Half Mast (Paperback)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A truly gripping story from its enigmatic opening through its stunning denouement... the best of contemporary American fiction." -- New York Resident, June 2002

"Something we never get to see, a raw and frightening thing that we're going to remember for quite some time." -- 3am magazine, August 2002

A cautionary tale that will haunt you for a long time. -- The Compulsive Reader, November 2002

A completely absorbing, provocative, and finely crafted story. -- The Boox Review, December 2002

A stunning accomplishment... gripping caper yarn, perceptive coming of age story, keen commentary on drastic Darwinian social stratification in school. -- Blogcritics, February 2003

A very satisfying read with a shocking yet stunning ending. -- All About Murder Reviews, November 2002

I am deeply impressed with this novel... Christopher Null [has] made it to my immediate buy list. -- Curled Up With a Good Book, January 2003

Very believable... Readers returning to the trials of puberty will find this fast read disturbingly accurate. -- San Francisco Chronicle, September 28, 2003

What separates Half Mast... is its coolly realistic gaze at the aftermath of the deed and its deeply flawed protagonist. -- MyMac.com, December 2002

Product Description

Alex lives the life of a typical suburban kid, until his first day of high school brings the wrath of the school bully and star football player, Steve. After years of abuse, Alex turns the tables on his tormentor, hatching a slow and brutal plan to end Steve's tortures for good. But will Steve's murder really make life any better for Alex? And what if he actually gets away with the crime? Half Mast is a haunting and powerful tale of revenge… and the inevitable remorse that comes with it.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 220 pages
• Publisher: Sutro Press; 1 edition (July 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0972098100
• ISBN-13: 978-0972098106
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,358,996 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A gripping story, January 6, 2003

By	T. Barkwell "shipshapecpo" (Antananarivo, Madagascar) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Fiction at its best. The writing is tight, the story is compelling, and the characters are interesting. The principal character is a geeky, brainy guy whose high school life is made unbearable by the school's most brutal bully. When he decides to take his revenge, the consequences are as bad (or worse) than the brutality he has already suffered. The story is told without mushy sentiment - in a straight-forward, powerful way. I started reading it Saturday morning and couldn't stop until I finished it that evening. It has been years since the last time that happened. If you like good stories - read this book.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Book I Have Read This Year, December 12, 2002

By	vanessa sellers (rock hill, sc United States) - See all my reviews

If you are looking for a book that is a real page turner -this is the one.
You really feel for Alex and what he goes though at the hands of the school bully Steve and his group of friends.
The book made me see revenge in a whole new light.
It's a must read.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Captures the essence of every high school misfit, August 4, 2002

By	Gregory T. Jackson (Houston, TX) - See all my reviews

Mr. Null captures the essence of anybody who couldn't figure out how to fit in high school. In Half Mast, we meet a normal kid, Alex, who is bullied and taunted to the brink. Alex is written as richly and deeply as any fictional character I've ever read. Along with Alex are a group of his friends who are also social outcasts, kids just waiting to graduate from high school and leave suburban hell behind them. Even Alex recognizes that his college days are nearing and his life will be infinitely better in a few years, but something happens to him that he can't forgive or forget. Alex fulfills the dream of every kid who has been the victim of a bully and the adults who just turn a blind eye. The truth is that almost everyone has Alex in us. This is a compelling story, and one that should be required reading for every high school teacher to understand how their less-than-popular students are feeling.