by Kody Keplinger

YA Contemporary, 2018 by Scholastic, 334 Pages 

What I Didn’t Like:

• The small hints at something bigger coming in the story don’t work to draw you in, they almost feel annoying. You feel like screaming JUST TELL ME ALREADY. That feeling does go away as you start to get answers. 
• There are elements to this that feel juvenile and insignificant, especially when set against all the BIG and HEAVY things in the story. It’s an odd juxtaposition.
• Content Warning: violence, school violence, bullying. 

What I Did Like:

• The story handles difficult subject matter in a careful and important way. It doesn’t shy away from the real feelings or emotions, instead highlighting them and dealing with them. For that reason, this is an important story. 
• The different characters are perfectly built to show all the ways of dealing with a tragedy. Survivors guilt, turning toward faith, anger, and more. They’re all represented in a character here. It’s brilliant as a lesson on grief and tragedy. 
• This story never forgets that it’s about healing, trauma, and victims. It doesn’t overly focus on THAT DAY. It doesn’t mention the villain by name EVER. It focuses on the trauma and the healing, both healthy and unhealthy. 

Who Should Read This One:

• Readers who like big messages, realistic stories, and raw emotion.

My Rating: 4 Stars