Quad [Hardcover]

Carrie Gordon Watson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 10, 2007

Everything led up to this moment—the point when the teasing, the cruelty, the pressure all became too much. And someone finally snapped.

Now six students, from six different cliques, are trapped in the student store while a shooter terrorizes their school. The shooter’s identity is teased out through the students’ flashbacks until the reader breathlessly reaches the final page. It’s only there that he discovers the shocking answer to the question: Who is shooting out in the quad?

This gripping thriller by educator C. G. Watson is inspired by observations made in her own high school. Quad examines in heartrending detail how even the most casual cruelties can tear people apart.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Every library needs a copy, and perhaps every school curriculum needs to adopt it as a learning tool in the classroom.”

—TeensReadToo.com

About the Author

C. G. Watson lives in Chico, California.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 14 and up
  
• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Razorbill; First Edition edition (May 10, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1595141383
• ISBN-13: 978-1595141385
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.8 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,718,173 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Welcome to your child's High School, January 17, 2008

By 

YA Librarian "http://yabookmarks.blogspot.com/" (Always Cloudy Upstate NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Quad (Hardcover)

"Everything was leading up to this moment-the point at which the teasing, the cruelty, the pressure all become too much. And someone finally snapped."

Quad deals with a high school shooting just like Nancy Garden's Endgame. The difference here is that in Quad the reader does not see the bullying from one person's perspective. Instead, we witness the cruelty of high school through the eyes of the techies, choirboys, drama queens, and freaks. Added into the mix are the preps and the jocks with their own problems.

The story takes place at Muir High, which is a typical high school. Within the first chapter the shooting takes place. Quickly, Ranger, Ken, Sage, Maggie, Calvert, and Christopher rush into the student store and barricade themselves in. Huddled together, as shots ring out, they attempt to figure out who the school shooter is.

The book uses a series of flashbacks to tell the story from each group's perspective. I won't lie, it was confusing sometimes. There were a lot of characters that I had to sort out. As the story progressed I was more familiar with the different characters. However, for students who dislike books that have flashbacks and a barrage of characters they may not like Quad.

Overall, I did enjoy Quad, but not as much as Endgame. I think most teens will enjoy the book because Ms. Watson does an excellent job of portraying high school life in a realistic and painful way.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gripping and Timely, May 11, 2007

By 

D. Marshall "books_r4_kids" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Quad (Hardcover)

I just finished reading Quad, all in one sitting. I literally couldn't put it down. If you're in high school or college, or if you have kids in that age group, this is a must-read. Watson clearly has her finger on the pulse of today's teenagers. Sadly, most of the parents in Quad don't have a clue. And one need only read a newspaper to realize that the same is true of many parents. I'm planning to buy a copy for both of my kids, and maybe one for each niece and nephew as well.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Courtesy of Teens Read Too, May 11, 2007

By 

TeensReadToo "Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier." (All Over the US & Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Quad (Hardcover)

This fast-paced read presents the frightening side of high schools today. The action starts by page five, when an unknown shooter is heard firing shots in the high school quad. Terrified students run screaming in all directions. One small group barricades themselves in the school store.

C. G. Watson begins her story on Monday, April 6. Through flashbacks, the reader learns about the lives of the students at Muir High School. Everyone gets to tell their story - the Jocks, the Freaks, the Techies, the Drama Queens, the Choirboys, etc. Each group has the potential to have spawned the mystery shooter.

Could the violence be the result of "roid rage," homophobia, a jealous girlfriend or boyfriend, or some nerd sick of teasing and taunts? All aspects of today's teens and their roller coaster ride called high school appear in this book. The characters, though fictional, are frighteningly similar to real life. Readers will recognize their fellow students and will probably shudder to think how close to home this story hits.

QUAD speaks to the problems faced by many teens and offers many opportunities for discussion of current topics. Every library needs a copy, and perhaps every school curriculum needs to adopt it as a learning tool in the classroom.

Reviewed by: Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky"