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3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
If you know my reading preferences than you know I love dark contemporary, and I enjoy novels that have a school-shooting plot. This one I found interesting as it was set three years after the incident, but had flashbacks and memories as all of the characters developed and got closure.
Unfortunately I didn’t love this novel. I was expecting more psychological trauma conveyed in the writing, I was expecting more reaction from the remaining teachers and students, at times it felt as if it was only these six students that remembered it happening.
Overall I think the idea for the plot was interesting, but wasn’t executed as well as it could have been. There were too many cliches for my taste and it wasn’t anything unique.
Unfortunately I didn’t love this novel. I was expecting more psychological trauma conveyed in the writing, I was expecting more reaction from the remaining teachers and students, at times it felt as if it was only these six students that remembered it happening.
Overall I think the idea for the plot was interesting, but wasn’t executed as well as it could have been. There were too many cliches for my taste and it wasn’t anything unique.
Very well written but wow, this is a tough read! I guess when the subject matter is a school shooting, you know it won't be easy to get through. But honestly, these characters were so well fleshed out that I felt their grief, anger, shame and anxiety as if it were my own. I read this one from my middle school library, but I really believe it's better suited for high school or young adult readers.
Three years after a school shooting the survivors are living with the scars. Lee’s best friend Sarah was killed in the bathroom with her. Lee is struggling because Sarah has been turned into a Martyr because a rumor was started about what went on in the bathroom before she was killed. Sarah’s parents are getting ready to release a book and Lee wants them and everyone to know the truth. The problem is sometimes people don’t want to hear the truth. Lee gathers stories about those who were killed, and the stories from the other survivors so that their stories can be told.
I thought this was a very powerful book. It goes into PTSD and how it effects people differently. The characters are all very different and the format of the story gives them voice. I do think the format, told through letters and Lee’s voice might prevent some from connecting well with the characters. Some alcohol use and language puts this in the 8the grade and up range.
I thought this was a very powerful book. It goes into PTSD and how it effects people differently. The characters are all very different and the format of the story gives them voice. I do think the format, told through letters and Lee’s voice might prevent some from connecting well with the characters. Some alcohol use and language puts this in the 8the grade and up range.
Ok so, this is a hard one to review. It’s a good story and it’s content is compelling enough to keep you going. As a teacher, it was a little too real sometimes— not the authors’s fault, obviously.
Let’s talk mechanics: it was hard to read. Lots of passive voice and “had” + verbs that made some sections painful to get through. The character arcs were...meh 🤷🏻♀️ I’d also have liked to see some more distinction in Kellie’s voice verses the other four.
Overall, though, this story needed to be told. I think the theme hits the nail right on the head in regards to how the media portrays school shootings and the stories we hold onto to get through the trauma of something so awful.
Not all books need a happy ending, but this one left me wanting to know how the world reacted to the letters and how they were distributed— as such, no cathartic release. *sigh*
Let’s talk mechanics: it was hard to read. Lots of passive voice and “had” + verbs that made some sections painful to get through. The character arcs were...meh 🤷🏻♀️ I’d also have liked to see some more distinction in Kellie’s voice verses the other four.
Overall, though, this story needed to be told. I think the theme hits the nail right on the head in regards to how the media portrays school shootings and the stories we hold onto to get through the trauma of something so awful.
Not all books need a happy ending, but this one left me wanting to know how the world reacted to the letters and how they were distributed— as such, no cathartic release. *sigh*
I understand why this might be many YA reader's top books, but it just didn't feel as great for me. I enjoyed the novel, nonetheless, as there were many important topics spoken about. It's rare that novel will hit on such a controversial topic of school shootings along with the topic of sexuality. I actually picked this novel up because it was under the LGBTQIA+ section and was surprised when I started to read the book and was hit with the topic of a school shooting. I won't continue with my review, I highly doubt I am the audience this novel targeted, however I will continue with topics my 12 y/o niece found interesting and kept going back to re-read pages of. My niece has been exposed to many topics centered around the book, we do live in times where school shootings became a topic of conversation. She was intrigued at the fact that it was even written about in a book and I think she hasn't read many novels that are considered tragic. She ended up liking it because she stated that such grave topics aren't easy to be spoken about because they cause a lot of controversial debates or are easily shut down by adults who don't know how to handle such a conversation. But I think this novel made such a conversation easier to start and going around the theme and questions of the book was easier than bringing the topic up over dinner. She also asked a lot of questions about the main characters sexuality and what it meant to be asexual. Having such conversations with her was relieving because her parents want her to be someone who doesn't judge anyone based on their sexuality. Again, the topic and theme of the book made this conversation easier and flowable.
Not bad, but could have been better. There were scenes that weren’t very believable, and the “secret” was fairly disappointing. However, it was well thought out and did a good job of characterization of the survivors. I think the author did a very nice job addressing trauma and depicting the way people cope in different ways. I enjoyed the book enough to finish, but I’m not sure I would ever read it again.