If It Bleeds

Content Warning: The source material for this study guide depicts or includes references to death by suicide, child violence and child death, and sexual violence and self-harm. On one occasion, the source material makes use of the n-word.

The novella is narrated by a journalist named Craig who is looking back on his childhood.

In 2004, Craig is a nine-year-old boy who lives in Harlow, Maine. He works for an old tycoon named Mr. Harrigan, who sends Craig lottery tickets as holiday gifts. Craig’s father disapproves of the lottery tickets, believing that Craig should be paid a higher wage instead. Mr. Harrigan is a billionaire, having built his fortune on conglomerate business and the stock market. Craig argues that he simply likes working for Mr. Harrigan.

Craig’s mother died in 2001. Soon after Craig impressed Mr. Harrigan with his Bible reading at church, the tycoon invited him to read novels at his house. Craig assures his father that Mr. Harrigan never does anything inappropriate to him.

When Craig is 11, he asks his father for a cellphone. The following year, the first iPhone is released and Craig’s father gets him one for Christmas. On Valentine’s Day, Craig receives a winning lottery ticket from Mr.