I have no issues with the author. Hey Ed, write what you wish to write. Teachers recommending this book, on the other hand, are nuts. I'm sure that a lot of you teachers have seen violence and feel it necessary your students experience it, albeit through literature. But seriously, you cant expect the majority of your students to relate the Ed's story. Your student is a digital native, a gamer, a technophile with very little time. Get in touch with your students. Assign halo or call of duty books to your male students and paranormal romance to your female students. You'll create new readers.