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dogoodwithbooks 's review for:
Please Pay Attention
by Jamie Sumner
challenging
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Please Pay Attention is pretty intense for a middle grade novel, but the message at the core of Bea's story is so important. Surviving the unthinkable, readers get a look into how a young girl addresses the trauma of surviving a school shooting and how she finds healing through equine therapy. This isn't some linear story of a girl overcoming trauma by the end of the book and there's work that Bea will have to do, but Please Pay Attention allows readers to understand that there's a way forward for kids who have been impacted gun violence as well as serve as a rallying cry for people to ensure that no kid has to worry about school shootings in their schools.
While I did think some of portions of this book were a bit rushed, especially when you're reading about Bea after the school shooting, but nevertheless it was a challenging yet worthwhile read.
While I did think some of portions of this book were a bit rushed, especially when you're reading about Bea after the school shooting, but nevertheless it was a challenging yet worthwhile read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Mass/school shootings
Moderate: Ableism, Medical content
Minor: Death of parent