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A review by library_kb
Kent State by Deborah Wiles
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is a really interesting book that I think could make a really interesting whole class novel for a couple of reasons: its short, there are a lot of historical connections that can be made, and the structure is really intriguing.
The book is told in verse as a conversation between the various perspectives on the events of the Kent State shootings during the Vietnam War protests. I honestly do not know a ton about the Vietnam War, so it was a little hard for me to start reading the book because it took a lot of work and rereading to figure out who might be talking (while different fonts are used for different voices, they are never labeled with an identity--it is up to the reader to infer who/which group of people might be speaking) and what events or people they were referencing. However, as the book continued, it began to make more sense and I felt like I really learned a lot about this time period that I had not previously known.
The structure of the book and the way that the various perspectives were juxtaposed is really interesting and would make a great mentor text for analysis and to spark research and writing projects for students.
The book is told in verse as a conversation between the various perspectives on the events of the Kent State shootings during the Vietnam War protests. I honestly do not know a ton about the Vietnam War, so it was a little hard for me to start reading the book because it took a lot of work and rereading to figure out who might be talking (while different fonts are used for different voices, they are never labeled with an identity--it is up to the reader to infer who/which group of people might be speaking) and what events or people they were referencing. However, as the book continued, it began to make more sense and I felt like I really learned a lot about this time period that I had not previously known.
The structure of the book and the way that the various perspectives were juxtaposed is really interesting and would make a great mentor text for analysis and to spark research and writing projects for students.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Blood, Police brutality, and Mass/school shootings