That's Not What Happened
Published in 2018
325 pages
Written by Kody Keplinger
Rate 9/10
My summary of That's Not What Happened
After a horrendous school shooting, a rumor about what really happened to Sarah spreads like wildfire. Lee, Sarah's best friend, not only has to deal with the trauma from the shooting, but with the lies that follow her best friend's 'noble' death. After three years, the survivors still keep in touch, aside from one, Kellie, the girl who tried to share the truth about Sarah's death. Lee was too nervous to say anything about what really happened and back Kellie up then, will the truth ever reach the surface, and if it does, will anybody listen?
My opinion on That's Not What Happened
When I read the book cover, I thought only six people survived the shooting and that's why I was initially intrigued, soon after, I found out I misread what "survivor" meant. The six survivors were the people who were in the same room as the shooter at one point and lived.
The narrative in this book was brilliant, I personally have never read a book with an asexual main character. The fact that the main character was ace really helped the story stay focused on what the real topic was, the victims/survivors. There were still some nice romantic scenes, but it wasn't just about falling in love like the typical young adult novels usually are like. I also really loved the existentialist narration the main character provided, her thought spirals had raw emotion, it made it extremely relatable (or maybe that's just because I, myself, have anxiety).
The book has short chapters which I liked because it felt as though I was reading through it rather quickly. There are also flashbacks, it's easy to decipher where a flashback ends and starts because they are their own chapter. There are letters that seem almost random, but it's explained why they are important at the end of the book.
This story topic is sadly very prominent in America, I think it's nice to have books like these because it creates awareness about the topic. It's sad, but things like this happen. Stories like this need to be shared so people can better empathize with others who go through these types of horrid situations.
Quotes
My anger that I'd been brought into existence, that I was a conscious being in my body, cursed with the knowledge that one day everything I'd done, every memory I'd made, would just vanish. And that I had no control over when or how that day would come. That I could die in pain, in terror, or in peace, and what difference would it make? I'd still be gone. And one day the whole world would be gone. And nothing, not a dam thing, any human ever did would matter. (Keplinger, 99)
But the drum of existential dread is always with me. Always beating a steady rhythm at the back of my mind. (Keplinger, 100)
