4 stars
Following a traumatic school shooting, Bea takes up horseback riding to help her cope. We see glimpses of Bea’s life before and after the shooting, learning about her experience with cerebral palsy, her adopted mom Max, and her attempts to get her Little, Josie, to come out of her shell.
A heartbreaking story. Includes some intense topics that are sadly all too relevant to the target audience (death, grief, helplessness, fear). These topics are handled with sensitivity, in a way that promotes action rather than just being a plot device. The book does not focus on the event of the shooting, but rather Bea’s experience and reactions to it.
Though I love the novel-in-verse format, the style of this one didn’t really pull me in. Still a gripping story.
Includes an Author’s Note at the end detailing why Sumner wrote the book.
Though hard to read at times, the title says it all. A powerful example of using fiction to advocate for gun reform and to make our schools safer.