They Hurt, They Scar, They Shoot, They Kill: Toxic Characters in Young Adult Fiction (Volume 52) (Studies in Young Adult Literature (52))

Young adults live in a violent culture, so trying to protect them from the world they live in is not only futile but can also be dangerous. No matter their ethnicity, social class, or economic status, teens must know how to survive the perils that may await them. Most teens understand this, and they want books, television shows, and films to reflect the reality of their world—the bad along with the good. In They Hurt, They Scar, They Shoot, They Kill: Toxic Characters in Young Adult Fiction, Joni Richards Bodart examines works of fiction that feature characters who threaten the psychological and physical well-being of teens and their friends and families. In this companion volume to They Suck, They Bite, They Eat, They Kill, the focus is on individuals who prey on the vulnerable: bullies, manipulators, torturers, sexual predators, and sadists. The novels and stories discussed in this volume feature adult criminals or predators who look for young people to ensnare; school personnel who interact with students in harmful ways; teens who bully others in order to hide their own fears and weaknesses; and parents, siblings, and others who mistreat family members. Arranged in five sections that cover such topics as bullies, school shootings, and monsters at home, this volume analyzes the most important and well-written series and titles for teens. They Hurt, They Scar, They Shoot, They Kill will help parents, teachers, and other adults understand the value of these titles and the benefits of reading them, so they will be less likely to forbid them to their teens or challenge library collections for carrying them. Part 1. Mass Murderers : Serial Killers And School Shootings. 1. I Wish You Were Dead By Todd Strasser -- 2. The Forensic Mystery Series By Alane Ferguson -- 3. Acceleration By Graham Mcnamee -- 4. In The Path Of Falling Objects By Andrew Smith -- 5. I Hunt Killers Series By Barry Lyga -- 6. Project Cain By Geoffrey Girard -- 7. My Friend Dahmer By Derf Backderf -- 8. Give A Boy A Gun By Todd Strasser -- 9. The Last Domino By Adam Meyer -- 10. Endgame By Nancy Garden -- 11. Guns For Geeks By Chris Crutcher, From On The Fringe Edited By Don Gallo -- 12. Quad By C. G. Watson -- 13. Hate List By Jennifer Brown -- Part Ii. Bullies : In Your Face And On Your Screen. 14. Shattering Glass By Gail Giles -- 15. Tease By Amanda Maciel -- 16. Shine By Lauren Myracle -- 17. By The Time You Read This, I'll Be Dead By Julie Anne Peters -- Part Iii. Monsters At School : Teachers, Coaches, Athletes, And Others. 18. Leverage By Joshua C. Cohen -- 19. Boot Camp By Todd Strasser -- 20. Boy Toy By Barry Lyga -- 21. Raiders Night By Robert Lipsyte -- Part Iv. Monsters You Live With : Nearest, But Not Dearest. 22. The Rules Of Survival By Nancy Werlin -- 23. Hope In Patience By Beth Fehlbaum -- 24. What Happened To Cass Mcbride? By Gail Giles -- The Chosen One By Carol Lynch Williams -- Part V. Manipulators : Rapists, Kidnappers, And Other Predators. 26. This Gorgeous Game By Donna Freitas -- 27. Cut Me Free By J. R. Johnson -- 28. Ruthless By Carolyn Lee Adams -- 29. The Rag And Bone Shop By Robert Cormier. Joni Richards Bodart. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 235-273) And Index. As a follow up to They Suck, They Bite, They Eat, They Kill, which examined supernatural monsters in YA fiction, in this book Bodart looks at human monsters in "real-life" fiction, including sexual predators, bullies, manipulators, torturers, and any who find glee and satisfaction from the pain of others. Bodart includes chapters on parents, siblings, and other family members who mistreat the weaker ones in the family; school personnel who step outside the boundaries when they interact with students in damaging ways; adult criminals or predators who look for young people to ensnare; and teens This book examines works of fiction that feature characters who threaten the psychological and physical well-being of teens and their friends and families. It focuses on individuals who prey on the vulnerable: bullies, manipulators, torturers, sexual predators, and sadists