Sterling is an ordinary New Hampshire town where the residents believe nothing bad will ever happen- until the day its complacency is shattered by a terrifying act of violence where 10 teenagers are killed and 19 others are wounded in a school shooting. It just may be the largest school shooting in history and is even compared to Columbine, Red Lake and the Rocori shootings. The shooter is 18 year old Peter Houghton. In the months following the shooting at Sterling High, Jordan McAfee, Peter's lawyer, discovers details of the horrifying past that his client has endured for the past 18 years. Peter had been bullied every day of his life by fellow classmates, constantly being humiliated and physically and verbally harassed and abused. His biggest bully and one of Peter's victims was Matt Royston, Josie Cormier's boyfriend. Josie just might be the courts best witness; terrified of the event however, she claims that she doesn't remember anything about the shooting. Growing up, Peter and Josie had been best friends and in a way Josie was Peter's protector, bringing him safety and comfort from the harsh punishments he seemed to receive every day. As the years had gone, Josie had become lost in her newly found popularity, being ever so careful about how she looked, how she acted and who she talked to since "Being unpopular was a communicable disease." Peter was not someone a popular person would want to be associated with. He was seen as a nerd, uncool, and weak while Josie was seen as popular, desirable and cool. As the trial progresses, fault lines between the high school and the community start to show- destroying close friends and families as the truth is let out about Peter's bullying and Josie’s role in the shooting.