Beck McDowell the author of THIS IS NOT A DRILL (Nancy Paulsen Books, Penguin, 10/25/12), a 2013 YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Readers. THIS IS NOT A DRILL is a young adult thriller about two teens who must protect the first graders they tutor from an Iraq veteran, suffering from PTSD, who opens fire in the classroom when he's not allowed to check out his son. A hostage situation develops and Jake secretly makes contact with the police outside the building while Emery tries to talk to the troubled gunman about his experiences in war.Praise for THIS IS NOT A DRILL:"McDowell balances the gunman's plight against his son's shame, fear, and divided loyalties. Written in a format that will appeal to reluctant readers, this first novel is an excellent choice for sparking classroom discussion." (Gr 7 Up) School Library Journal" . . .the setup is irresistible, and McDowell's authentic handling of the confusion and fright of the class of first-graders lends the story a constant undertone of tension." Booklist" . . . with authentic and distinct narrative voices and a talent for unspooling suspense, McDowell establishes herself as a writer to watch." Publisher's Weekly"Fast-paced, suspenseful thriller...The hours-long standoff comes to a dramatic and violent climax... A vividly depicted and gripping tragedy." Kirkus Reviews "The dialogue is authentic, the characters well portrayed, the flashbacks fascinating and the plot thrilling. Great for reluctant readers and non-stop readers alike." The National ExaminerBeck is a former national board certified high school AP English teacher who's sponsored student newspapers, literary magazines, writing competitions, Shakespeare festivals, medieval banquets, book fairs, art exhibits, and trips to museums, operas and plays. Together, she and her students built the website www.notrequiredreading.com. After years of taking students all over Europe on summer trips, she's traveling with her family now from her current home in Huntsville, Alabama--most often to New Orleans, her hometown. She also wrote LAST BUS OUT, the non-fiction account of a boy who stole a bus and drove over 300 people of out New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.You can find Beck's blog "Beckspace" at beckmcdowell.com. Her twitter account is @beckmcdowell.