The Shape of Thunder

Although school shootings have occurred in other parts of the world, gun violence continues to endanger American students. The debate over gun control in America continues as those in favor of ready access to firearms point to the Second Amendment, which articulates that American citizens should have an uninfringed right to keep and bear arms (“Second Amendment.” Constitution Annotated). Advocates of gun control point out that less access to guns would decrease deaths by firearms, including deaths of school-aged children. For example, mass shootings in other first-world countries, such as the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada, prompted these respective governments to tighten gun laws, which has resulted in a significant decrease in deaths by firearms in these countries (Masters, Jonathan. “U.S. Gun Policies: Global Comparisons” Council on Foreign Relations, 10 June 2022).

At the time of this guide’s writing, gun violence is the leading cause of death for children and young people in America. Statistics on gun violence reveal that children of color are more likely to experience gun violence. Black students have been recorded to experience gun violence three times more than their white peers. Hispanic students are two times as likely to experience gun violence (“17 Facts About Gun Violence and School Shootings.” Sandy Hook Promise). Jasmine Warga’s The Shape of Thunder includes references to racially motivated violence, inspired by the real cases of violence perpetrated against students of color.

With the prevalence of schools experiencing gun violence, reporting suspicious behaviors becomes vital in preventing future violence. According to Homeland Security data, 93% of shooters displayed behaviors which caused others concern in the time leading up to their attack. Furthermore, in 80% of school shootings, at least one individual had knowledge that the attacker was considering or planning an attack. These individuals are most commonly friends or siblings (“Homeland Security: The School Shooter: A Quick Reference Guide.” United States Federal Bureau of Investigation).

Warga’s novel emphasizes the importance of reporting and intervention to prevent future school shootings. Quinn’s recollections suggest that her parents felt overwhelmed by Parker’s hateful comments, anger, and withdrawal. Instead of engaging in hard conversations, Parker’s parents became fearful of him and allowed him to withdraw further. He found solace in internet forums, which further radicalized him and inured him to the idea of solving his problems with violence.

Furthermore, the established norm of avoiding challenging and uncomfortable conversations in Quinn’s home left  Quinn too overwhelmed and scared to report the fact that she saw her brother opening her father’s gun safe. Warga conveys the message about the importance of being vigilant to the behavior of young people who have access to guns and who may be considering violence. Furthermore, she urges parents to engage in challenging conversations with their children about racism, sexism, and violence through Quinn’s perspective.