I Hunt Killers

Lyga, B. (2012). I hunt killers. New York: Little, Brown.

Genre: Dark Modern Realistic Fiction (mystery, murders, violence, incarceration)

Subjects: Young Adult fiction - nature vs. nurture, serial murderers, teenagers, psychopaths, espionage, family, law & crime, mysteries & detectives

Audience: ages 16 & up

Jazz is the seventeen year old son of an imprisoned serial killer who lives with his mentally ill grandmother.  He is determined to not follow his father's example, but he's worried that it's in his nature.  When someone begins copying his father's crimes, Jazz, his best friend Howie, and his girlfriend Connie set out to catch the killer before anyone starts to blame him.  Howie keeps the story from feeling too dark with his constant jokes and Connie acts as Jazz's conscience to keep him on the right path.  Jazz studies his father's crimes as a way to see where the killer will be going next and even visits his dad in prison.  Seeing his dad was not exactly what he expected as his dad seemed to think that Jazz was becoming more like him.  Jazz breaks into the morgue and steals things from the police station, but always manages to talk his way out of trouble. Jazz believes that the killer's next victim will be his teacher and he and Howie go to the her apartment to save her.  When they arrive, Jazz breaks in and interrupts the killer while Howie waits outside. Howie end up getting hurt, made worse by the fact that he is a hemophiliac.  Jazz lets the killer go in an effort to save his teacher and Howie.  The teacher dies, but Howie manages to hang on and make it to the hospital where he receives blood and has surgery but will survive.  The killer's next move it to break into Jazz's house and take his grandmother hostage.  He captures Jazz as well, but Howie and Connie save them.  The police take the killer into custody and give Jazz more bad news - his dad has escaped from prison and is killing again.  Jazz vows to hunt his father down and in the epilogue, gets a tattoo that reads "I hunt killers".  Lyga has created a dark and suspenseful mystery thriller that is infused with humor and believable characters.  This is the first book in the "I Hunt Killers" trilogy.
 
Awards:

Bram Stoker Award Nominee for Superior Achievement in a Young Adult Novel (2012)
Georgia Peach Book Award Nominee for Honor book (2013)
Abraham Lincoln Award Nominee (2014)
Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Best Young Adult Fiction (2012)

Teaching Resources:
Author's Website
Interview with the Author
Book Trailer