Taking Aim: Power and Pain, Teens and Guns

by Michael Cart, Marc Aronson, Edward Averett

Powerful, riveting, real. Sixteen celebrated authors bring us raw, insightful stories that explore guns and teens in a fiction collection that is thought provoking and emotionally gripping. For fans of Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock and Give a Boy a Gun , and with an array of YA talent like the late great Walter Dean Myers, the poetic Joyce Carol Oates, the prophetic Elizabeth Wein, and the gritty Chris Crutcher, these are evocative voices that each has a different perspective to give. Capturing the hurt and the healing, victims and perpetrators, these stories get to the heart of the matter. From a boy whose low self-esteem is impacted when a gun comes into his possession to a student recalling a senseless tragedy that befell a favorite teacher, from a realistic look at hunting to a provocative look at a family that defies stereotypes, each emotional story stirs the debate to new levels. The juxtaposition of guns and their consequences offers moving tales, each a reminder of how crucial the question of guns in our society is, and the impact they have on all of us. Other acclaimed contributors are Marc Aronson, Edward Averett, Francesca Lia Block, Alex Flinn, Gregory Galloway, Jenny Hubbard, Peter Johnson, Ron Koertge, Chris Lynch, Eric Shanower, Will Weaver, and Tim Wynne-Jones.

Genres: Short Stories, Young Adult, Anthologies

368 pages, Paperback

First published September 8, 2015

About the author

Former Director of the Beverly Hills (CA) Public Library and a Past President of the Young Adult Library Services Association, Michael Cart is a nationally recognized expert in children's and young adult literature. Now a columnist and reviewer for ALA's Booklist magazine, he is the author or editor of eight books, including From Romance to Realism, a critical history of YA literature; MY FATHER'S SCAR, a young adult novel that was an ALA Best Book for Young Adults, and the anthology LOVE AND SEX: Ten Stories of Truth, also a Best Book for Young Adults and a Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers.

Michael teaches young adult literature at UCLA and is the recipient of the 2000 Grolier Foundation Award. He lives in northern California.

Reviews

[Jasmine Pearl Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book: Taking Aim
Author: 16 different authors. (Edited by: Michael Cart)
Finished Reading: September 16, 2015 (Wednesday)

*I would like to thank Harper Collins International for sending me an ARC of this book. This doesn’t affect nor influence my review.*

Taking Aim is not the typical book I’m always holding. Aside from the words written on the book, there are also illustrations that briefly explained some things about guns. This book stated the word “gun” a couple of times most probably every time. It discussed how guns were being used by different people with different perceptions in life. In this story, guns were used for hunting, zombie apocalypse and sometimes ridiculously just for fun etc..

This book may be an eye-opener to everyone who thinks that life is not worth it. That life is just a waste.

On the other hand, let me just tell you why I rated it 3 stars. The storytelling was quite bland. I don’t say that everything was not interesting but I was having a hard time understanding the characters. I didn’t like the development of the characters. Almost everyone started and ended up being immature. And that’s not a plus point for me. I just don’t find it very appealing. i find it appalling. NOT IMPRESSIVE. NOT AT ALL. :(

Another thing is that some stories were not consistent throughout the end. *sighs* #idontwanttosayanythingelse

Overall, if you love guns and would love to read about teenagers’ experience with guns, then I’ll definitely recommend this to you but if not, it’s still up to you if you would read it.

There’s this story which is on point. I’m not gonna tell you the title of that story. See for yourself.

[Katrina G · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5

I was very underwhelmed by the stories in this. Some I really liked (the kid who accidentally shot his friend, but no one believes it was an accident due to prior events in the story) and there were some that were just really weird (Deer hiring a hunter to be their bodyguard?)

I really only picked this up because I love Jenny Hubbard's writing style, but I was even underwhelmed by her story and was slightly disappointed.

I'm not saying this book and it's stories are bad by any means, I was justt expecting a bit more than what I got.

[Christina Culbertson · Rating 2 out of 5]

So i just finished "Taking Aim" and although, this book states alot of facts, I did not enjoy all of the different stories stringing together. I like how up to date the writing is..but half the book i was confused in what was going on. I understand the book is about guns, and gun violence involving teens, but i just feel like this book didnt even touch the REAL epidemic, and thats mental disorders. Alot of teenagers have trigger factors, then you add a little bit of this, a little bit of that, and a mental disorder, with no love at home..you are heading for destruction. Teenagers need love from their parents more than any time in their lives. Its sad a kid feels like he has no way out, but to bring a gun to school and kill people. I believe if someone tried to talk to him, maybe help him, then their would be one less shooting. The generation we live in now is scary. Social media can ruin your life, and is a Bullys playground. If parents would teach their children not to bully at an early age, I believe their would be less suicides. Im all about having my guns, and the second amendment, but when children are killing children..something has got to give. Not with the NRA, but the Mental Health Association. If these kids had the love they needed, and the feeling of acceptance, and maybe medication, these weird kids could excel just like the rest of the population. If you see a kid who is lonely, has no friends, is bullied, befriend him. Show him that not all people are assholes. All they want is a friend. Some kids are just dealt the wrong hand in life all the way around..so they go into their classroom, and kill their classmates and teachers. People need to PAY ATTENTION to the signs, then minding your own buisness. When a childs overall thinking ability becomes hazed..that is when someone must step in, otherwise you ate headed for disaster. I understand the concept of this book, I really do, but these stories were just too strung together. Some of them were good, but others i didnt know what the hell was going on. I get what the author was trying to do, and i respect that, but overall, this book was not a winner for me. It was tolerable, an has a good message, but i probably wouldn't recommend it, JUST because these gun issues are wayyy more severe than what this book betrays their are. Its the parents faults too. They should keep their guns in a safe that the children dont know the combination to. These kids need guidance out here. Dont take the guns away, just because someone who has mental issues gets their hands on a gun, an goes on a rampage. Theirs a bigger picture here.

[savannah chandler · Rating 4 out of 5]

SPOILER FREE
*TRIGGER WARNING*
Taking Aim is a collection of stories, Fiction or Nonfiction, that the author has made up or has actually happened to the author. Most of the stories are fiction, but the nonfiction ones are more of an opinion than a story.
The book is based around teens with guns in their lives. Whether their family is big on hunting or it goes all the way to a zombie apocalypse. Their's a story on the animal's perspective on being hunted and a school shooting. Many of the stories hit home because the authors made them very realistic on how mistakes happen with guns and truly how powerful they are. A very powerful one focuses on all the school shootings that have happened in the U.S. and how our country has come down to psychopaths shooting kids for their enjoyment.
Taking Aim really made me more aware than I was before about how one little mistake could cause someone's life to end.
The only downside is, I wouldn't recommend this to anyone who can't handle realistic topics like these. I'm not the best with them and I'm going to be honest, I did get a little creeped out while reading this.
Overall, I highly recommend you guys check this book out. Even though you're in a book, it takes you back to reality and opens your eyes up to the real world.
Thank you so much Harper Collins for providing me with this Advanced Readers Copy!

[Eden Grey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Poor storytelling, too much message-sending, bland characters, unbelievable and predictable settings and situations, unreadable short stories that no teen will find appealing. Sorry, I did not enjoy this at all and I don't think teens will either.

[Read InAGarden · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hoping for a book that took on the issues of urban life, guns and teens, I picked up Taking Aim. A couple of the short stories fit that bill but many of the other short stories were not at all in line with that theme.

[Krissy · Rating 2 out of 5]

"I continue. "Not everyone who likes to shoot or even hunt is a crazy who wants to own Uzis or doesn't believe in background checks. Not everyone thinks the framers of the Constitution were talking about machine guns. There are plenty of responsible gun owners like my dad - like me - who shoot targets as a sport, because it releases tension, tension caused by dealing with idiots.""

I was very much underwhelmed by Taking Aim. I read it because I had met one of the authors, Elizabeth Wein (Code Name Verity. And while the idea was one to be acknowledged, I felt it was poorly executed in some regards.

I would say 85% of the stories were lukewarm. They often took place in almost unbelievable circumstances. And that one story about the bodyguard was just weird. I didn't completely understand how it fit in with the other stories, exempting the common theme of hunting.

I have to give props, though. Jenny Hubbard's story, The Babysitters , was incredible. I felt so many emotions in her heart-breaking writing. The Babysitters is the entire reason for those two stars.

I absolutely stand with this book's premise. Understanding gun culture is a big part of fixing gun safety, so it was very interesting to read these stories. However, I couldn't help but feel let down by some of them, as they seemed disconnected from each other and were, to a degree, poorly written.

[Brandi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid YA anthology that tackles the subject of guns in a variety of ways. As other reviewers have mentioned, more stories in urban settings would have strengthened this collection. Nevertheless, there are a few truly standout entries and only one that I truly did not enjoy (due to its depiction of animal cruelty). Recommended for high school libraries.

Roach by Walter Dean Myers 3 stars

Embraced by Raven Arms by Tim Wynne-Jones 4 stars

Shoot by Gregory Galloway 3.5 stars

The Bodyguard: A Fable by Ron Koertge 3 stars

Fight or Flight by Alex Flinn 4 stars Flinn delivered a fun take on the reality that being a liberal Democrat does not require you to be anti-gun ownership. Also, she handily makes the point that all those crazy doomsday preppers might come in handy one of these days. 😂

Certified Deactivated by Chris Lynch 3 stars

Love Packs Heat by Eric Shanower 3 Stars

The Dragon Francesca Lia Block 4 Stars Powerful and terrifying.

The Babysitters by Jenny Hubbard 5 stars Tragically beautiful.

The Battle of Elphinloan by Elizabeth Wein 4 stars

Dark Hobby by Edward Averett 1 Star Trigger warning - animal cruelty that made this story too atrocious to enjoy.

The Gunslinger by Peter Johnson 4 stars

Heartbreak by Joyce Carol Oates 4 stars

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Why won't my teens even try reading this collection of short stories about young people and guns. I can't GIVE it away. I think they smell preaching before they even open the book. I personally like the idea of assigning writers a topic to see where they go with it. I think Taking Aim would work in a classroom setting, with groups reading various stories. The stories aren't bad....My faves were "Certified Deactivated" by Chris Lynch and of course Joyce Carol Oates' "Heartbreak."

[Sonya Moyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this book up at an author engagement event, as she was a contributing author to this book.

Though fiction, this book has a lot of "heavy" material about guns and gun violence. There are many eye opening moments and they really make you think. Many of these stories have been played out in real life (or close to it), or are a "what if?"

Good quick read.

[jamie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't actually finish it but was close (which really bothers me. I like to finish everything I start). The first couple stories were okay but thought other short stories lost the point of what this collection of short stories was suppose to be about.

[Arthi · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was surprisingly boring to me

[706Sacha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like this but especially because it felt consistent with what is happening in the world right now. It was awakening and powerful I really enjoyed it.

[Kassidy Conner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gave interesting insights on both sides of gun control.

[Bridget · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had high expectations. This collection of short stories is genuinely awful. I am very disappointed. Don't waste your time.

[Kait Jensen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy this book so far. Sometimes it is confusing because the characters are constantly changing. But once I adjust, it is interesting to read. I hope the stories get more intense as I go.

[Vivian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked the perspective of diff people

[Andrea Mullarkey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an exceptional collection of stories about guns written by an equally impressive line-up of YA authors. With authors like Walter Dean Myers and Joyce Carol Oates, you can expect some intense contemporary fiction stories, and they do deliver. But what I liked most about this collection was the wide range of genres covered. There is a hilarious story about a pair of deer who decide to get a human body guard at the beginning of hunting season. And a lovely historical fiction piece, some fantasy and even a short graphic story about the risks cupid takes upgrading his traditional bow and arrow. Some of the stories are about the big issues of YA literature: gangs, violence, bullying, identity and family dynamics. But others are more specifically about guns and gun culture: hunting, shooting ranges, and soldiers are all here. It's an impressive collection that tackles a big topic from a lot of angles and there will be things in here for lots of kinds of readers. But I would not be surprised if readers pick up the book to read a story by their favorite author and then get pulled into another and another leading to an even deeper exploration of the topic than they had planned for. A very good thing indeed! Because of mature themes, most of these stories are probably best suited to high school and older teens.

[BAYA Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an exceptional collection of stories about guns written by an equally impressive line-up of YA authors. With authors like Walter Dean Myers and Joyce Carol Oates, you can expect some intense contemporary fiction stories, and they do deliver. But this collection also delivered stories in a very wide range of other genres. There is a hilarious story about a pair of deer who decide to get a human body guard at the beginning of hunting season. And there is also a lovely historical fiction piece, some fantasy and even a short graphic story about the risks cupid takes upgrading his traditional bow and arrow. Some of the stories are about the big issues of YA literature: gangs, violence, bullying, identity and family dynamics. But others are more specifically about guns and gun culture: hunting, shooting ranges, and soldiers are all here. It's an impressive collection that tackles a big topic from a lot of angles and there will be things in here for lots of kinds of readers. Don’t be surprised if readers pick up the book to read a story by their favorite author and then get pulled into another and another leading to an even deeper exploration of the topic than they had planned for. A very good thing indeed! Because of mature themes, most of these stories are probably best suited to high school and older teens.

[Kim Baccellia · Rating 5 out of 5]

ROACH by Walter Dean Myers is very powerful glimpse into a teen in the inner city and an encounter that has deadly consequences.

THE DRAGON by Francesca Lia Block resonated with me as I'm a former first grade teacher that lost a younger sister to gun violence. In this short tale, a kindergarten teacher comes face to face with a gunman who threatens to kill her and her whole class. How she deals with the gunman is very haunting and powerful.

THE BABYSITTERS by Jenny Hubbard is very haunting short of a memory of a dog left behind by a victim of gun violence. I was teary eyed after reading.

YA Books Central review: http://www.yabookscentral.com/yaficti...

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a collection of stories that discusses the role of guns in society. There is a diverse group of authors, with a diverse focus on guns. Stories address the historical role, gender roles, school violence, hunting, and inner city impacts. Overall, this collection really creates a great environment for discussion of gun roles, as they relate to both teens and adults.

I found some of the stories boring and not to my liking, but several were okay. I like what this book attempted to do, but I didn't connect to these stories in a truly powerful way (or not as powerfully as I had hoped).

[Garrett · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a mess.

Especially after a book about teens and gun violence that fit together so well, this was a preachy, pointless, silly and often off-topic mishmash of stories kind of about guns with what seemed to be a well-intentioned mission, but no real plan for carrying it out. Editing would have maybe been something to do, here, or maybe this project was rushed to publication because of the other one, I don't know. Read the preface and the final story and put this back on the shelf, says I.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of the short stories here are beautiful and challenging and will stay with me for a long time. Others were mediocre. I honestly struggled with a rating to give this book because of it but I do think a majority of the book is worthwhile. Also, definitely give the podcast in the introduction a listen. I learned a lot from it!

[Hayley · Rating 3 out of 5]

A timely collection of short stories and essays by some big name teen writers takes on the topic of guns and gun culture. Read my full review here.

[Emily]

annotation for one story:
Block, Francesca Lia. “The Dragon.” An elementary school teacher recalls a day her classroom was invaded by a potential shooter, concerned her opposition of gun-carry laws for educators may have more endangered her students.

[Ciara · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5*

I think this concept should be talked about more often, I just found that these short stories were underdeveloped. I found that I liked the prologue better than most of the short stories.

[Irish Bain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Skip the Prologue. Do not, for any reason, skip the story "Roach".

[Axel · Rating 2 out of 5]

ew