Scan barcode
shelbymccarty's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
5.0
PARKLAND is a touching and powerful homage to the survivors and activists from Parkland, FL. A strategic decision, the book doesn’t focus on the killer at all, to the point of not even mentioning their name, but rather focuses on a group of students who turned a senseless tragedy into an entire movement.
Cullen’s reports are primarily sourced from his direct interactions with and observations of the kids (an intentional choice of word that he uses, because they were literally children) that started March for Our Lives. He offers honest portraits of their grief, activism, determination and even less-favorable decisions.
To read about these high school students who I’ve seen in the media and get all of the behind-the-scenes, was inspiring. The book’s timeline ends after the 2018 midterm election, so it was also cool see the seed planted then and to know how much more the kids-now-adults have accomplished and are still doing in the four years since.
Well thought out, researched and executed! A heavy burden, but Cullen is a master at capturing these stories in an honoring way.
Cullen’s reports are primarily sourced from his direct interactions with and observations of the kids (an intentional choice of word that he uses, because they were literally children) that started March for Our Lives. He offers honest portraits of their grief, activism, determination and even less-favorable decisions.
To read about these high school students who I’ve seen in the media and get all of the behind-the-scenes, was inspiring. The book’s timeline ends after the 2018 midterm election, so it was also cool see the seed planted then and to know how much more the kids-now-adults have accomplished and are still doing in the four years since.
Well thought out, researched and executed! A heavy burden, but Cullen is a master at capturing these stories in an honoring way.
thematinee's review against another edition
4.0
Anyone can write the story of a tragedy; it takes true gumption to write the story of a hopeful movement a tragedy inspired
trekbicycles's review against another edition
5.0
This sweeping, expansive, hopeful read delicately places my senior spring in a larger context of 2018, gun reform, and grassroots organizing. Book club has officially decided David Cullen is a hero.
willwork4airfare's review against another edition
5.0
Incredible kids. Incredible book. I had a few complaints early on but by the end, I understood why they were included and agreed with it. Poignant and inspiring. I hope lots of young people read this, but older people need to as well.
Worth mentioning that at the time of my writing this, literally all 14 of the 1 and 2 star ratings came out before it was even published and have no review attached whatsoever. People are crazy.
Worth mentioning that at the time of my writing this, literally all 14 of the 1 and 2 star ratings came out before it was even published and have no review attached whatsoever. People are crazy.
meags816's review against another edition
5.0
There is hope for us yet. It is the youth. I believe in my heart that things will change. It will take time (which pains me) but this book gives me so much hope.
cwalsh's review against another edition
3.0
I'm extremely conflicted on this book.
First, I want to acknowledge that the students that executed the March for Our Lives rally are truly inspirational. It served its purpose in the sense that it got so many people in the United States talking about such a critical issue. I cannot begin to tell you how much that I admire the fact that the students involved in this movement have been essentially running on empty in their quest to be heard, making their first remark to "get in touch with your local congressman" just hours after the tragedy occurred. To be so young and to be so focused in on the issue, to not have your feelings of sadness and despair cloud your vision, is really nothing short of incredible.
There are definitively a few things that I could pick apart, specifically some of the students' remarks during interviews, but I think that has a lot to do with the fact that they had just been a part of a tragedy and did not have the adequate time to recover and analyze what had just happened. Their hearts are definitely in the right place, but in terms of the way that they were portrayed in this book, I think their headstrong moments of tunnel vision don't always work to their benefit.
In terms of literary quality, I am completely floored that this is the same Dave Cullen who wrote Columbine. I know that the books are two different entities, but when I read Columbine, I was completely enthralled. This on the other hand is stale and dare I say even a bit sloppy. It's evident that Cullen didn't spend ten years writing this book like he did Columbine, and I think because of this speedy publication, the book suffered. I will say that Cullen does deserved to be praised due to the fact that he did not name the gunman once, further stressing that the issue here is so much larger than this one individual.
First, I want to acknowledge that the students that executed the March for Our Lives rally are truly inspirational. It served its purpose in the sense that it got so many people in the United States talking about such a critical issue. I cannot begin to tell you how much that I admire the fact that the students involved in this movement have been essentially running on empty in their quest to be heard, making their first remark to "get in touch with your local congressman" just hours after the tragedy occurred. To be so young and to be so focused in on the issue, to not have your feelings of sadness and despair cloud your vision, is really nothing short of incredible.
There are definitively a few things that I could pick apart, specifically some of the students' remarks during interviews, but I think that has a lot to do with the fact that they had just been a part of a tragedy and did not have the adequate time to recover and analyze what had just happened. Their hearts are definitely in the right place, but in terms of the way that they were portrayed in this book, I think their headstrong moments of tunnel vision don't always work to their benefit.
In terms of literary quality, I am completely floored that this is the same Dave Cullen who wrote Columbine. I know that the books are two different entities, but when I read Columbine, I was completely enthralled. This on the other hand is stale and dare I say even a bit sloppy. It's evident that Cullen didn't spend ten years writing this book like he did Columbine, and I think because of this speedy publication, the book suffered. I will say that Cullen does deserved to be praised due to the fact that he did not name the gunman once, further stressing that the issue here is so much larger than this one individual.
athnyx230's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence and Grief
Moderate: Death
tracithomas's review against another edition
4.0
Really well done. Not about the shooting. About the surviving activists. Cullen is genius but the content wasn’t as powerful as I had hoped. Still really good and a smooth read.