Good Reads / Community Library Notes
How to Be Safe
Tom McAllister
Review by Priscilla Comen
How to Be Safe
Tom McAllister
Review by Priscilla Comen
How to Be Safe, by Tom McAllister, is the story, told in first person, of a shooting at a school. Although Anna Crawford is exonerated of the crime, her life is seriously affected. Her photos, her address, her secrets are all exposed on social media. Author McAllister creates a most realistic scene in this novel. We are with him.
The author names and describes the victims, friends of Anna’s or service people she has met: Sara R., Scot L., Colby D., Author McAllister tells us his philosophy about growing up and about changes. Time changes us as it changes our surroundings. Cameron T. and Kirk B are also on her list of friends who were shot. Anna knew the shooter’s mother in high school and wonders if she could have done anything to help the mother to change her son. Anna meets Robbie again and they go to his apartment for the night. He wants to take care of her. She knows this is the idea all men have, but it seems he can’t even take care of himself.
“Time to Heal” the newspapers say, but Anna knows it’s all still there. She tells us how to be safe: get some money; try to grow wings; never go online; lock your doors and windows at night; pre-dial 911. Is the author serious or humorous? In another chapter, the author says, “Ban public space.” “Ban anger. Ban physics and ban velocity. Ban women and children who are targets. Ban interaction.” Is he serious? What do you think? He also says develop a network of tunnels in your backyard. Sleep with a knife under your pillow.
Anna gives us all this advice and decides to leave her current life. Where will she go? Will she be happier there? Don’t we take our problems with us? Find the answers on the new fiction shelf of your Mendocino Community Library.
The author names and describes the victims, friends of Anna’s or service people she has met: Sara R., Scot L., Colby D., Author McAllister tells us his philosophy about growing up and about changes. Time changes us as it changes our surroundings. Cameron T. and Kirk B are also on her list of friends who were shot. Anna knew the shooter’s mother in high school and wonders if she could have done anything to help the mother to change her son. Anna meets Robbie again and they go to his apartment for the night. He wants to take care of her. She knows this is the idea all men have, but it seems he can’t even take care of himself.
“Time to Heal” the newspapers say, but Anna knows it’s all still there. She tells us how to be safe: get some money; try to grow wings; never go online; lock your doors and windows at night; pre-dial 911. Is the author serious or humorous? In another chapter, the author says, “Ban public space.” “Ban anger. Ban physics and ban velocity. Ban women and children who are targets. Ban interaction.” Is he serious? What do you think? He also says develop a network of tunnels in your backyard. Sleep with a knife under your pillow.
Anna gives us all this advice and decides to leave her current life. Where will she go? Will she be happier there? Don’t we take our problems with us? Find the answers on the new fiction shelf of your Mendocino Community Library.