Quad (Hardcover)

by Carrie Gordon Watson (Author) "There was a Pepsi machine on the west side of the student store..." (more)
Key Phrases: class stoned, student store, Paisley Reed, Brad Calvert, Jesus Christ (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
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.

About the Author
C. G. Watson lives in Chico, California.

Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Razorbill (May 10, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1595141383
• ISBN-13: 978-1595141385
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.2 x 1.2 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.com Sales Rank: #356,381 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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

"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)

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.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Timely and Timeless, October 22, 2007

By	Catherine L. Purtill (Hollywood, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

CG Watson's "Quad" was an absolute page-turner. With every chapter, as we got closer to learning the identity of the shooter, I thought I had it figured out. But the ending was a total surprise! Watson has an ear for accurate dialogue and an eye for the details that make this thriller stand out among YA fiction. She has fully captured the high school experience, the cliques and the characters. This is a thoroughly relatable book for both teens and adults. I highly recommend it!!