Violent Ends, edited by Shaun David Hutchinson, is a young adult fiction anthology about the students affected by a school shooting and the events and relationships surrounding it. Told through different victims’ viewpoints, it explores who Kirby Matheson was and what he became. It is fiction, not a documentary about a real shooting; the subject matter includes deaths, injuries and violence.
What is Violent Ends about?
The anthology centers on Kirby Matheson and a school shooting that affects students around him. Rather than tell the story from one perspective, its chapters present different victims’ viewpoints. Some follow incidents and relationships that may initially seem separate, then connect to the central event.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Violent Ends | $10.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Brave Face: A Memoir | $10.60 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Howl | $12.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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A Complicated Love Story Set in Space | $9.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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The Past and Other Things That Should Stay Buried | $9.99 | Buy on Amazon |
The publisher describes the book as an exploration of how students understand who Kirby was and who he became. Its subject matter includes bullying, violence, and the emotional consequences of the shooting. The story is fictional; it should not be read as an account of a documented real-world shooting.
Who edited Violent Ends?
Shaun David Hutchinson edited the anthology, which is credited to him and sixteen other contributors. The publisher’s description emphasizes the many viewpoints: each chapter is told from a different victim’s perspective. A starred review from VOYA, quoted on the publisher’s page, calls the storytelling “wonderfully intense and distinctive.” Publishers Weekly praises the book for humanizing Kirby and the people who hurt him without excusing anyone’s actions.
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Is Violent Ends appropriate for teens?
Simon & Schuster classifies the book as teen fiction and lists violence, bullying, and emotions and feelings among its social themes. Because the plot involves a school shooting, deaths, and injuries, it may be upsetting for some readers. The publisher’s audience guidance differs by print edition: the hardcover is listed for ages 14–99, grade 9+, while the paperback is listed for ages 13+, grade 9+.
The book has also appeared on lists including CCBC Choices, the New York Public Library’s Best Books for Teens, the Kansas NEA Reading Circle List as a starred high-school title, and Bank Street’s Best Children’s Books of the Year selections.
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Which Violent Ends book is this?
Violent Ends is also the title of an unrelated crime novel by Neil Broadfoot. Shaun David Hutchinson’s name, the YA anthology description, or the ISBN identifies the book covered here. Check the ISBN when ordering or cataloging it: the publisher lists two print editions with different publication details and age guidance.
| Format | Publication date | Pages | ISBN | Publisher age guidance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hardcover | September 1, 2015 | 352 | 9781481437455 | 14–99; grade 9+ |
| Trade paperback | December 13, 2016 | 368 | 9781481437462 | 13+; grade 9+ |
Simon & Schuster links an ebook from its hardcover listing, but its catalog record does not provide enough edition-specific details to summarize that format here. The publisher’s records establish the print editions but do not establish substantive story differences between them. An Amazon search phrase that distinguishes the paperback is Violent Ends Shaun David Hutchinson paperback; that wording does not confirm current stock or price.
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