"Bang!" by Sharon G. Flake tells the poignant story of fifteen-year-old Weedy, who struggles with the aftermath of a tragic incident involving gun violence. As he grapples with guilt and shame, he finds solace in the memories of his late brother, who was shot in a gang-related altercation. Weedy's journey explores themes of loss, friendship, and the harsh realities of life in a neighborhood plagued by violence. Alongside his friends, he navigates the challenges of adolescence while confronting the emotional scars of his past, ultimately seeking redemption and a way to heal in a world that often feels unforgiving. [Generated by language model - please report any problems].

This book is the winner of numerous awards

This book is aimed at children at US 5th grade-9th grade.

This book has been graded for interest at 14-17 years.

There are 320 pages in this book.

It is aimed at Young Adult readers. The term Young Adult (YA) is used for books which have the following characteristics: (1) aimed at ages 12-18 years, US grades 7-12, UK school years 8-15, (2) around 50-75k words long, (3) main character is aged 12-18 years, (4) topics include self-reflection, internal conflict vs external, analyzing life and its meaning, (5) point of view is often in the first person, and (6) swearing, violence, romance and sexuality are allowed.

This book was published in 2018 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers .

Sharon Flake was bom in Philadelphia, but has lived in Pittsburgh with her daughter, for many years. She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a BA in English. For several years she was a youth counselor for a foster care agency, after which she spent 18 years working at the University of Pittsburgh in public relations. She has written numerous articles for national publications. Prior to having her first book published, she wrote for approximately 15 years.