First published 1998
The Jonesboro school shooting has shattered five families and left a community reeling. Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee witnessed the aftermath firsthand when he met with grieving families and law enforcement officials in the wake of the tragedy. While media experts rushed to offer quick explanations and turn the crisis into a symbol of social decay, Huckabee took a different approach. Drawing on his background as both a pastor and state leader, he examines the deeper cultural forces that have contributed to youth violence across America. The book explores how the breakdown of traditional institutions and the rise of anti-hero worship have created conditions where children turn to violence. Rather than simply diagnosing problems, Huckabee proposes concrete solutions rooted in four pillars: faith, family, work, and community. This book offers parents and citizens a path toward rebuilding the security and values that once protected children in schools and neighborhoods.
Genres: psychology, social-issues, non-fiction, true-crime
Vibes: dark, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: problem-solution, social-commentary
Setting: Jonesboro, Arkansas
Period: contemporary
192 pages · Paperback · B&H Books
Content warnings: violence