A review by figsx
That's Not What Happened by Kody Keplinger

3.0

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.