That's Not What Happened

It's been three years since the Virgil County High School massacre, three years since Lee saw her best friend die next to her on the bathroom floor.  After Sarah died, her face started showing up on posters around town, "The Girl with the Cross Necklace."

Somehow a story about Sarah proclaiming her faith before being murdered started spreading around town.  The rumors had already spread by the time Lee heard them, and she didn't have much will to correct them in her grief, not even when her silence hurt another survivor.

But now Sarah's parents are writing a book about her faith even in the face of death, and Lee can't stay silent anymore.  It feels like other people are taking the narrative, that this book will be the way everyone remembers what happened.  Shouldn't the people who actually lived it get to tell the story?

So she sets out on a quest to get people to write down their experiences.  Some are happy for the catharsis, but others are hesitant to participate.  Eventually, Lee will realize nothing about that day happened exactly the way she thought.

Kody Keplinger's new book was a bit of a let down for me.  After all the suspense and anticipation, many of the revelations were not that shocking.  And yes, I understand she has PTSD from a horrible experience, but Lee seems to be coddled by everyone around her no matter how bratty she is.  She does grow as a character, but it seems like some of these other traumatized characters might not have the energy to deal with her drama.  Keplinger's point about media and perception versus the truth is a good one though, and this could inspire some thoughtful discussion.  Grades 8 and up.