Killer Within by S. E. Green
Lane, a seventeen year old girl, is dealing with the loss of her mother, and the effects of her death on Lane’s family and not just because the family she thought she had was broken due to her death; Lane’s mother was The Decapitator, a famous serial killer, and Lane plays the role of vigilante hero The Masked Savoir. However, due to concerns about becoming like her mother, she begins to lose her edge, and with the discovery of a missing piece of her past tying her to her mother’s deplorable actions, as well as the emergence of a Masked Savoir impersonator, Lane decides to figure out the mysteries of her past and present, as well as resisting the ever-enticing urges to kill, just like her mother.
Text Complexity and Age Suggestion:
The text reads easily, there are no parts grammatically that are difficult to understand, and any larger words are also relatively common.
Dale-Chall recommends a 7-8th Grade level.
Content-wise, the text is a little darker and more violent than a typical book would be for this level, and can be bluntly sexual at points that could make a young reader a bit uncomfortable if unprepared. I recommend being around at least 14 years of age.
About the author:
Website: https://shannongreenland.com/
“When I decided to write the KILLER INSTINCT series I made a conscious decision: I want to write exactly what and how I want. I didn’t write with anyone else in mind. I wrote for me, and it was liberating!” (Greenland’s GoodReads review of the Killer Instinct series)
Other works by S.E. Green / Shannon Greenland:
The Specialists, Killer Instinct, Shadow of a Girl
Teaching This Book:
1. The book talks about loss, especially loss of family members and the grieving process that a whole family goes through when family has passed. I would open the floor (and not force anyone to discuss it) for discussion on if students have lost someone in their families, and how the loss affected them and their immediate family, and relate them to the struggles of Lane’s family.
2. The book makes little reference to specific location, but seems to be located in the suburbs. One of the common sources of conflict in the early parts of the story is illicit drugs, and the peddling of them to children as young as 10. I could talk to students about if they have experienced someone trying to push something such as drugs on them, or if anyone they know has suffered from drug-related incidents.
3. As a vigilante, Lane and people acting on her behalf do several questionable acts with questionable outcomes. I could put a list of these actions up for everyone to see, have students face-down on the desks, and say the actions out loud, allowing people who think she was in the right to raise their hands anonymously: Then we discuss the results of the survey.
4. There’s a moment in which Victor, Lane’s stepfather, kicks his father out of the house for stepping on boundaries Victor believes he shouldn’t have cross. You can pull two lessons from this moment.
a. Talk about what it takes for someone to be brave, especially someone who is feeling as weak as Victor. Talk about how this moment affected your perspective of a character who has been nearly a pushover the whole time, and how poignant it made this brave moment.
b. Talk about a moment where someone goes too far. Talk about how you would resolve the situation, and if you have ever been in a situation that you had to separate on bad terms with a family member.
Why give this book to teens?
● By the time someone reaches an appropriate age for this book, somewhere around 14-15, it is highly likely that they have lost someone that they have loved. This book talks a lot about the grieving process involved with the loss of a close loved one, and explains how different methods can be taken in order to grieve.
● At the same time, a common trope among young adults is how they want to not be like their parents, but a point that is not often discussed in media for young adults is the validity of this wanting, especially in regards to the wrongdoings of the parent. This book validates the feelings of loathing that a young person can have for a family member that they find a detriment to their family.
● The book also has an example of a strong female lead character, but one that is also realistic and relatable. She makes mistakes, she makes bad judgement calls, and she has moments of weakness, which makes her strong and relatable for everyone, but especially for girls looking for a strong lead.
Meaningful Quotes:
● “I look him in the eyes ...for being gone so much.” (53).
This moment is an important one, especially for young adults who have lost a close family member. Not only is it an importantly tender family moment, but also reconditions the idea that, even though the main character is dealing with the grief in her own way, she is not the only one who was affected by loss of her mother, and sometimes people, even adults, need some support every now and a while.
● “I yank my hand...I rear back and punch her in the face.” (147)
Relevant in an attempt to separate herself from her family’s past history of deplorable violence. She has a moment where her anger and frustration gets the better of her, but she is only attacking someone who rightfully deserves it.
● “In the morning… by the end of the day’.” (185)
The idea of getting rid of negative aspects of your life, even if they are close family, is a constant one throughout Killer Within. However, most of them are related to the fact that Lane’s mother’s side of the family seems to be sadistic serial killers. This moment is important for taking an example of picking who you want in your life and making it much more relatable.