Gunstories: Life-Changing Experiences with Guns

Atkin, S. B. (2006). Gunstories: Life-changing experiences with guns. New York, NY: Katherine Tegen Books.

Summary: Author S. Beth Atkin spent several years interviewing 23 different young people, from early teens to early twenties, to create this compilation of photographs and narratives. Each person has a different story to tell, but all of them have had their lives strongly impacted by guns; some are teenagers who have grown up shooting recreationally and either belong to shooting societies or shoot competitively. These voices tell a story of empowerment, explaining how the use of various firearms requires great skill, focus, and discipline, all positive traits. Others are urban youths who have been involved with gun-related gang violence or drive-by shootings. Many of them have lost family members or friends because of shootings, and some have even been shot themselves and suffered permanent damage as a result. Still others have been influenced by the gun debate itself or by reports of gun-related events; twin brothers living in Los Angeles have made it their goal to get the sale of ammunition banned in the city, while another girl has spent a long time trying to tell people about the other side of her friend, one of the Columbine school shooters. Each story is unique and compelling, and each adds another layer of complexity to the gun debate.

Standard(s): California History/Social Science 3.4.1: Determine the reasons for rules, laws, and the U.S. Constitution; the role of citizenship in the promotion of rules and laws; and the consequences for people who violate rules and laws; California History/Social Science 5.7.3: Understand the fundamental principles of American constitutional democracy, including how the government derives its power from the people and the primacy of individual liberty; California History/Social Science 5.7.5: Discuss the meaning of the American creed that calls on citizens to safeguard the liberty of individual Americans within a unified nation, to respect the rule of law, and to preserve the Constitution; California History/Social Science 8.2.6: Enumerate the powers of government set forth in the Constitution and the fundamental liberties ensured by the Bill of Rights.

Suggested age range: 12 and up

Annotation: S. Beth Atkin’s powerful book Gunstories tells the tales of young people affected by guns, but does so in their words. After years of interviews and preparation, Atkin has married her photographs with interview transcriptions to great effect. The book presents a balanced look at the gun issue, with approximately half the stories portraying the positive aspects of guns and the other half portraying the negatives. Rather than participating in the debate herself, Atkin allows her subjects to argue for her; several of the interviewees have very strong opinions about guns, which Atkin supplements with snippets of related information, such as police reports, the text of the Second Amendment, and a list of recent school shootings. Readers will appreciate hearing the issue debated in the voices of people their own age, and the informational supplements will help them to evaluate what is being said. Its balanced perspective makes this an excellent book for students studying the Second Amendment or any gun-related issue.

Subjects/themes: Firearms, murder/crime, shooting societies/teams, self-esteem, life choices, athletics, competition, gangs, 2^nd Amendment

Awards:

• YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers

Reviews:

• Booklist (January 1, 2006)
• School Library Journal (January 2006)
• Voice of Youth Advocates (February 2006)

High interest annotation: With 18 gun stories from different young people, this book has a lot to say about both the upsides and the downsides to guns.