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megsbookishtwins's review against another edition
4.0
Disclaimer: I received this free from the publishers in exchange for an honest review.
That's Not What Happened opens up with Leanne (Lee) three years after a school shooting, discussing how the story people know, wasn't actually what happened. It is a book that discusses how the truth gets lost in all the commotion, through all the media attention. It gets 'twisted, tweaked, filtered though a dozen different lenses'. I appreciated the approach to how we view massacres like the one featured in this book. In That's Not What Happened, Lee is determined to get the truth out there, and to correct the rumours that circulated after the shooting that turned into a massive story about a girl with a cross, and faith and bravery and how she was turned into a martyr, especially by the local community. However, the story is about the wrong girl, and Lee is trying to get the truth out. That's Not What Happened is a complex and nuanced book that attempts to deal with a sensitive topic.
The characters were a highlight of this book. They were layered and complex. Lee - who is also asexual - is a great character. Her determination for the truth, and her desire to set the record straight is admirable, and yet, sometimes the truth does do more harm than good. It also focuses on the trauma that events like school shootings cause and how people cope with that trauma differently. I appreciated the bond that the survivors had with each other - they had a really great dynamic. It also features a side lesbian character (Eden), and a black blind character (Denny) too.
That's Not What Happened is a good book that shows that in the aftermath of a shooting, sometimes a victims voice is stripped away-their story is told for them. It is a book about having a voice. It is a fast-paced, engaging, and a powerful book.
I would definitely recommend for fans of This is Where it Ends by Marieke Nijkamp.
Full review to come soon.
That's Not What Happened opens up with Leanne (Lee) three years after a school shooting, discussing how the story people know, wasn't actually what happened. It is a book that discusses how the truth gets lost in all the commotion, through all the media attention. It gets 'twisted, tweaked, filtered though a dozen different lenses'. I appreciated the approach to how we view massacres like the one featured in this book. In That's Not What Happened, Lee is determined to get the truth out there, and to correct the rumours that circulated after the shooting that turned into a massive story about a girl with a cross, and faith and bravery and how she was turned into a martyr, especially by the local community. However, the story is about the wrong girl, and Lee is trying to get the truth out. That's Not What Happened is a complex and nuanced book that attempts to deal with a sensitive topic.
The characters were a highlight of this book. They were layered and complex. Lee - who is also asexual - is a great character. Her determination for the truth, and her desire to set the record straight is admirable, and yet, sometimes the truth does do more harm than good. It also focuses on the trauma that events like school shootings cause and how people cope with that trauma differently. I appreciated the bond that the survivors had with each other - they had a really great dynamic. It also features a side lesbian character (Eden), and a black blind character (Denny) too.
That's Not What Happened is a good book that shows that in the aftermath of a shooting, sometimes a victims voice is stripped away-their story is told for them. It is a book about having a voice. It is a fast-paced, engaging, and a powerful book.
I would definitely recommend for fans of This is Where it Ends by Marieke Nijkamp.
Full review to come soon.
juller's review against another edition
3.0
It took a while for me to get into this book. Instead I felt like someone on the outside of a thing that everyone else knows about. But perhaps that was the author's intent. I thought it was clever that every time the shooter was referred to, the name was blacked out. That, I believe, kept the attention of the reader on the survivors, who were the whole focus of the story.
ewheattt's review against another edition
5.0
I really liked this book. It was good enough that I did not want to put it down. This book is very sad and really thought-provoking. I think that middle and high schoolers would enjoy this book as it is not as long as some other books. This book grips the reader and there are some mysteries that are not solved until the very end. Miles is a character who survives but is adamant about not writing a letter. The reader can infer different reasons on why he does not want to write his letter or perspective but have to read to the end for plot lines to all come together. This book does a really great job covering the topics of PTSD, moving on, media portrayal, and speaking up after a shooting. A school shooting is a traumatic experience for a town and the students but even more traumatic for those that saw or were near the shooter. Keplinger does a really good job showing that everyone has their own timelines for recovery and each person will have a different way of moving past that experience.
saraikamaria's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
klhtet's review against another edition
3.0
The story is gripping and I really like how it's told from each person's point of view. I like the point of author on how heros are not always what they seem to be and how all stories have more than one side to them.
People can be stupid, especially when it comes to their "rights". They will defend their stupid "rights" even if it cost the safety of a bunch of kids. Or they will bash strangers who they don't know shit about based on what they want to believe. This book shows us the ugliness of the aftereffects of an ugly event and how stupid we can get with our flawed truth in a relatively lighthearted story of Lee. It highlights on the different stories and the mental health issues more than the depressing details of the event. I love how the issues are intertwine with a cute love story which in itself deals with diversity in sexuality.
What I don't like was the way there are conversations in almost everyone's letters which makes everyone sounds the same. I like the writing but I want the letters to tell their stories in different tones and personalities and styles. Other than that, it was a great read.
People can be stupid, especially when it comes to their "rights". They will defend their stupid "rights" even if it cost the safety of a bunch of kids. Or they will bash strangers who they don't know shit about based on what they want to believe. This book shows us the ugliness of the aftereffects of an ugly event and how stupid we can get with our flawed truth in a relatively lighthearted story of Lee. It highlights on the different stories and the mental health issues more than the depressing details of the event. I love how the issues are intertwine with a cute love story which in itself deals with diversity in sexuality.
What I don't like was the way there are conversations in almost everyone's letters which makes everyone sounds the same. I like the writing but I want the letters to tell their stories in different tones and personalities and styles. Other than that, it was a great read.
mike_onofrio21's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
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
2.0
alexfrieders's review against another edition
2.0
I read this book really quickly it was a fast paced read but it was just lacking in so many other elements. There was no emotional impact or connection with any of the characters. Parts of it seemed kind of clunky too. And like the whole thing was supposed to be their stories but way too much of it was just dumb shit about Lee (who was super unlikeable). Also just going to throw this out there but god I was so embarrassed for the author with the whole asexual thing yikes it’s not 2016. And besides by personal issues, it didn’t tie in to the story at all why bother.
pastelsux's review against another edition
5.0
Real rating: 4.5 stars.
I’ve been wanting to read this book for a while, and it was a truly frustrating, anger-inducing, exhausting read, but not in a bad way. I already pretty much knew the plot, since the book obviously draws a lot of inspiration from the rumors that surrounded Cassie Bernall’s death and Valeen Schnurr’s survivorship after the Columbine shooting. But man, I wasn’t expecting this book to be as good as it was, especially at portraying mental illness and how difficult it is to survive something tragic. I wish they’d expanded on Denny a bit more, but overall I just really liked this book a lot. But I am sad that “school shooting YA” has become a bonafide genre now with books like this, The Lucky Ones, and Hate List. I hate that it’s become so normalized that it’s an entire genre that schoolchildren the same age as the characters are latching on to because no adults will listen or take their fear seriously.
I’ve been wanting to read this book for a while, and it was a truly frustrating, anger-inducing, exhausting read, but not in a bad way. I already pretty much knew the plot, since the book obviously draws a lot of inspiration from the rumors that surrounded Cassie Bernall’s death and Valeen Schnurr’s survivorship after the Columbine shooting. But man, I wasn’t expecting this book to be as good as it was, especially at portraying mental illness and how difficult it is to survive something tragic. I wish they’d expanded on Denny a bit more, but overall I just really liked this book a lot. But I am sad that “school shooting YA” has become a bonafide genre now with books like this, The Lucky Ones, and Hate List. I hate that it’s become so normalized that it’s an entire genre that schoolchildren the same age as the characters are latching on to because no adults will listen or take their fear seriously.
odeno's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25