Children Under Fire

An American Crisis

By: John Woodrow Cox

Narrated by: Graham Halstead

One of The New York Times' 16 New Books to Watch for in March

One of Publishers Weekly’s Most Anticipated Books of the Year

One of Newsweek’s Most Highly Anticipated Books of The Year

One of Buzzfeed’s Most Anticipated Books the Year

Based on the acclaimed series - a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize - an intimate account of the devastating effects of gun violence on our nation’s children, and a call to action for a new way forward

In 2017, seven-year-old Ava in South Carolina wrote a letter to Tyshaun, an eight-year-old boy from Washington, DC. She asked him to be her pen pal; Ava thought they could help each other. The kids had a tragic connection - both were traumatized by gun violence. Ava’s best friend had been killed in a campus shooting at her elementary school, and Tyshaun’s father had been shot to death outside of the boy’s elementary school. Ava’s and Tyshaun’s stories are extraordinary, but not unique. In the past decade, 15,000 children have been killed from gunfire, though that number does not account for the kids who weren’t shot and aren’t considered victims but have nevertheless been irreparably harmed by gun violence.

In Children Under Fire, John Woodrow Cox investigates the effectiveness of gun safety reforms as well as efforts to manage children’s trauma in the wake of neighborhood shootings and campus massacres, from Columbine to Marjory Stoneman Douglas. Through deep reporting, Cox addresses how we can effect change now, and help children like Ava and Tyshaun. He explores their stories and more, including a couple in South Carolina whose 11-year-old son shot himself, a Republican politician fighting for gun safety laws, and the charlatans infiltrating the school safety business.

In a moment when the country is desperate to better understand and address gun violence, Children Under Fire offers a way to do just that, weaving wrenching personal stories into a critical call for the United States to embrace practical reforms that would save thousands of young lives.

©2021 John Woodrow Cox (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers

Great book

Excellent use of qualitative ethnographic techniques to bring the points home. Hard not to visualize based on the description. Sent me to the March for Our Lives rally in DC

Intelligent summary of how American gun violence is devastating its children

Articulate, powerful, thought-provoking and painful.
I sincerely hope this book can help push forward badly needed policies that so obviously will save lives.

Impactful

A sobering view of what happens to the survivors of gun violence. The author gains close access to the families and delivers a powerful, raw and impactful story.

Unfortunately this is a sad but true story.

Unfortunately this is a sad but true story. I couldn't stop listening although it was hard at times because it made me emotional. Poor babies that have to go through such situations.

Listen up

Every teacher, parent , politician should be required to read this book. I truly had no idea the horror of the events had such effects or so many who survive

Excellent and necessary

Should be required reading for every American. Timely, accurate, heart-wrenching. We need this now more than ever.

Important read if care about children's health

As now the leading cause of death for our teens (having surpassed motor vehicle accidents in the last few years), anyone who cares about children's health should read this book. This book isn't an easy read in the sense that the author does an excellent job of telling the stories, often in their own words, of the children left behind with lingering effects of gun violence. Yet it is an important read, especially for all those who do not feel the daily effects.

Informative and heart breaking

The author does a great job of not only story telling and helping you to learn the individuals impacted, but also showcasing unimaginable facts. The book is very well written, and provides a compelling call to action without using any extremes. Would highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone.

What about the kids that are left behind?

In this climate of gun violence the kids/families that are left behind share THEIR stories with John Woodrow Cox. It is a must read for everyone on both sides of the aisle!

Must listen!

Gives insight to the unseen side effects of gun violence and culture in this country. We have to do something.