A review by panda_incognito
All of a Sudden and Forever: Help and Healing After the Oklahoma City Bombing by Chris Barton
3.0
This nonfiction picture book tells the story of how people affected by the Oklahoma City bombing have dealt with their trauma and extended compassion to those harmed by subsequent terrorist attacks. This book also tells the story of the tree that survived the blast, showing how people traumatized by other attacks have received saplings from this tree as a symbol of hope. This approach to the story honors the way that humans attempt to make meaning out of suffering by extending kindness towards others, but it is only a three-star book for me because of two major issues.
Firstly, it provides almost no information about the bombing itself. Someone who was an adult at the time might not think that this is necessary, but most people born after the event don't even know about it, and children reading this now are twenty-five years distanced from this event. Even though the author wanted to focus on the aftermath, the book ought to provide more information and context about what actually happened. Even the author's and illustrator's notes are scarce on detail.
Secondly, I'm not sure what age group this is aimed towards. Because it deals with a terrorist attack, mass deaths, and the resulting trauma, it's not the kind of story you want to read aloud to your five-year-old, but because it doesn't provide detailed information about the attack, address the terrorist's motives, or explain exactly what happened that day, it doesn't work as an educational resource for older children. It really is just a book about "help and healing," but the inspiring story would have more impact if it was directed to a more targeted audience and provided context for children who have never even heard of the Oklahoma City bombing before.
Firstly, it provides almost no information about the bombing itself. Someone who was an adult at the time might not think that this is necessary, but most people born after the event don't even know about it, and children reading this now are twenty-five years distanced from this event. Even though the author wanted to focus on the aftermath, the book ought to provide more information and context about what actually happened. Even the author's and illustrator's notes are scarce on detail.
Secondly, I'm not sure what age group this is aimed towards. Because it deals with a terrorist attack, mass deaths, and the resulting trauma, it's not the kind of story you want to read aloud to your five-year-old, but because it doesn't provide detailed information about the attack, address the terrorist's motives, or explain exactly what happened that day, it doesn't work as an educational resource for older children. It really is just a book about "help and healing," but the inspiring story would have more impact if it was directed to a more targeted audience and provided context for children who have never even heard of the Oklahoma City bombing before.