The Administration of Justice

Ten, the novel, subverts the typical slasher/revenge formula by making the murder victims high school students who, with the exception of Meg and T.J., are guilty of bullying, lying, and emotionally manipulating a fellow classmate, Claire. Tom, Claire's brother, sees himself as a high school "vigilante," a citizen wielding the "swift sword of justice." In reality, he is a crazy, blood-thirsty sociopath. Though he sees himself as someone who, in spite of being just a kid outside the justice system, has the ability to punish others who otherwise would not be punished.

While murder is certainly an extreme punishment for someone who pretended to like a girl, kicked someone off the debate team, stole someone's solo, or told a homely girl she would never be loved, Tom's actions do speak to the larger consequences of each of these small acts. The...