Written in the form of interviews, reports, and journal entries, the story of three troubled teenagers ends in a tragic school shooting.

Fifth grade was the worst year of Marc's life. He stunk at gym class, math was too hard for him, the school lunch was horrible, and his class field trip was ruined because he couldn't swim. But what was most awful thing about fifth grade? Kenny Williamson, the class bully, who calls himself the 'King of the Jungle.' When Marc's mother tells him that his Uncle Jake is coming to stay for the whole summer, Marc can't wait. Uncle Jake is a for real, super-cool...

In writing in his journal about middle school classmate Morgan Mallen's suicide from bullying, Sam explores whether he was a friend, or one of the bullies who ignored her at school and tormented her online.

Lester's first days as a fifth grader at Quarry Elementary School are not even a little bit like he thought they would be -- the cafeteria is too loud for Lester's ears, there are too many kids, and then there's the bully. Lester was always home-schooled, and now he's shocked to be stuck in a school where everything just seems wrong. That's until he hears about the science fair, which goes really well for Lester! But then things go a bit sideways,...

Donovan Curtis has never been what anyone would call "gifted." But his genius friend Noah Youkilis is actually supergifted, with one of the highest IQs around. After years at the Academy for Scholastic Distinction, all Noah dreams of is the opportunity to fail if he wants to. And he's landed in the perfect place to do it -- Donovan's school. Almost immediately, Noah finds himself on the wrong side of cheerleading captain Megan Mercury and alpha jock...

Sixth grader Alec can't put a good book down. So when Principal Vance lays down the law -- pay attention in class, or else -- Alec takes action. He can't lose all his reading time, so he starts a club. A club he intends to be the only member of. After all, reading isn't a team sport, and no one would want to join something called the Losers Club, right? But as more and more kids find their way to Alec's club -- including his ex-friend turned bully...