of them all just because of the weaponry. With that being said, Quad is probably one of my least favorite school shooter books. I think the main reason why would have to be who the shooter ended up being.
Quad takes you into the lives of several high school kids and gives you several reasons why they may kill off their peers. Each kid is in a different clique within their school. The jocks give the weird kids a hard time, you have the drama queens, and you have the girl that just wants to fit in. Then there is the boy that captures everything on film.
Quad is all about the build up because when the shooting happens it felt as though it was a little glossed over. One girl was killed, yes, but that's about it. And the shooter was so shocked they were doing it. It was hard for me to feel bad for this person. It doesn't help I thought they were stupid in the first place.
I've read better shooter books. This is a good quick read and would probably be good for a sixth grader or higher to start getting into. But for me, I'll pass.
On another note, I like how I wait a few books in between before writing my reviews because it's made me think about how silly this book was and I dropped it from 3 stars to 2.
Quad takes you into the lives of several high school kids and gives you several reasons why they may kill off their peers. Each kid is in a different clique within their school. The jocks give the weird kids a hard time, you have the drama queens, and you have the girl that just wants to fit in. Then there is the boy that captures everything on film.
Quad is all about the build up because when the shooting happens it felt as though it was a little glossed over. One girl was killed, yes, but that's about it. And the shooter was so shocked they were doing it. It was hard for me to feel bad for this person. It doesn't help I thought they were stupid in the first place.
I've read better shooter books. This is a good quick read and would probably be good for a sixth grader or higher to start getting into. But for me, I'll pass.
On another note, I like how I wait a few books in between before writing my reviews because it's made me think about how silly this book was and I dropped it from 3 stars to 2.
September 20, 2012
LATE REVIEW
THERE ARE NOT SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW BECAUSE I CAN'T REMEMBER THE STORY CLEARLY
This is another book I did not intend or had an preconceived notions. The writing style took me by surprised and the short chapters also took some time to get accustomed to but put aside the and you got a really good book.
The book does (at the beginning) have characters based on cliché but further in the book you see the characters development into so much more. They surprise you with the things they do and don't do. The short chapters adds more of an amped feeling to the book and I love this (thought many people don't)
The ending seemed a bit rushed and chaotic but it still made sense and it was a great way to wrap up a book....(I would put spoilers but I'm too lazy)
There will be characters that you love, hate and sympathize with and this what pulled me in, it is an amazing story....
OH! Before I forget, I loved how switched perspective and also the time in different chapters. It was well done if you ask me.
THERE ARE NOT SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW BECAUSE I CAN'T REMEMBER THE STORY CLEARLY
This is another book I did not intend or had an preconceived notions. The writing style took me by surprised and the short chapters also took some time to get accustomed to but put aside the and you got a really good book.
The book does (at the beginning) have characters based on cliché but further in the book you see the characters development into so much more. They surprise you with the things they do and don't do. The short chapters adds more of an amped feeling to the book and I love this (thought many people don't)
The ending seemed a bit rushed and chaotic but it still made sense and it was a great way to wrap up a book....(I would put spoilers but I'm too lazy)
There will be characters that you love, hate and sympathize with and this what pulled me in, it is an amazing story....
OH! Before I forget, I loved how switched perspective and also the time in different chapters. It was well done if you ask me.
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