This book just wasn’t for me. I enjoyed the concept, however found the characters, particularly the main character to be unkikeable and the reveal of what really happened was not interesting enough to grip me.

Three years after the Virgil County High School Massacre. Three years since Lee’s best friend Sarah was killed in a bathroom stall. A story that gripped the nation. Sarah died proclaiming her faith. Spoke to the killer when no one else did. Except she didn’t. And three years later, only two people know the truth. Lee didn’t say anything then, and now even more people are going to get hurt. This is Lee’s final chance to set the record straight on everything.

School shooting survivor Lee begins to collect the stories of what happened that day. Letters by the very people who suffered. And slowly she realises that what everyone thought happened that day didn’t. Each new letter reveals something new, telling what the headlines didn’t show. And the survivors must come to terms with what they did or didn’t do.

I very much loved the concept of this book. The emotional backstory of how it reveals how school violence impacted each life. We witness what happened to each character that day and how its affected them three years down the line. Lee struggles with her mistake of her revealing the truth sooner. Ashley who struggles to accept anything but the reported story. Eden and her relationship with her deceased cousin who excelled in many ways. Miles is quiet and withdrawn while Denny, whose entrance letter inspires Lee to begin her search, is trying to change how he’s defined.

All of their lives are impacted by the truth. And how media reporting twist what was said and how things are circulated but have zero ounces of fact to them. It questions how its remembered and never corrected. It’s a shame that I struggled with this book. The situation is absolutely terrifying and saddening. Keplinger fails to bring out any emotional care for these kids. The lead characters had little to none depth throughout the novel. And the mystery plot felt very exaggerated.  I enjoy the characters though, they were all very different, and it was interesting to see the difference in how they were all impacted. Lee was tough to like further down the line, especially the way she forces to other survivors to share their truth because she wanted everyone in this project she was doing. She doesn’t really take into the account that maybe not everyone was ready to talk or just wanted to move on.

Overall, I appreciate the job Keplinger has done with this story. That’s Not What Happened is a story of recovery and truth, it may not have gripped me, but I see the impact it could have on other readers who might appreciate it better than I have.

There seem to be quite a few books about school shootings at the moment but this is probably the first one I've been tempted to read. It's such a difficult topic and I really didn't want to read a book that was going to deal with such a heavy or emotionally charged subject. This however appealed to me firstly because of the author but mostly because this book focuses on the survivors and how they're coping (or not) three years down the line.

Mass shootings and gun control are very topical at the moment and this story does cover a lot of the arguments and some scenes which will be very familiar to anyone who's watched the news recently. What I liked about it though is rather than necessarily putting across a specific argument or trying to explain the why behind the shooting or how it could have been prevented this looks at the effect of media coverage and all of this arguing on the victims and survivors. News coverage and social media put stories out there instantly and once a particular version of events is out there it often becomes the accepted story. The victims and survivors are often pushed into roles they may not necessarily want, courageous hero, martyr, spokesperson, face of a campaign or if they're really unlucky, coward or liar. The story becomes twisted to fit the agenda of the various lobbying groups and the truth and more importantly the impact on the survivors and the families of the victims is forgotten.

This book demonstrates very effectively just what it's like for those to survive this type of ordeal. The story is told from the pov of Lee who was one of six survivors of a mass shooting in her school and was with her best friend Sarah when she was killed. When Sarah's parents decide to publish a book about their daughter who has become a bit of a martyr as the girl who died for her faith, Lee decides the truth has to come out. She begins collecting the real stories of the survivors and the victims but is she doing it for the right reason and what impact could telling the truth have on her life and the life of those around her.

I thought the author did a wonderful job of portraying what kind of impact this type of ordeal would have on someone and the different ways the survivors have found to cope (or are still struggling). It may be three years later but they're still grieving, they feel guilty, suffer from flashbacks and panic attacks but with the media attention and the whole community watching them they're trapped into specific roles.

I loved how this story revealed more about each of the survivors and victims. Lee sets out to show the world that they are more than what happened to them. They were not all heroes and or saints. They were regular people, flaws and all and they were in a terrifying situation. They shouldn't have to do or be anything and they shouldn't have to carry the weight or attention of the media or whatever lobbying group. That being said, it also raises the issue of whether it's okay to put the truth out there when it could upset the families of the victims.

One other thing I have to say I loved about this story was how diverse it was. Lee the main character is on the asexual spectrum (something I don't think I've ever really come across before), there are two characters with physical disabilities, different races represented but also different religious beliefs. I'm not sure I would necessarily say that I particularly loved or connected to any one character but I was invested in their stories.

This really was a brilliantly written story and I loved how sensitive the author was in dealing with such a difficult topic. I do get the impression some serious research has gone into this but if I had one criticism it's that I wish there was some acknowledgement of this or some details at the back. I was however reading an ARC though so perhaps that will pop up in the final version.

Lee is a survivor of a high school shooting and 3 years on she decides that the truth about her best friend Sarah needs to be told. So she decides to get other survivors to write letters about their stories.
I just couldn't warm to Lee as a character and the truth wasn't that interesting either.
A good idea for a novel that could have been so much more

What a fantastic read based around a very difficult subject. Kody has done her usual wonderful work, bringing up different points of view without demonizing anyone. A gripping story. I'll really enjoy selling this to people, and I think they'll enjoy reading it.


I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I've seen other novels by Kody Keplinger; The DUFF, Shut Out. I've always thought they looked interesting, but I've never gotten around to reading them. I'll be changing that at my first opportunity. Kody is amazing.

It's a sadly current book, the story of a school shooting from the point of view of the survivors. As I write this, the Texas shooting is still in the news. By the time the book publishes, it'll be some other shooting.

The book is mostly from the POV of Lee, a teenager who was shot at, but not physically injured, during a shooting rampage in her school. A legend has built up around one particular victim, Lee's best friend, causing townsfolk to harass and abuse another survivor who tried to correct it. Lee knows the truth and is finally ready to come forward, but it's not going to be as simple as she thinks.

I started crying within a few chapters and never really stopped. This is an incredible book, heartfelt and real, showing a range of coping mechanisms used by the six survivors - forgetting, faith, happiness, ignoring, medication and alcohol. Each choice is treated and right for that person, although the alcohol user stops during the course of the novel, and no one is demonised for how they cope.

My only tiny problem, and it's very common across a lot of media, is that while initially a couple of the survivors were against Lee's plan, in the end they all came around and agreed it was for the best. Why couldn't they have dissenting opinions that were right for them? However, I see this a lot and it's not by any means a deal breaker.

I also loved that Lee is asexual. It's comparatively rare still, but gaining ground and it's nice to see. It's great to have books to recommend to people, especially like this when it's not a major focus, just a part of who she is.

A fantastic read. I'll definitely be trying more by this author.


Receiving an ARC did not affect my review in any way

I massively enjoyed this look at a school shooting three years down the line. Lee, our main character, was only fourteen when a lone gunman razed her school, killing nine, including two teachers and her best friend, Sarah McHale, as they held hands and hid in a bathroom. I've read a lot of school shooting books, and this one took a really interesting approach. Not only did it have next to no details about the shooter (not even his name), the actual plot of the book is set three years after the shooting occurred.
Based somewhat on the story of Cassie Bernall, who was mistakenly identified as having declared her faith before her death in the Columbine massacre, this book focuses on Lee's search for the truth, and for healing, three years on from the events that changed her life.
It's told as a giant letter to an unnamed reader, incorporating stories of the other survivors, the victims, and their stories in the years after the shooting. It's really delicately drawn, with each of the survivors changed in both huge and tiny ways, and strong bonds forged between many of them who went through this thing together.
The focus of the book is on Lee's attempts to set the record straight about what actually happened, and who the Cross Necklace belonged to. Commonly attributed to Sarah, who was then killed, Lee knows that's not how it happened, but hasn't told anyone. When Sarah's parents plan to publish a book, Lee feels compelled to get the truth out there. This book then looks at what the truth is, the impact of telling the truth, whether truths can be individual, and lots of other really interesting stuff around that.
I also loved that this book had plenty of representation. Lee, the main character, is ace, and several of the other victims are repping in their own ways. Denny is blind and Black, Ashley is a wheelchair user, Eden is a latina lesbian (shades of This is Where it Ends there), and Miles is in a non-traditional family setup. What's really lovely is that none of these things are the defining parts of these characters' stories. Not even the shooting is. They're all more than the sum of their parts.
There was probably space to investigate more how Kellie was affected, and I would have loved more from Denny. Overall, this book was compelling, touching, and really sensitively written. I stayed up late to finish it, and don't regret it at all!

Lee experienced a school mass shooting and survived. She has to deal with the aftermath which is traumatic itself and lasts longer. She feels guilty that she did not stop a rumour about the crime immediately afterwards, but let it slip for good reasons. But now she feels the need to correct that. She wants other survivors to write their accounts to demonstrate the truth. But not everyone feels the same.
Considering the author (as far as I know) has not experienced such a situation, this book reaches into survivors' minds and offers different perspectives on life because of their experiences. Many have turned around a judgement on other people, Lee herself lost a best friend but gains another she had previously ignored. Some used the chance of life as a new start, knowing others saw them differently, some did not like how they were now seen and did their best to get away.
Although an American novel, the difference in culture is only noticeable once the 'right to bear arms' is raised. This does make a good discussion point, especially with the back stories of all the central characters and I guess will still have supporters on both sides, but that's the part I found most shocking, but perhaps that's my culture and an American would not feel the same way.
The characters were all realistic, well drawn and fleshed out and the book stood up on these excellent portraits of young adults finding their way in the world even without the huge plot of gun crime.
This was a book I read swiftly as I needed to know the outcome and I'd highly recommend it.

Oh my gosh this book blew me away. I honestly still can't form words because of how much I loved it. The writing style was perfect and the story itself was so emotional and so hard hitting, it was exactly what people needed to read. The truth needs to be heard, and this proves it.

This is not a book you want in your life. This is a book you need in your life.
Gun crime is not just isolated to the schools of the US. While admittedly it is much more common, the UK have had experiences; from Dunblane in 1996 to the collateral damage of Rhys Jones a mere 5 minute drive from my house in Liverpool in 2007. I'm also a teacher who has seen the introduction of government imposed lock down drills. This is not just a story close to home for America, its one that unifies us all. This story gave me chills, it put my maternal instincts into over drive and boy, the way in which the town acted as a society reduced me to tears.

The structure of the storytelling draws parallels with last year's best seller One of Us in Lying, this year's The Truth About Alice and I would not be surprised if the rights are already being negotiated for a limited series along the style of the popular, yet contentious, 13 Reasons Why. It's what will engage every single reader; the mystery waiting to be pieced together.

The sign of a good writer is that you aren't blindsided by the final picture and you certainly won't feel short changed by having a suspicion of how the events played out. While there may be calls of 'predictability' when this book is released, I'd question what you want from 14 year olds faced with the prospect of imminent death or PTSD. What is revealed is not so much predictable, but a commentary of human nature.

What struck me most of all was what I feel is the underlying message and semi sub-plot of the novel. Having been painted as a liar rather than someone facing a harsh truth, the concept of telling the truth really pulled me into this novel. How people turned on characters so quickly to maintain a fantasy was all too shockingly real for me. The commentary about how much the truth matters is something I feel will haunt me for a long while. I'm still not sure of the answer, especially when you consider the follow up question; what IS truth?!

That's Not What Happened is a powerful and relevant YA novel about the aftermath of a school shooting. Lee is one of the survivors of the Virgil County High School Massacre, but her best friend Sarah was killed. The story is famous: Sarah died with a cross necklace, proclaiming her faith. But Lee knows that this isn't the truth, and she realises that she wants to set the record straight. As she talks to her fellow survivors, she sees that everyone saw different things on that day and maybe telling the truth isn't as simple as it sounds.

It isn't difficult to tell that this is a hard-hitting novel that looks at trauma and how people react to traumatic events differently, as well as how a small town might deal with a terrible event. That's Not What Happened is also a story about characters: a diverse group of people and their lives, not only in relation to the shooting. There is also a fair amount of emphasis on their stories before the shooting, showing how the media image is often slanted or wrong. An important element of the novel is the fact that it never names the shooter, in contrast to real life media reports which often fixate on the personal details of the shooter. As Lee points out in her first person narrative, people often focus on the shooter, particularly those who become obsessed with the events. By resolutely making the focus on the survivors and the victims, Keplinger challenges this, focusing on how the stories of the people caught up in the tragedy aren't always as simple as the media presents them.

This is a novel that represents a school shooting and the PTSD and other issues caused by surviving one in a powerful way, but also in a way that focuses on people and their lives and quirks. It is another young adult book that actively engages with the modern world, touching not only on the major topics around the shooting, but also on alcohol abuse, sexuality, disability, and family issues.