What do you think?
Rate this book
Lethal Copycats
The Columbine high school massacre was the most lethal school shooting in modern US history when it took place on April 20, 1999. Regrettably, the frequency and lethality of mass shootings appear to have increased post-Columbine. One of the reasons may be that some youths were inspired by these events. Here, I use a fictional scenario to explore possible motives spurring the macabre actions of two female mass shooters.
26 pages, Paperback
Published September 3, 2018
3 people are currently reading
7 people want to read
About the author
Zeena Nackerdien
12 books2 followersZeena Nackerdien obtained a Ph.D. degree in Biochemistry from the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa. Zeena has been a research chemist at the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Maryland and a senior research associate at The Rockefeller University in New York. She is the author of several publications in scientific journals and has also written many books in different genres. As a scientist turned patient advocate and writer, she is intensely interested in building relationships with people from different cultures through story-telling and education. Zeena currently lives in Brooklyn, New York.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
September 10, 2018
The Columbine High School Massacre was the most lethal school shooting in modern US History when it took place on April 20, 1999. Regrettably, the frequency and lethally of the mass shootings appear to have increased post-Columbine. One of the reasons may be that some youths were inspired by these events.
Zeena Nackerdien uses a fictional scenario to explore possible motives spurring the macabre actions of two female mass shooters. She points out that the reasons for the mass shootings are broad and encompass access to the firearms, psychological health, social isolation, morbid preoccupation with violence and social injustice. Some perpetrators suffer from a sense of persecution and have revenge fantasies, but not of the kind that would automatically have them categorized as having a serious mental illness. Others may have been severely depressed, rather than having a psychotic break. Many killers leave behind a testament of sorts, such as diaries and online posts that can serve as a rich source of insight into their motives. Potential perpetrator’s cognition needs to be recognized and hopefully with appropriate and timely interventions that will be not more young people seeking fame through death by cop.
This to real story leaves you looking at not just the gun control issue but the complex stuff behind the mass shootings that plague the news all too often. I recommend this book to help people see that there is far more behind these shootings than the aftermath.
Zeena Nackerdien uses a fictional scenario to explore possible motives spurring the macabre actions of two female mass shooters. She points out that the reasons for the mass shootings are broad and encompass access to the firearms, psychological health, social isolation, morbid preoccupation with violence and social injustice. Some perpetrators suffer from a sense of persecution and have revenge fantasies, but not of the kind that would automatically have them categorized as having a serious mental illness. Others may have been severely depressed, rather than having a psychotic break. Many killers leave behind a testament of sorts, such as diaries and online posts that can serve as a rich source of insight into their motives. Potential perpetrator’s cognition needs to be recognized and hopefully with appropriate and timely interventions that will be not more young people seeking fame through death by cop.
This to real story leaves you looking at not just the gun control issue but the complex stuff behind the mass shootings that plague the news all too often. I recommend this book to help people see that there is far more behind these shootings than the aftermath.
May 4, 2018
So why are the school shootings becoming such a everyday phenomenon? Ever since Columbine, it seems we hear about a new one each month, although in reality there are hundreds of incidents we do not hear about on our nightly news. What is spurring our youth to pick up weapons and gun down their peers? Is it a mental health problem? Bullying? Or something else entirely? Zeena Nackerdien attempts to tackle this immensely emotional topic by giving us a possibility, her take upon this whole problem.
We are dropped into a typical suburban family, Mom, Dad and daughter live in a relatively peaceful place, where nothing is quite like it seems. The illusion of perfect lives is more important to dealing with the very real emotional issues each person in this house has. Rather than talking about the issues they have with each other, they all withdraw from each other and exist side by side, but never really interacting with any true meaning.
I found this short story to be quite compelling. Sure, it is only fictional, but this could conceivably be any family in America. Our teens and young children are acting out or finding more meaningful connections with other peers on the internet and we as parents think it is all going great as long as we can show smiling faces on our social media accounts. Poignant and thought-provoking.
We are dropped into a typical suburban family, Mom, Dad and daughter live in a relatively peaceful place, where nothing is quite like it seems. The illusion of perfect lives is more important to dealing with the very real emotional issues each person in this house has. Rather than talking about the issues they have with each other, they all withdraw from each other and exist side by side, but never really interacting with any true meaning.
I found this short story to be quite compelling. Sure, it is only fictional, but this could conceivably be any family in America. Our teens and young children are acting out or finding more meaningful connections with other peers on the internet and we as parents think it is all going great as long as we can show smiling faces on our social media accounts. Poignant and thought-provoking.
July 10, 2018
Lethal Copycats is a short read by author Zeena Nackerdien about a troubled sixteen year old girl who is struggling to find a place in the world with her drug addict, alcoholic father who works for a local politician and her near fanatical mother who was more interested in catching her husband in the act of cheating on her then being a mother. After turning to the Internet to find friends she becomes close to a Twitter pal who idolizes the Columbine shooter and while she realizes that the boy wasn’t very smart in his actions, in a way she feels she understands him and can relate to words written in his diary, publicized after the tragedy.
While the story doesn’t go into detail of what the main character participated in following the journal entries, the ending sums it all up.
Although this fictional story was short it left me with much to think about, the past regarding school shootings, troubled children themselves and what their lives were like before the tragedies, the current state of teachers and officials to keep children in schools safe and what can be done to prevent mass shootings. A brief but moving read that I wish would’ve gone into a bit more detail but still made an impact nonetheless.
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
While the story doesn’t go into detail of what the main character participated in following the journal entries, the ending sums it all up.
Although this fictional story was short it left me with much to think about, the past regarding school shootings, troubled children themselves and what their lives were like before the tragedies, the current state of teachers and officials to keep children in schools safe and what can be done to prevent mass shootings. A brief but moving read that I wish would’ve gone into a bit more detail but still made an impact nonetheless.
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
May 31, 2018
Two books by this author, this one and Butterflies, are in many ways similar. I got them both and I liked Butterflies very much, so I had high hopes for this one too.
While Butterflies is a collection of four short stories, this is only one. It is a story inspired by mass murders in American schools, and that is one of the ways it is similar to previous book. It also tackles one of the problems in today’s society, this time mass violence and mystery surrounding the reasons something horrible like this can happen. I love the writing in this book too, the author now showed me that one book was not just a fluke, she really has a keen eye and hand for precise and coherent sentences, resulting in a tight prose and not that many pages for a reader to enjoy. But, better to have a short story that you can enjoy than a 600 page snorefest that you can’t wait to chuck across the room.
Anyway, another really good book. I must say I liked Butterflies a bit more, the themes and setting was more up my alley and there I got four great stories, so I won’t give this one a highest mark. But still, excellent effort.
While Butterflies is a collection of four short stories, this is only one. It is a story inspired by mass murders in American schools, and that is one of the ways it is similar to previous book. It also tackles one of the problems in today’s society, this time mass violence and mystery surrounding the reasons something horrible like this can happen. I love the writing in this book too, the author now showed me that one book was not just a fluke, she really has a keen eye and hand for precise and coherent sentences, resulting in a tight prose and not that many pages for a reader to enjoy. But, better to have a short story that you can enjoy than a 600 page snorefest that you can’t wait to chuck across the room.
Anyway, another really good book. I must say I liked Butterflies a bit more, the themes and setting was more up my alley and there I got four great stories, so I won’t give this one a highest mark. But still, excellent effort.
May 24, 2018
This is a powerful story that should be read in schools today. It seems every time I turn on the news there is a mass shooting or a threat of one. It is scary, especially with having children in the home. What is even scarier is the way we seem to be handling the problem, not at all. Adults seem too preoccupied with the second amendment to even consider what might be best for the children we send to school each day. The trauma these shootings are causing the younger generation is incredible, yet we argue like children. I love the approach the author took on this as it is non-political and encompasses a wide range of problems that have led to shootings. I believe stories like this will help open the minds of everyone, so we can come up with a solution that doesn’t involve sending our children into a war zone each day or forcing them to learn in a tense environment that looks very similar to a prison.
July 13, 2018
A harrowing look at what possibly could cause children to commit a school shooting, and how it affects families. It would be nice to say this is entertainment only, but it isn't. It's real. Hilde and Emily is alive somewhere now, plotting death.
One thing we do know is that virtually all mass shootings are planned, the Columbine shooters took almost a year to practice. What bothers me about all of this is a simple question. No teenager will be able to keep this a secret from their peers for long so someone knows about this, or suspects it. Why don't these kids speak? Have we created a society where kids think it's better to keep quiet about their impending deaths?
It's an excellent prequel Ms Nackerdien - I think you would be able to do a much more in depth story/doccie about this subject. We can run, but we can't hide from reality.
I cannot remember where I found this book, I try to do a review for every book I read, whether I bought it or requested a copy from the author.
One thing we do know is that virtually all mass shootings are planned, the Columbine shooters took almost a year to practice. What bothers me about all of this is a simple question. No teenager will be able to keep this a secret from their peers for long so someone knows about this, or suspects it. Why don't these kids speak? Have we created a society where kids think it's better to keep quiet about their impending deaths?
It's an excellent prequel Ms Nackerdien - I think you would be able to do a much more in depth story/doccie about this subject. We can run, but we can't hide from reality.
I cannot remember where I found this book, I try to do a review for every book I read, whether I bought it or requested a copy from the author.
May 21, 2018
A story straight from the news, mass shooter at local school
This is a fictional story that explores the possibility of mass shootings since Columbine being copycat killers with psychotic fantasies. The story explores two female shooters who decide to shoot up the school and are killed in the violent attack. The story shows the ease with which the guns were obtained and the social media craze that helps further the fame of these dysfunctional killers. This is a very interesting take on a national hot button issue. Well written and presented for the reader to evaluate what happened and why. Check this one out and tell me what you think about mass school shootings and the fallout the follows.
This is a fictional story that explores the possibility of mass shootings since Columbine being copycat killers with psychotic fantasies. The story explores two female shooters who decide to shoot up the school and are killed in the violent attack. The story shows the ease with which the guns were obtained and the social media craze that helps further the fame of these dysfunctional killers. This is a very interesting take on a national hot button issue. Well written and presented for the reader to evaluate what happened and why. Check this one out and tell me what you think about mass school shootings and the fallout the follows.
July 3, 2018
kindle unlimited, too topical as in not the writer's fault just hear so much about this type of thing happening year after year, worsening with no real end in sight, but if a book about bad things can be considered good/interesting then this one was
The Columbine high school massacre was the most lethal school shooting in modern US history when it took place on April 20, 1999. Regrettably, the frequency and lethality of mass shootings appear to have increased post-Columbine. One of the reasons may be that some youths were inspired by these events. Here, I use a fictional scenario to explore possible motives spurring the macabre actions of two female mass shooters.
The Columbine high school massacre was the most lethal school shooting in modern US history when it took place on April 20, 1999. Regrettably, the frequency and lethality of mass shootings appear to have increased post-Columbine. One of the reasons may be that some youths were inspired by these events. Here, I use a fictional scenario to explore possible motives spurring the macabre actions of two female mass shooters.
August 2, 2018
I found this to be an interesting premise but the book was somewhat hard to follow. While that may have partially been intentional it made it hard for me to finish the book. The story line itself was fascinating.
July 8, 2018
Mass school shootings
A brief look into the psych of a school shooter. Needed more in depth detail. The blame goes to the family.
A brief look into the psych of a school shooter. Needed more in depth detail. The blame goes to the family.
May 22, 2018
Thought Provoking Story- Protect our future generation!
Well, I think the name does not do justice to this compelling fiction story based on the topic of mass shooting, which seems to occur more often now than ever before. The author does a splendid job of going her perception on the causes and impacts of these teen shootings with the help of a family story, two young female mass shooters. The book highlights the possible causes of this- family disconnection, parents and kids’ differences, social media impact, core values and growing teen issues. It also raises questions on protecting our future generation who will be the leaders of the future and are they ready for it?
Well, I think the name does not do justice to this compelling fiction story based on the topic of mass shooting, which seems to occur more often now than ever before. The author does a splendid job of going her perception on the causes and impacts of these teen shootings with the help of a family story, two young female mass shooters. The book highlights the possible causes of this- family disconnection, parents and kids’ differences, social media impact, core values and growing teen issues. It also raises questions on protecting our future generation who will be the leaders of the future and are they ready for it?
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews