Week 12 Prompt

Columbine, by Dave Cullen

1. Where is the book on the narrative continuum?

      Highly narrative (reads like fiction)
✓   A mix (combines highly narrative moments with periods of fact-based prose)
      Highly fact based (has few or no narrative moments)

2. What is the subject of the book?
The school shooting at Columbine High School--the book focuses on the facts of the mass shooting and gives narratives of the victims and shooters.

3. What type of book is it?
True Crime

4. Articulate appeal

What is the pacing of the book?The book reads fast but the pace is slower because of the sections of facts.
Describe the characters of the book?The book mainly focuses on the two shooters in the Columbine massacre
How does the story feel?The story is incredibly somber, but it is enthralling because of the very detailed descriptions.
What is the intent of the author?To help readers understand the details of a terrible tragedy.
What is the focus of the story?The day of the shooting, along with the backstory of the shooters and victims in the school that day.
Does the language matter?Yes
Is the setting important and well described?The setting is not as important as the characters, but it is very well described.
Are there details, and if so, of what?There are plenty of details. The book has 400 pages from one day, along with profiles of the shooters.
Are there sufficient charts and other graphic materials? Are they useful and clear?There are not may charts, but there are materials from the shooters rooms as a part of their profiles. They are as clear as they can be for copies in a book.
Does the book stress moments of learning, understanding, or experience?The book stresses a lot of understanding and experience; understanding of the atmosphere of the event and experiencing the emotions during the event.

5. Why would a reader enjoy this book (rank appeal)?
1. Detail        2. Learning/experiencing       3. Tone