HomeGroupsTalkMoreZeitgeist
Search Site
This site uses cookies to deliver our services, improve performance, for analytics, and (if not signed in) for advertising. By using LibraryThing you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Your use of the site and services is subject to these policies and terms.

Results from Google Books

Click on a thumbnail to go to Google Books.

The Gun (Bluford Series, Number 6) by Paul…
Loading...

The Gun (Bluford Series, Number 6) (original 2002; edition 2011)

by Paul Langan, Paul Langan (Editor)

Series: Bluford High (6)

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingMentions
570641,542 (3.63)1
Tyray Hobbs wants revenge. Weeks ago he was one of the most feared students in Bluford High. But then Darrell Mercer publicly humiliated him, and Tyray lost his reputation. To get it back, he must take down Darrell. But how? With a broken hand, a troubled family, and no friends in sight, Tyray's options are limited. And when the kids he once bullied start threatening him his world completely unravels. Desperate to settle the score and regain respect, Tyray see only ones solution to his problems a gun.… (more)
Member:jackiediorio
Title:The Gun (Bluford Series, Number 6)
Authors:Paul Langan
Other authors:Paul Langan (Editor)
Info:Townsend Press (2011), Kindle Edition, 132 pages
Collections:Your library
Rating:**1/2
Tags:bullying, violence, crime, jail, teenager, high-lo, high school, guns, fear, beatings, basketball, broken bones, suicide, homicide, murder, killing, death, broken arm, domestic abuse, physical abuse, child abuse, shootings, older brother, sibling, African American, gang violence, stealing, lying, expulsion, suspension, wrestling

Work Information

The Gun (Bluford High Series #6) by Paul Langan (2002)

None
Loading...

Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book.

No current Talk conversations about this book.

» See also 1 mention

Showing 1-5 of 6 (next | show all)
00014086
  lcslibrarian | Aug 13, 2020 |
(Currently titled "Payback") This book in the Bluford High School series became very popular with students and teachers at the middle and high school level. There was some backlash over the title, so the author/publisher changed the title. The story picks up where "The Bully" left off. Tyray Hobbs was a mean bully and Darrell finally stood up to him. Tyray's arm was broken in the fight, and this is where the story begins. Tyray is an angry young man with no true friends and a troubled family. Because of Darrell, other students are standing up to Tyray, and he even gets mugged and beat up. He decided the only way to get his reputation back is to get a gun. He thinks he needs to take Darrell down, and get back at those that have stood up to him. The story is filled with tension and real-life situations that students identify with. Without seemingly preachy or condescending, the story shows that there are always options; that you can make decisions that will change your life for the better. The Gun/Payback are written at about a 4th grade level yet the reader does not feel like he/she is reading a kid's book. Highly recommend this book and the series to struggling and reluctant readers.
1 vote msgudgeon2 | Apr 14, 2013 |
The Gun, the sixth book in the popular Bluford High Series, tells the story of Tyray Hobbs, a high school student struggling to regain the respect he's lost. Tyray, formerly known as a powerful bully at Bluford, has been knocked down to earth by Darrell, a classmate he used to bully. Tyray now feels he has to regain his status by any means necessary, regardless of what his actions might cause. As Tyray acquires a gun, his life quickly begins to spiral out of control. Only when he realizes his parents and a caring teacher are on his side does Tyray see what could have happened. ( )
1 vote anboggs | Oct 15, 2012 |
Most students have to deal with being bullied at some point, but in "The Gun," the story is told from the view of the bully himself. Tyray is a troubled teenager from a damaged home, where his father is abusive and his brother in jail. Tyray gets by by being the bully of the school, hassling kids for their lunch money. But that all changes when one kid stands up to him and breaks his arm.

Tyray is no longer the bully of the school, but a source of amusement, and it drives him to drastic steps to try and get back to his former position of being the scariest guy in the school. He gets a gun through some dangerous circumstances, and ends up trying to use it to kill someone in his school; but at the last minute instead tries to kill himself. Then, he realizes that he was wrong and tries to turn his life around with the help of a teacher and his newly receptive parents.

The character of Tyray is compelling in this piece; he's portrayed clearly as a damaged teenager that is conditioned by years of abuse from his father into being unable to seek help. Readers will be able to relate to Tyray as he tries desperately to hang onto the world he knows, in the face of being something he's deathly scared of being; vulnerable. The ending of the story, though, is completely unbelievable; Tyray suddenly decides to accept the help of the adults around him and confess what he's been up to. This is sort of believable considering he had feelings of guilt at varying times in the story; what's not believable at all is a teacher bringing his father to remorseful tears about his actions and wanting Tyray to do better in life. Tyray's father before this is portrayed as nothing more than an abusive jerk, with no redeeming qualities, so the turnaround is quite a surprise. Additionally, the book's cover art is amateurish and the character's proportions are somewhat skewed. Still, the book may have a home with troubled teens looking for a feel good ending. ( )
1 vote jackiediorio | Nov 26, 2011 |
This is a very popular series for young adults. It contains high interest topics dealing with teen social issues. "The Gun" is very predictable; bully gets upset, wants revenge, comes from a troubled home life, intends to do harm, girl wants to change him, has a life changing experience in the end. Though predictable this is what appeals to teens, especially when contraversial topics such as guns and violence are involved. With all that being said, the story is well written in third person narrative and can be read by all reading levels grades 9-12. ( )
1 vote julieborkin | Aug 12, 2009 |
Showing 1-5 of 6 (next | show all)
no reviews | add a review
You must log in to edit Common Knowledge data.
For more help see the Common Knowledge help page.
Canonical title
Original title
Alternative titles
Original publication date
People/Characters
Important places
Important events
Related movies
Epigraph
Dedication
First words
“Man, I hate this place”, Tyray Hobbs thought as he walked slowly toward Bluford High School.
Quotations
"The first time they met, Tyray thought Darrell was the perfect target-a scrawny, weak kid who transferred to Bluford in the middle of the school year."
Last words
Disambiguation notice
Payback was initially published as The Gun.
Publisher's editors
Blurbers
Original language
Canonical DDC/MDS
Canonical LCC

References to this work on external resources.

Wikipedia in English

None

Tyray Hobbs wants revenge. Weeks ago he was one of the most feared students in Bluford High. But then Darrell Mercer publicly humiliated him, and Tyray lost his reputation. To get it back, he must take down Darrell. But how? With a broken hand, a troubled family, and no friends in sight, Tyray's options are limited. And when the kids he once bullied start threatening him his world completely unravels. Desperate to settle the score and regain respect, Tyray see only ones solution to his problems a gun.

No library descriptions found.

Book description
Haiku summary

Current Discussions

None

Popular covers

Quick Links

Rating

Average: (3.63)
0.5
1
1.5
2 3
2.5 2
3 11
3.5 1
4 5
4.5
5 9

Is this you?

Become a LibraryThing Author.

 

About | Contact | Privacy/Terms | Help/FAQs | Blog | Store | APIs | TinyCat | Legacy Libraries | Early Reviewers | Common Knowledge | 203,242,364 books! | Top bar: Always visible