This novel takes place during one day, the one year anniversary of a school shooting that left one student dead. Told through the perspectives of four students, in a semi-journal entry format, the reader sees how the shooting and its anniversary affected the town and how such an event could happen. Three of the students are part of the outcasts. Kurt, known at school as "freek" is made fun of every day, and uses his music to retreat. Tisha, is put down by both the black and white girls because she does not fully belong to either group. Floater, a self chosen name, was picked by the principal to be his eyes and ears. Even though he is still not accepted, he is mostly left alone, because he holds a power over the other students. The fourth perspective is Ryan, a senior football player and sometimes bully.I loved this book, and think it is one that every high school student should read. Along with the perspectives of those being hurt, we see what leads to the hurtful actions of others and how far those effects reach. This novel doesn't sugar coat how teens feel about and react to teasing and abuse, which I think is the most important aspect. The entries all could have been written by high school students. They express the wanting to fit in, fear of failure, and general confusion that is characteristic of being a teenager. Also, they show how teenagers can have those "moments of clarity" when the stakes are high enough, and do the right thing despite the potential social consequences. This is a theme I find refreshing in young adult literature today, giving teens credit for what they can do. The setting of the book is nondescript enough that it could be in any suburb, and the lessons apply to teens at any type of school. The characters are each someone that you probably pass every day without realizing it (except for Ryan). By the end, I either loved or loathed each character, but I did not feel apathetic towards any of them, and I wanted each one to get what they deserved out of life.READ MORE REVIEWS AT http://sschpagepals.blogspot.com

Names Will Never Hurt Me is told in a loose prose form, which intensifies the teen angst felt throughout. It is a chilling and hopefully exaggerated look at what high school life is like today. This is a good book for teens who don’t feel like they fit in…which, according to Adoff, is all of them. ( )

Not the greatest book, but still good enough. Best for 8th grade and aboe I think. Four people in high school: "Kurt, the freek hiding inside himself to escape the bullies; Tisha, the white girl with the tan that never fades, who desn't feel she fits in with anyone; Ryan, the all-American football jock, who rules the hallways as he loses control of his life; and Floater, the eyes and ears of th eprincipal, who uses his connections to gain dangerous power." ( )

Very good story for high school students about how things aren't always the way they seem...maybe the perfect student doesn't really have such a perfect life. Quick read. ( )

A great book by one of my fave teen authors, Jaime Adoff. Keeps you reading to the very end. ( )