That's Not What Happened
Ratings8
Average rating3.5
15
Ratings8
Average rating3.5
From New York Times bestseller Kody Keplinger comes an astonishing and thought-provoking exploration of the aftermath of tragedy, the power of narrative, and how we remember what we've lost. It's been three years since the Virgil County High School Massacre. Three years since my best friend, Sarah, was killed in a bathroom stall during the mass shooting. Everyone knows Sarah's story--that she died proclaiming her faith. But it's not true. I know because I was with her when she died. I didn't say anything then, and people got hurt because of it. Now Sarah's parents are publishing a book about her, so this might be my last chance to set the record straight . . . but I'm not the only survivor with a story to tell about what did--and didn't--happen that day. Except Sarah's martyrdom is important to a lot of people, people who don't take kindly to what I'm trying to do. And the more I learn, the less certain I am about what's right. I don't know what will be worse: the guilt of staying silent or the consequences of speaking up . . .
Reviews with the most likes.
more disturbing than I thought it would be. It really dived into the horrors of surviving a school shooting. It does go into detail of the event which is going to give me nightmares tonight but I liked how much detail it went into!
Truly a disturbing read and it makes my heart hurt for all victims who have been killed and had their life cut short while at a place they felt safe at.
I didn't like some characters, they kind of took me out of the story a bit. I didn't like all the coincidences, it just wasn't realistic. I didn't like the romance but I loved the asexual rep!
“But I think it'll be okay. We'll both be okay.We've survived worse, after all.”
This book had great potential and I went into this with an idea of how I wanted it to be, perhaps I shouldn't have done that.
I would've loved if the survivors guilt and the actual grief was further explored because I feel like it wasn't focused on enough, or in a way that made me feel something.
What did make me feel something was Denny and the essay that he had written. I would've loved more from his perspective.
I felt like Lee pressured people into writing letters about their traumatic experience with the shooting and that didn't sit well with me. I understand she was ready but it didn't mean that everyone else had to be too.
The things I didn't like aside, I enjoyed the characters and the journeys that this story brought me on with them. Denny was such a funny character and I loved him immediately.
Coach Nolan, you deserved better.
