The Boy Who Killed Grant Parker: A Novel

After one school prank too many, Luke Grayson has been sent to live with his father in a small town in Tennessee, and he absolutely hates it. His Baptist pastor father has unreasonable expectations, the local sheriff is already suspicious, and he’s somehow managed to attract the ire of Grant Parker, the senior class hero and local bully. When Grant comes after him, a lucky dodge lands Grant in the hospital instead, and Luke suddenly finds himself taking his place in the social stratosphere. But Luke quickly starts turning into a person he no longer likes, and he’s not sure how to change.

Author Kat Spears’s new novel, The Boy Who Killed Grant Parker, features a fantastically flawed character who many readers will empathize with. Some may recognize themselves in the humiliation and anger Luke feels at the entire situation and at Grant’s treatment in particular, others in the way post-accident Luke’s social status quickly spirals out of control. Spears has a clear grasp of social circles in high school-age kids and of how bullies operate without drawing the attention of authority figures. The ending seems a bit abrupt, but readers will be left satisfied.