Gail Giles' Shattering Glass was initially published by Roaring Book Press in 2001. The novel is set over the course of one school year and is told from the perspective of a high school senior named Young Stewart, who is a member of the "in crowd" in his high school. Much of the novel focuses on Stewart and his group's interaction with another senior named Simon Glass, who is one of the most unpopular students in the school. However, after Rob, the leader of Young's clique, takes a liking to Simon, the group decides that they will coach Simon and make him popular.
Over time, the group succeeds in making Simon popular. In fact, Simon is the odds-on favorite to become the prom king. However, the group becomes jealous of Simon's popularity. Mad with their own power, they begin to plot to kill Simon. And ultimately, they band together and kill Simon, leaving scars in people around the community.
When it was released, Giles' novel received mostly positive reviews. In a review of the novel, for instance, Shattering Glass was said to be: "a grimly comic debut novel revisits the dark hell of high-school cliques." The reviewer also claimed that the novel is: "A sure-fire hit for book discussion groups, from a writer to watch." Publisher's Weekly also called the novel "suspenseful" and "disturbing."
