Shot: A Dictionary of the Lost [Paperback]

An acclaimed author’s collection of short stories for fans of genre-bending fiction,Shotblends social impact fiction and activist fiction, tackling the gun violence crisis head on.

Anna argues with her mom about a school science award. Ben discovers in his seventh decade that he is Jewish. Chester searches for his little sister in a snowstorm. Dixie is pregnant with her second child.

Their stories and twenty-two others read like the ABC’s of everyday life. One way or another, the challenges that bring drama to our lives work themselves out, right? Or maybe not. Sometimes the ending isn’t at all what you expect.

Shotis a collection of short stories about gun violence, organized as a dictionary, with a story for each letter of the alphabet. Each life is precious. And life itself is to be celebrated.Jude Berman,the award-winning author ofThe Die,The Vow, andShot: A Dictionary of the Lost, grew up amid floor-to-ceiling shelves of books, with refugee parents who imparted an appreciation for social justice. She has a BA in art from Smith College and an EdD in cross-cultural communication from UMass Amherst. After a career in academic research, she built a freelance editorial business and ran two small indie presses. She lives in Berkeley, California, where she also volunteers for civic causes, paints with acrylics, gardens, and meditates. She blogs at https://judeberman.substack.com.2025 Living Now Book Awards Gold Winner in General Fiction
2025 International Impact Book Awards Winner in Contemporary Fiction

“A potent and emotionally stirring depiction of how violence shapes everyday life.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Shot: A Dictionary of the Lost is excellent, well-constructed, thought-provoking, and powerfully structured. . . . compelling, sad, and appealing all in one.”—Midwest Book Reviewl“