Kent State by Deborah Wiles

I am sad to say that before reading Kent State by Deborah Wiles I had never heard about the shocking events which occurred at Kent State University from May 1-4, 1970. In school I briefly heard about Americans protesting the Vietnam War, but that wasn’t even in my history class. It’s a shame that events such as these are brushed over or grouped into a bigger movement because of how important it is to remember the past so that we can learn from it. The author treats this event as what it was, a lived experience. This novel is written in a way I’ve never seen a story told before, as a conversation. This allows the reader to get different perspectives and understand people’s varying emotions about the events of that day. The reader stands witness to the human need to place blame and point fingers, as well as the tendency of humans to misremember certain details. Overall, I found this novel both unique and compelling. I would strongly recommend this to other high schoolers who, like me, may not have heard this story before. It is a good reminder, especially as young people, to be present and informed in the happenings of our country and in the world because we truly are the future.

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About Sophia N.

Hi! My name’s Sophia and I am a student at SVHS. I play three sports, so many are surprised when I tell them that my absolute favorite thing to do is read. Besides reading, I enjoy music, photography, traveling, and spending time with my family and friends. However, in my humble opinion, nothing beats curling up with a steaming cup of tea and a good book! I love so many genres, but, if I had to choose a favorite, it would be fantasy. This explains why my favorite authors include John Green, Cassandra Clare, Sarah J. Maas, Rick Riordan, Suzanne Collins, and Marissa Meyer.