CW: Shooting of protestors with some descriptions of victims

Well I have to say that the author chose an incredible format to deliver this informative account of a tragic historical event.

I didn't know anything about the Kent State protests so I found the introduction and notes at the end to be really helpful.

The format was genius. Not so much in that it was a verse novel as, if I am being honest, the writing itself wasn't particularly noteworthy. It was the fact that the author essentially wrote a conversation (or should I say heated debate) between people who represented different points of view on the Kent State murders. I found the voices to be quite distinct in their tone but it did help immensely that different fonts were used for the different points of view. I liked that the fonts themselves were carefully considered and reflected the characters perfectly. For example, a small sized 'soft' font was used for the scared members of the community and a bold capitilised font was used for the angry community members. Very clever. I was quite moved by the personal details included about the four slain students. It is amazing because as a Reader I knew in my heart what side I felt was right but at the same time I definitely think the author respectfully captured all sides of this terrible event. Definitely worth reading if you like historical verse novels. ( )

Summer 2021 (June);
Fall School Bookclub Pre-Read

This was so beautiful and so harrowing. I love how this was written, with so many different voices and points of views intersecting at all times. I think I made the best decision in deciding to listen to it, because the narrative is in story and relating, but also in deeply acknowledging how different these people are, how unique and varied the voices themselves in sounding in the use of these words.

I listened to the audiobook and was stunned into silence. I was 2 years old when this happened and heard about it over the years as I grew up but never truly LEARNED what it was about. A protest, the National Guard and the senseless killing of 4 Kent State Students. This story is told in multiple voices - students, townies, guardsmen, protestors - The author provides a focused view of the events that led to the horrific shootings on Kent State campus. This is a book that should be LISTENED to in history classes. The author was 16 years old at the time of this tragedy and the experience stayed with her over the years. She chose to write this novel in verse to remind readers never to forget & encourages a call to action by today’s youth to keep fighting for what they believe in. This is a MUST listen. It’s going to take me a few days to truly process what I listened to. ( )

Not a fan of the format and writing style but a good, short introduction to the issues for young people to read. ( )

Role playing by many. This wasn't so much a book as a performance about the Kent State shooting, by multiple voices from different perspectives. Multiple narrators made it a bit hard to understand. It starts by calling the incident a tragedy--one person's opinion--it's a biased view point. And it's a reflection of the 1960s. Don't believe that I'll read anymore of Deborah Wiles' books. ( )