Reviews tagging 'Gun violence'

That's Not What Happened by Kody Keplinger

39 reviews

lakinlindsey's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

This book made me sob dealing with its themes of trauma, grief, guilt, and taking control of your own narrative. This book has some cool stuff to say of how important is the truth in the end. Is it better to give people that lost loved ones a sense of comfort? Or to be true to who people actually were? I Fall somewhere between where I think it’s fine to let people believe what they want but not at the cost of hurting someone else like in this book with Kellie. However, a favorite theme of mine from this book is Lee discussing how she hates that once people are dead they’re put on a pedestal and people refuse to be truthful about their flaws. This dehumanizes them and is unfair to their memory and to people still alive. That’s always been something I dislike as well. Last but not least I thought the book was building to a dark turn with Miles and I’m very glad that wasn’t the case in the end. This was a good, but triggering read so beware.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Mass/school shootings

Moderate: Bullying, Drug abuse, Violence, and Grief

Minor: Blood and Addiction

kamilahlove's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Mass/school shootings, Violence, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, and Murder

whitneys_bookstack's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mass/school shootings and Gun violence

taliatalksbooks's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

 That’s Not What Happened by Kody Keplinger is an interesting take on the subject of mourning from the survivor of a school shooting. While this topic can certainly be triggering, I think Keplinger handled it in a respectable and easy to understand way. Grief, mourning, and trauma are situations we all face in one circumstance or another, but this novel shows the way people in the same situation respond in different ways. If you’re looking for a YA book that addresses complex topics through a survivor of a traumatic event, I highly recommend this title. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence and Mass/school shootings

daringreader13's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Mass/school shootings, Grief, Mental illness, Alcoholism, Religious bigotry, Bullying, Murder, Gun violence, Gore, Death, Blood, and Alcohol

chines's review against another edition

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence and Mass/school shootings

ammr8973's review against another edition

slow-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Gun violence, Mass/school shootings, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Grief

Minor: Alcoholism and Addiction

justnother_user's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Mass/school shootings, and Panic attacks/disorders

stardustdreamer's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Mass/school shootings, Grief, Death, Bullying, Blood, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Child death

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Gore

Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Medical content

wastingtime1994's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This is, unsurprisingly, a difficult book to read. But more surprisingly, it’s a difficult book to finish. 
The “big twist” is hyped up far too much in the beginning - to the point where I nearly forgot there was a plot to begin with. When it’s revealed halfway through, the entire book loses steam. I dragged myself to the end, and while I’m happy I did, it looked bleak for a moment. 
The timeline can also be confusing, as it jumps between different years with little explanation or warning. 

However, overall I would recommend it. It’s very reflective regarding  the resilience of teenagers, the impacts of PTSD, the importance (or not?) of the truth, and the reality of religion in America. 3.5/5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Death, Child death, Mass/school shootings, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, and Violence

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Mental illness, and Vomit

Minor: Religious bigotry and Suicide