haylie47's review against another edition
3.0
*3.5*
i thought it was a bit long, but still pretty interesting !
also i liked that the main character was asexual, very cool :)
i thought it was a bit long, but still pretty interesting !
also i liked that the main character was asexual, very cool :)
zoediane's review against another edition
4.0
I could not put this book down. Going to be one of those books published at the right time, what with the school shootings in America. This book takes a look at the survivor stories and what they have to go through, even 3 years later. A fab read!
cricketlou's review against another edition
4.0
A narrative told from the points of view of survivors of a school shooting. A unique way of telling a tragic story.
whitneys_bookstack's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mass/school shootings and Gun violence
beeisvibey's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
caffeineandcatnapsreads's review against another edition
4.0
That's Not What Happened, by Kody Keplinger
4-4.5/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
TRIGGER WARNINGS-
.
.
.
School shooting, suicide, murder, bullying
This book, though fiction, hits close to home with its realness centring around school shootings and the aftermath that the survivors deal with.
Lee, who is one of the six survivors from a school shooting that took place three years ago, wants to share all six of their stories about the shooting publicly, including her best friends, Sarah. Lee, who was with her best friend Sara when she was shot and killed, wants the whole truth about the shooting to be made public, she wants to attempt to set the rumours about that day straight.
There's what people said happened, thought happened, assumed what happened, and then there's what really happened.
This book shows how the survivors deal with and handle the aftermath of such a tragedy in various different ways.
4-4.5/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
TRIGGER WARNINGS-
.
.
.
School shooting, suicide, murder, bullying
This book, though fiction, hits close to home with its realness centring around school shootings and the aftermath that the survivors deal with.
Lee, who is one of the six survivors from a school shooting that took place three years ago, wants to share all six of their stories about the shooting publicly, including her best friends, Sarah. Lee, who was with her best friend Sara when she was shot and killed, wants the whole truth about the shooting to be made public, she wants to attempt to set the rumours about that day straight.
There's what people said happened, thought happened, assumed what happened, and then there's what really happened.
This book shows how the survivors deal with and handle the aftermath of such a tragedy in various different ways.
n_t's review against another edition
4.0
Very important topic laid out in a very thought provoking way. Couldn't put it down.
courtthebookgirl's review against another edition
3.0
I would give this 3.5 stars. I really enjoyed it and read it over the course of a plane ride, so it was entertaining.
jonezeemcgee's review against another edition
3.0
3.25
I was excited about the idea of this book. For anyone involved in a youth group/or young adult church group familiar with what came after Columbine, you will probably remember the Columbine Martyr stories. Girls who refused in the face of death to not say I love/believe in God. At least one of those very popular stories (made into a book) was pretty solidly proven to be non-factual by witnesses. However, those witnesses and those who believed them were made to feel ashamed for their truth, because the false narrative was too important to those who wanted desperately to believe it, despite the erroneous nature. During that time period, there were teens and youths who actually wanted to be martyred for Christ. They didn't just eat the narrative, they lived and breathed it into an unhealthy obsession. We currently live in a society where fact is constantly challenged for a narrative that best fits what someone chooses to believe, and those lies are put forth as truths. So, color me excited to know someone was actually going to tackle this topic. This post-Columbineesque account of what is true, and what people would rather believe.
While Keplinger did tackle this subject in a way I can appreciate, I can't say I was all that excited for what leaped off the page. I didn't connect much with the characters who were one-dimensional, and the plot either meandered or became repetitive. However the overarching narrative itself was tackled sufficiently, and I can say that it was an interesting read. I enjoyed the collection of letters from students discussing how that moment affected each one of them. Overall this gives good insight into why the truth matters for some, and not as much to others who just need something to cling to.
I was excited about the idea of this book. For anyone involved in a youth group/or young adult church group familiar with what came after Columbine, you will probably remember the Columbine Martyr stories. Girls who refused in the face of death to not say I love/believe in God. At least one of those very popular stories (made into a book) was pretty solidly proven to be non-factual by witnesses. However, those witnesses and those who believed them were made to feel ashamed for their truth, because the false narrative was too important to those who wanted desperately to believe it, despite the erroneous nature. During that time period, there were teens and youths who actually wanted to be martyred for Christ. They didn't just eat the narrative, they lived and breathed it into an unhealthy obsession. We currently live in a society where fact is constantly challenged for a narrative that best fits what someone chooses to believe, and those lies are put forth as truths. So, color me excited to know someone was actually going to tackle this topic. This post-Columbineesque account of what is true, and what people would rather believe.
While Keplinger did tackle this subject in a way I can appreciate, I can't say I was all that excited for what leaped off the page. I didn't connect much with the characters who were one-dimensional, and the plot either meandered or became repetitive. However the overarching narrative itself was tackled sufficiently, and I can say that it was an interesting read. I enjoyed the collection of letters from students discussing how that moment affected each one of them. Overall this gives good insight into why the truth matters for some, and not as much to others who just need something to cling to.