Please Pay Attention

I saw Please Pay Attention by Jamie Sumner on a new book list at the library and put it on hold since I've read another book by the author (Roll with It). The book description says, "There is a Before and an After for sixth grader Bea Coughlin. Before the shooting at her school that took the lives of her classmates and teacher and After, when she must figure out how to grieve, live, and keep rolling forward. But as her community rallies in a tidal wave of marches and speeches and protests, Bea can’t get past the helplessness she felt in her wheelchair as others around her took cover. Through the help of therapeutic horseback riding, Bea finally begins to feel like herself again. And as she heals, she finds her voice and the bravery to demand change."

The timing of this book was weird because I got the book and started it and then there was a school shooting this week at a Christian school (and Bea attends a Christian school). It made this book feel a little too close to real-life, but it was a gentle read and more focused on Bea's ability to overcome the trauma and her decision to speak up for things to change. I liked the verse format of the book and liked following Bea as a character. I also enjoyed seeing the power of horse therapy. The author's note at the end was meaningful since the author lost a close friend to a school shooting.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)