Jess is a Kiwi teenager living in the North. Mad about 'The Simpsons' and 'The X Files'; she has a great life and a terrific best friend. Things seem to be perfect. Then her father sickens and dies. Forced to leave their home and move to rented accommodation on Auckland's North Shore, Jess and her mother and brother, Aaron find their new life is less than ideal. Then Jess begins to be bullied at her new school. Eventually she meets someone who could be a new friend but finds she must make important choices in order to fit in. Can she be true to her beliefs as well as forging new relationships? The Left Handed Gun is a tale of survival. Jess's story, in which she loses everything dear to her and then adapts to carve out a good new life, is actually inspiring. Many teenagers will find an echo of Jess's problems in their own lives: loss, dealing with the need to conform and fit in and above all the desire to form close friendships. These issues can profitably be mined by teachers. There is also plenty of humour (as well as sadness) and a believable evocation of nineties school life which teenage readers will find attractive. While the ending is upbeat it is not unrealistic; there are no miracles on offer here. Nevertheless readers will find a positive, empowering message. Teachers should note that there is plenty of dramatic conflict which will hook students. Terry Jones has been an English teacher for almost thirty years and understands the kind of audience for which he writes, and most teenagers will find something for them in The Left Handed Gun, especially 13 to 15 year olds. What English in Aotearoa [May 1999] said: '...a rattling good yarn...which still manages to pack considerable emotional punch...a highly moving, entertaining and genuinely thought-provoking read.'