“Amazingly graphic, terrifyingly real-life and current time. A parental must read.” Terry Keys, USA Today bestselling author of Lie No More and The Missing pens his most captivating book to date. This is the heart-breaking story about a small-town boy who’d taken everything from everyone until he could take no more. Seventeen-year-old Blaze Planter is a Jr. at Kilwade, High School. His parents … School.
His parents have recently divorced.
His grades are slipping.
His anger is growing with each day.
Relationships with his closest friends are failing.
Secrets about his life are being uncovered.
No one understands what he is going through.
And everyone who has betrayed him needs to be taught a lesson.
So now he stands with the one friend that has never betrayed him.
The one friend that does what he asks every time he squeezes the trigger.
The only friend that he can depend on.
Tragedies don’t just happen. The signs are simply overlooked every day until it’s too late.
The importance of teen health and teen mental health cannot be overstated. After the read be sure to review the author’s note where resources for additional help are listed. There are also discussion questions to generate conversation & get adults and student’s talking.
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Pushed to the limit
Blaze Planter is 17 years old and a Junior at Kilwade, Texas high school.. He has a younger brother and parents that recently got divorced. And Blaze is a young man full of anger. He’s angry at his parents in the way they handled the divorce. He’s angry at his father for not keeping in contact after he left. And he’s angry at an atmosphere of bullying against him that has just gotten worse and worse over the last few months. And there’s more and he is tired. Tired of facing each new day at school. Tired of his home life. And he’s finally had enough and makes his plans on doing something about it.
This is such a heartwrenching story about a young man who feels he’s run out of options. It was especially jarring because of two mass shootings that happened here in the U.S. over the last week that had high body counts.
This is an excellent book even though very difficult to read. The author explores Blaze’s character in depth and his thought processes. He also writes in the foreword and after the story finishes about the crisis this country faces with the toll from mass shootings rising every day.
I received this book from Booksprout in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review.
When a small town boy can take no more…
With mass shootings forever in the news, this thought-provoking tale of youthful angst is a must-read for parents who wonder how and why ‘normal’ kids turn to murder in response to feelings of worthlessness and alienation. Graphic, brutal, brilliant.
A Gripping Read
The backdrop is Kilwade, a small town in Texas. The multifaceted characters are well developed and relatable. Blaze Planter, a troubled high school student, is dealing with some troubling feelings, is slowly falling into an abyss and is planning to commit an act that will have devastating results, but the story doesn’t end there, because there are unexpected twists and turns, revelations and events that will shock you to the core. The narrative is revealing with intense plots, delving into bullying, deceit, hopelessness, depression, parent/child conflict, infidelity, guns, alcohol, and drug abuse and the impact of social media on our youth, slowly developing into an ending that will have you questioning at what point does society take note, stop flapping their gums, and come up with tangible solutions when teens begin to exhibit atypical conduct. Even though the story is fiction, it is timely and relevant today. Whether you have children or not, this is a must-read book.
Warning: this is a tragedy. This is the most amazing story I’ve read in ages. It addresses of the most important problems of our time with realism and clarity that captures you from the opening line. It should be a must-read for every adult with any connection to high school kids. With sophisticated depth and incredible skill, Terry Keys tackles a gut-wrenching tragedy that you won’t stop reading. It has all the angst and anger of high school in characters so real you can reach out and touch them. You feel what each one of these people is feeling in every scene. I’m in awe.
A heart wrenching, and terrifying read, The Kilwade Tragedy brings to the forefront the violent school mass-shootings that are ever-present in today’s society. It explores the events that lead a teenager to this horrific decision.
The author summed it up best with these words:” Students walking into their high school and murdering their classmates is commonplace in America.” He goes on to write about different tragedies such as Pearl Harbor, the World Trade Center, hurricanes devastating communities and the swift response and action we have given to those tragedies. As Mr. Keys states, “Americans respond smartly, quickly and aggressively when we want to. Some may say those examples are national catastrophes with dire consequences… and they’d be right. But when did we decide that children being shot down at school shouldn’t also fall into that category? We haven’t acted swiftly, quickly or aggressively to fix this problem yet.”
Every lawmaker, every parent, every teenager should read this book.
I received a free copy of this book and choose to review it voluntarily.
I can honestly say I’ve never read a book quite like this one. From the minute I started reading this compelling tale, I couldn’t stop, even though I knew I was barreling towards a tragedy I didn’t want to see happen. Because I really came to like the main character and I could sympathize with Him each step of the way on his agonizing journey. This book really grabs you and opens your eyes to the fact that there are so many sides to everyone’s story. And tragedies such as these affect us all, whether we’re personally involved or not. This author has such a gifted voice and was one of the few books written from a teenager’s perspective that rang absolutely true and authentic. If we don’t have empathy for our fellow man, if we don’t stop the violent and destructive things originating in our own homes and behind closed doors, if we don’t open our eyes to the pain others are going through, then these tragedies become the responsibility of us all.
Before I start this review, I do want to let you all know that this book is trigger heavy. The triggers are bullying, casual drug use, physical violence, online bullying, underage drinking, and the planning/execution of a school shooting in Texas. The Kilwade Tragedy isn’t a book for everyone, but it is a book that needs to be read. So, read with these triggers in mind.
I am not going to lie. The Kilwade Tragedy was a tough book to read. There were points where I wanted to put the book down.
The Kilwade Tragedy explores the events that led Blaze to do what he did. And what is revealed is frightening.
As a mother of school-age children, The Kilwade Tragedy struck a nerve with me. I am uneasy about sending my kids to school. Even though I know that their schools have upgraded their security measures. But the security measures don’t extend to recess, school trips or sporting events. So, yes, what happened at the end of the book chilled me. Reading that was my worst nightmare.
I was impressed with the research that the author did. At the same time, I was chilled. He was able to gain access to several different middle/high schools in his area. NO ONE ASKED WHY HE WAS THERE. I couldn’t believe it.
What saddened me the most about The Kilwade Tragedy is that Blaze was let down. He was screaming for help and kept getting brushed off. By the time his mother got him to a therapist, it was too late. He was already pushed past his breaking point.
The bullying scenes were heartbreaking. I liked how the author showed the escalation of the bullying. It went from name-calling to mental to physical over a year. I liked that the author showed how the school failed Blaze. Oh boy, did they ever. Because the bullies were on the football team, they chose to turn the other cheek until it was too late. When the police went to arrest the boys for assault, they chose to let one of the kids walk because of who his father was. Unfortunately, scenarios like that one are played out all over the country. A zero bullying policy only works if the staff chooses to enforce it for everyone.
The end of The Kilwade Tragedy was chilling. The speech that the principal gave is given too often. But, in this speech, the principal acknowledged that Blaze was failed. And he vowed that change would start with his school.
The author’s note included several links where people could go for help. He also had a question and answer prompt if the book would be read in book clubs.
As I mentioned above, this is a heartbreaking book to read. Reading about what lead a teenager to decide to do a school shooting was hard for me. But I needed to read it.
The Kilwade Tragedy is an important book, confronting the subject of bullying and the horror that sometimes ensues, when a young person reaches the end of his rope. The author takes an honest and unwavering look at one such tragedy, and takes the reader back to the beginning. This is the first time I, personally, have ever read such an in depth look at who the young person is, and what could have happened to turn such a good kid into a killer. The story concerns seventeen-year-old Blaze Planter, a good student at Kilwade High School. The author takes us back to Blaze’s earlier life and we are given a bird’s eye view of the challenges Blaze faces, and his internalization of the pain. It is heart breaking to watch as Blaze, feeling like no one can understand, falls further and further into depression.
The Kilwade Tragedy is an important book, one that every parent should read. A lot has been discussed in the last few years regarding bullying, however, This author has given the reader a true and uncompromising look at the reasons why a young person might finally go too far.
‘All of you played a part. None of you did enough. Some of you didn’t even try.’
Texas author Terry Keys has published eight novels – MAXIMUM GUILT, GAMES OF GUILT, CHAINED GUILT, an anthology THE MURDER FILES, DEATH TOTAL RISING, THE MISSING, LIE NO MORE, MAXIMUM GUILT, and now THE KILWADE TRAGEDY. Terry is also a songwriter, and poet. He has experience working in law enforcement and corrections, and as a project manager in the oil and gas industry. He also writes for Examiner.com. He lives in Dickinson, Texas
As an additive effect for this terrifying story, the author offers his insights about schools and violence in general: ‘One day very soon I hope that our lawmakers and parents become outraged enough to make swift and drastic changes in regards to addressing mass school shootings and how we parent/raise our children. Talk is cheap and everyone has been talking too long – we need action. No politics, no hidden agendas, no lobbyists – action…’ And with this degree of intensity this exceptional story about violence, substance abuse, suicide, mass school shootings et al opens.
Terry’s grasp of the suspense/thriller/mystery genre grows with each new novel he writes. His prose is pungent, immersing, and as straight-ahead propelled as his subject matter demands. In his magnetizing Prologue we are given a hint of the terror ahead – ‘Let me just start off by saying that no kid is ever born thinking, one day I’m going to kill myself. If you would have told me six months ago that I was going to kill myself, I would have called you crazy. Only kids dealing with deep mental imbalances do stuff like that – right. Only crazy kids? But here we are… Sure, I could go on and live another sixty years here, you’ll just hurt me more. I know I’m worthless, so why should I drag this out any longer…?’
The author offers the following excellent synopsis – ‘Seventeen-year-old Blaze Planter is a Jr. at Kilwade, High School. His parents have recently divorced. His grades are slipping. His anger is growing with each day. Relationships with his closest friends are failing. Secrets about his life are being uncovered. No one understands what he is going through. And everyone who has betrayed him needs to be taught a lesson. So now he stands with the one friend that has never betrayed him. The one friend that does what he asks every time he squeezes the trigger. The only friend that he can depend on. Tragedies don’t just happen. The signs are simply overlooked every day until it’s too late.’
Sadly, Terry’s novel is punishingly timely with all of the violent events so razor sharp at present. This is a novel to read not only because it is fine prose, but it also suggests a flaw in our society…Terry Keys is taking his place in the lineup of important authors of today. Grady Harp, August 19
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
This is the most awesome book. Fast-paced and very well-written, this is a heart-breaking tale. This author is absolutely one of my favorites because of books like this one and Chained Guilt (also an awesome book). This book is especially touching and is a compelling read grabbing me in the beginning and not letting go. I will keep watch for all of the books by this author.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
*Spoilers* The Kilwade Tragedy; is a well written, fast moving novel. The Characters are well formed and you care about them. the plot is suspenseful and is easy to follow. However, none of these usual comments are as important as usual. This was a difficult book for me to read, and this is a difficult review for me to write because of the subject matter. The subject of school bullying and the resulting sequelae have always been difficult for me. In elementary school and Junior High, I was eminently bully-able. You know the type: single parent family, living below the poverty line, small, smart, meek. I survived this period because I lived through it in the early sixties. There have always been bullies in school, the personalities involved have never changed. I think that there are two main reasons that I survived without acting out in response. First, even though individuals gratified their insecurities by “joking around,” at my expense, their effect was only local. I survived because there was no social media megaphone available for these “Jokers,” their effect was limited, local and transitory. Second, I had people who would listen to me and really cared about me. Family, The Human Teachers [some did not seem to be so], and my pastor. Being a “born-again” child of God erased the sting of the words flung at me every day. I survived by the grace of God! The most important part of this book is the purpose for which it seems to have been written. The end matter about recognizing bullying before it is too late is worth its weight in gold. Well Done, Sir. This is a worthwhile book, do not miss this one.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A real and harsh read. Parents wake up, be in your kids business, you’re the parent, not their buddy. I feel as if this should be a mandatory read for parents and probably high schoolers.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.