Gunstories: Life-Changing Experiences with Guns – First-Person Narratives and Photography from American Teens

by S. Beth Atkin

Guns are a fact of life for young people growing up in the United States. They are found in homes—for protection, sport, and hunting. Guns are also on the street—for defense and security, and in gang-related uses. Guns can cause accidents, and even deaths, while they can also nurture self-esteem and athletic abilities. The impact of guns on young people's lives is undebatable—and often dramatic. S. Beth Atkin's evocative photographs and candid interviews share the remarkable stories—told in their own voices—of an array of young people's life-changing experiences with guns.

Genres: Nonfiction

244 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2006

About the author

S. Beth Atkin is a graduate of Barnard College and started a career as a photographer while assisting on photo shoots for publications including Time, Life, Sports Illustrated, Smithsonian. In 1988 she started a commercial and editorial photography business and moved to California. Her clients have included: Digital Equipment, Pebble Beach Company, Cellular One, National Geographic, San Francisco Chronicle, Cycle World, Houghton-Mifflin, Scholastic Inc., The U.S. Open, Nike, and The Nation.

Atkin lectures about youth issues, her books and photography, continues to do editorial photography and consults, volunteers, and donates her work to at-risk programs for youth and non-profit organizations.

Reviews

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

What this books seems to show anyone who reviews it is that upper middle class white gun enthusiasts in rural areas have a very different view on guns than inner-city dwellers who see the dangers of guns too often. The enthusiasts see them as sports equipment. The others as a sign of death and/ or a powerful tool. The author attempts to be impartial in the stories that are included.

[Bethany Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Each chapter of this book focuses on a young person who has had a first hand experience with guns. The chapters alternate between teens who have had positive experiences and those that have had negative experiences. The book is written in the teens’ words from interviews conducted by Atkins, and she also includes photographs that she took. Generally, the teens that have had positive experiences with guns live in rural areas (most of them were from Ohio) and were involved in clubs such as 4-H where they had learned proper safety procedures. Many also cited shooting as a family activity and said that they first learned about guns from their parents. The teens that had negative experiences with guns were typically from urban areas and were introduced to guns through violence and illegal activity. Many had witnessed shooting or been shot themselves.

I enjoyed the book, and I think it addresses an important and polarizing issue. Teens and adults tend to have very strong opinions about guns, and this book shows both sides of the issue. This book would prompt great classroom discussion. One criticism that I had was that some of the stories became a little repetitive. Most of the pro-gun teens that she interviewed were from rural Ohio, and they had had very similar experiences. Maybe because I’m from Ohio I felt that this made it seem as if all Ohioans are toting guns around wearing NRA t-shirts, and I know that this is not the case. I wish that she had expanded her interview geographically to represent more viewpoints.

[TheSaint · Rating 2 out of 5]

You'll soon get the drift of the experiences and opinions expressed in Gunstories: Life-Changing Experiences with Guns. Rural teens think guns are great, and urban teens think guns are gruesome. S. Beth Atkin interviewed a variety of teens in order to gain an understanding of their views on the firearms debate, and found that they very much echo adults on the subject. Many rural teens found their opportunities with 4-H or other legitimate group shooting organizations to be valuable in learning responsibility. But the experiences of kids in the city seem to revolve around criminal activities: either as victims, or friends of victims of gangland shootings, or even as innocent bystanders. The author does not attempt to persuade reader of her own point of view, but allows the voices of the interviewees to speak for themselves.

[Lindsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

18 chapters with 9 of them being pro-gun (positive experiences with guns) and 9 of them being anti-gun (devastating experiences with guns). Great photographs of teens who contributed their stories to this book.

What I found most interesting was that Caucasian teens enjoyed gun sports and family centered hunting/shooting while mixed race teens experienced violence. Well, except for one Caucasian teen, who was friend with one of the Columbine shooters.

Overall, I found the book a bit dry, too simple, and too careful. Atkin clearly wanted to write an unbiased book, but the pro-gun side really seemed lacking. Maybe because I'm on the gun-control side.

The writing is simple and I think ESL kids would definitely be able to read these interviews. I'll sell it as a good book to pick up and read a chapter or two, but not really a good cover-to-cover read.

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The concept was strong (have teens give their 2 cents on gun control/gun rights.) Unfortunately, the authors attempt to show diversity was somewhat unsuccessful. All of the pro-gun people were from the Midwest or Florida, largely Ohio, including 2 sisters. All of the anti-gun people were urban dwellers, largely Hispanic. Real diversity would have come from a rural proponent of gun control, or an urban gun rights advocate.

[Darien Bankhead · Rating 3 out of 5]

THE BOOk i read was gun stories by s. beth atkin. it was a good because i cane relate to some of the peoples , like the boy who got shot in his farc. ive never been shot but i felt the pain he flet when my

[Asher · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is a good book if you have a good heart. it makes me want to cry. it not only bad stories but good stories! i like both. the sad/bad stories make me feel bad. but the good stories are so nice.