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One Year in Uvalde: A Story of Hope and Resilience
From award-winning journalists John Quiñones and María Elena Salinas comes One Year in Uvalde, a narrative that builds on year-long ABC News reporting from Uvalde, Texas, chronicling how the community is forging on through grief with hope and activism in the shadow of tragedy.
365 was a continuing ABC News series led by the network’s Investigative Unit. As part of the initiative, ABC opened a local satellite news bureau in Uvalde, Texas, in the aftermath of the tragic mass shooting at Robb Elementary School, that hosted a rotating crew of correspondents, producers, writers, and technical staff. Their gripping, vital reporting has been featured across all programs and platforms, from Good Morning America to World News Tonight with David Muir.
Award-winning journalists John Quiñones and María Elena Salinas became immersed in the Uvalde community, as their field reporting brought them ever closer to the people of this Texas city. Quiñones, Salinas, and other ABC reporters and producers on the ground documented the lives of victims' families; covered local community events; followed city council, school board, and Texas Legislature meetings; and attended congressional hearings in Washington, D.C., where victims' families have been advocating for gun reform.
One Year in Uvalde synthesizes this year-long story into a timely, humane, and important look at a community’s activism and resiliency, as it follows several families and residents while events continue to unfold in the community. The intimate, sensitive reporting of Quiñones, Salinas, and the ABC News team examines a specific time and place in American life, thereby highlighting challenges that we face as a nation.
The authors will be making donations to the following charities that serve the Uvalde
*The Uvalde CISD Moving Forward Foundation (
*The Uvalde Forever Fund of the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country (www.CommunityFoundation.net)
*Uvalde High School Athletic Department ()
365 was a continuing ABC News series led by the network’s Investigative Unit. As part of the initiative, ABC opened a local satellite news bureau in Uvalde, Texas, in the aftermath of the tragic mass shooting at Robb Elementary School, that hosted a rotating crew of correspondents, producers, writers, and technical staff. Their gripping, vital reporting has been featured across all programs and platforms, from Good Morning America to World News Tonight with David Muir.
Award-winning journalists John Quiñones and María Elena Salinas became immersed in the Uvalde community, as their field reporting brought them ever closer to the people of this Texas city. Quiñones, Salinas, and other ABC reporters and producers on the ground documented the lives of victims' families; covered local community events; followed city council, school board, and Texas Legislature meetings; and attended congressional hearings in Washington, D.C., where victims' families have been advocating for gun reform.
One Year in Uvalde synthesizes this year-long story into a timely, humane, and important look at a community’s activism and resiliency, as it follows several families and residents while events continue to unfold in the community. The intimate, sensitive reporting of Quiñones, Salinas, and the ABC News team examines a specific time and place in American life, thereby highlighting challenges that we face as a nation.
The authors will be making donations to the following charities that serve the Uvalde
*The Uvalde CISD Moving Forward Foundation (
*The Uvalde Forever Fund of the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country (www.CommunityFoundation.net)
*Uvalde High School Athletic Department ()
- GenresNonfictionTrue Crime
240 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 7, 2024
17 people are currently reading
208 people want to read
About the author
John Quiñones
7 books4 followersFull name, John Manuel Quiñones;
*Bachelor of Arts degree in speech communications from St. Mary's University, San Antonio, Texas.
*Master's degree from the Columbia School of Journalism.
*co-anchor, Primetime
*correspondent, Primetime Thursday
*correspondent, 20/20
*co-anchor, Downtown
*general assignment correspondent, ABC News, Miami Florida
*anchor-reporter, KPRC-TV, Houston Texas
*news editor, KTRH radio, Houston, Texas
*reporter, WBBM-TV, Chicago Illinois
*Bachelor of Arts degree in speech communications from St. Mary's University, San Antonio, Texas.
*Master's degree from the Columbia School of Journalism.
*co-anchor, Primetime
*correspondent, Primetime Thursday
*correspondent, 20/20
*co-anchor, Downtown
*general assignment correspondent, ABC News, Miami Florida
*anchor-reporter, KPRC-TV, Houston Texas
*news editor, KTRH radio, Houston, Texas
*reporter, WBBM-TV, Chicago Illinois
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
December 9, 2024
I want to start with what this book is not: it is not primarily an account of the shooting tragedy. What this is, is an account of why the ABC team asked and enthusiastically got permission to stay for a solid year in Uvalde. To the journalists, Uvalde was different from so many other school shootings. It was tiny and intensely a community in the original idea of the word. It also felt so familiar to many on the team who were of Hispanic origins. This is an account of what the journalism team experienced and the friendships they formed and observed.
Having zero interest in football, I hadn’t been aware of that aspect of the story. I’m so relieved the town had that 50th anniversary to help them through the painful year. Thank goodness the brand new coach had the sensitivity to realize what the team could be! I also want to give credit to one the ABC team gave credit to: they had decided they would include a reading of the victims’ names with every interview. When they extended the written list to the Uvalde County District Attorney, Christina Mitchell, after an interview, she waved it off and recited all 21 names from memory. She clearly was unique. They included a list of the 21 names towards the end of this book.
This was a sensitive account of a journalism team’s effort to be something we often do not get. Journalists have a reputation for being brash. These journalists were the opposite while still being highly professional in their approach. They respected families’ requests for privacy over the year. In return, they got trust that helped make for exceptional journalism. Recommended for what journalism can be! This should be on the reading list of every journalism college class.
Having zero interest in football, I hadn’t been aware of that aspect of the story. I’m so relieved the town had that 50th anniversary to help them through the painful year. Thank goodness the brand new coach had the sensitivity to realize what the team could be! I also want to give credit to one the ABC team gave credit to: they had decided they would include a reading of the victims’ names with every interview. When they extended the written list to the Uvalde County District Attorney, Christina Mitchell, after an interview, she waved it off and recited all 21 names from memory. She clearly was unique. They included a list of the 21 names towards the end of this book.
This was a sensitive account of a journalism team’s effort to be something we often do not get. Journalists have a reputation for being brash. These journalists were the opposite while still being highly professional in their approach. They respected families’ requests for privacy over the year. In return, they got trust that helped make for exceptional journalism. Recommended for what journalism can be! This should be on the reading list of every journalism college class.
August 11, 2024
A tear jerker in the most tender way, I appreciated how the reporters took care to get to know and report on the families of the victims and on the survivors. The focus was not on the shooter. I am not close with the Uvalde community so i am removed, and as an outsider found this to be a beautiful portrayal of coming together to cope and grieve and continue grieving but also finding hope. Not wrapped up in a bow, just real.
dnf
July 31, 2024Did not finish book. Stopped at 54%.
Reading this made me realize I just don’t want to hear this story unless it’s from the parents themselves. I understand an entire community was affected and so were the reporters but it’s not a comparison to what the families felt. And I just don’t feel like reading about how related to it
Reading this made me realize I just don’t want to hear this story unless it’s from the parents themselves. I understand an entire community was affected and so were the reporters but it’s not a comparison to what the families felt. And I just don’t feel like reading about how related to it
April 6, 2025
I appreciate this book, and the work of the Uvalde: 365 team from ABC News. While you can always question the motive of large corporations, including (or especially) media outlets, I appreciate this team standing beside this community and these families throughout an unimaginably difficult year. It’s far more effort than just to fly in when there’s a new headline or significant update or press conference.
I read this book because I grew up in a small Texas town similar to Uvalde. I have connections and family in such small towns. I care about their story. I learned things that saddened and angered me about the events of that terrible day. And I think this book is helpful to those of us on the outside of the town and the tragedy.
Another reviewer said something like, “This book feels like a book about another book…” which I think is an appropriate description. It’s definitely a story about a story, and because of that I gave the book 3 stars. But that’s okay, these are difficult waters to navigate. It’s a journal from a news team.
However, perhaps there’s a deeper message for us to understand about not looking away or sympathizing from a distance (or in their case, reporting from a distance) those who are hurting. Instead, we ought to consider moving into proximity and opening ourselves to those who are experiencing unfathomable pain and suffering. There’s nothing we can fix for them, but we can be human and vulnerable alongside them, ready to laugh, cry, curse, shout, dance, protest, hug, eat, drink, and celebrate along with them when the time is right.
I read this book because I grew up in a small Texas town similar to Uvalde. I have connections and family in such small towns. I care about their story. I learned things that saddened and angered me about the events of that terrible day. And I think this book is helpful to those of us on the outside of the town and the tragedy.
Another reviewer said something like, “This book feels like a book about another book…” which I think is an appropriate description. It’s definitely a story about a story, and because of that I gave the book 3 stars. But that’s okay, these are difficult waters to navigate. It’s a journal from a news team.
However, perhaps there’s a deeper message for us to understand about not looking away or sympathizing from a distance (or in their case, reporting from a distance) those who are hurting. Instead, we ought to consider moving into proximity and opening ourselves to those who are experiencing unfathomable pain and suffering. There’s nothing we can fix for them, but we can be human and vulnerable alongside them, ready to laugh, cry, curse, shout, dance, protest, hug, eat, drink, and celebrate along with them when the time is right.
July 19, 2024
A book about how these journalist essentially lived a masterclass of how to report on traumatic events. A beautiful tribute to those murdered.
July 12, 2024
This is a very informative and sad book. Unfortunately law enforcement but particularly the Chief failed these kids. I hear he is being charged.
Rating 5 out of 5
Rating 5 out of 5
August 12, 2025
This book, while not a comprehensive account of the shooting, I expected it to be a comprehensive and insightful account and reflection on the work of Uvalde 365 and the moments, experiences, bonds, and connections with the Uvalde community and the families of the victims.
The book opened up with a few chapters on the decision to make Uvalde 365 and the reporters arrival. However, from that point, it became jumbled, jumping from half written and lukewarm accounts of the shooting and law enforcement response, the experiences of the reporters, and interactions with the community and victims & family.
I began feeling like I was waiting for the book to "start" and I was already more than halfway through. It felt like I was reading a book about a book... that was unfortunately not actually written. They kept repeating how they created these deep bonds and connections with the Uvalde community and parents - however, they only sometimes elaborated, and in moments when I felt the book was finally going somewhere, it would pivot and begin another lukewarm point it most likely already touched on (and not well).
I felt this book had a lot of potential. Overall, I am upset I spent so much money for the audiobook.
The book opened up with a few chapters on the decision to make Uvalde 365 and the reporters arrival. However, from that point, it became jumbled, jumping from half written and lukewarm accounts of the shooting and law enforcement response, the experiences of the reporters, and interactions with the community and victims & family.
I began feeling like I was waiting for the book to "start" and I was already more than halfway through. It felt like I was reading a book about a book... that was unfortunately not actually written. They kept repeating how they created these deep bonds and connections with the Uvalde community and parents - however, they only sometimes elaborated, and in moments when I felt the book was finally going somewhere, it would pivot and begin another lukewarm point it most likely already touched on (and not well).
I felt this book had a lot of potential. Overall, I am upset I spent so much money for the audiobook.
May 26, 2024
Heartbreaking & so avoidable. F Greg Abbott
June 21, 2024
A must-read for every American.
September 10, 2024
While admittedly I thought this book would provide more details into the criminology of what happened and the breakdown in law enforcement's actions that fateful day, it was still a compelling story of the ABC news team decision to stay in Uvalde and cover the real story of resilience in those other victims who survived to mourn the loss of their loved ones.
While their coverage of those families is moving, I remain pessimistic of the media's motives as less than altruistic. This is not necessarily an indictment of this particular ABC team, but rather an indictment of the entire system. Indeed, as I was finishing this book, I was sickened to learn of another school shooting just occurring outside of Atlanta. And watching the news coverage unfold live, I saw hundreds of news people descend like vultures on the town to interview children, one of whom provided enough detail of the shooting to effectively identify one of the adult victims. Could you imagine first learning of your loved one's death on the news?
All that to say, I have a tremendous amount of respect for the media as our nation's "fourth estate," but something has gone horribly wrong with the morality of that system in the competitiveness to be "first on the scene," and I believe this book is self-serving in many ways to ABC as damage control to that poor image of their profession, rather than truly being about what it espouses. They sold me a book after all. I hope the proceeds go back to the town.
While their coverage of those families is moving, I remain pessimistic of the media's motives as less than altruistic. This is not necessarily an indictment of this particular ABC team, but rather an indictment of the entire system. Indeed, as I was finishing this book, I was sickened to learn of another school shooting just occurring outside of Atlanta. And watching the news coverage unfold live, I saw hundreds of news people descend like vultures on the town to interview children, one of whom provided enough detail of the shooting to effectively identify one of the adult victims. Could you imagine first learning of your loved one's death on the news?
All that to say, I have a tremendous amount of respect for the media as our nation's "fourth estate," but something has gone horribly wrong with the morality of that system in the competitiveness to be "first on the scene," and I believe this book is self-serving in many ways to ABC as damage control to that poor image of their profession, rather than truly being about what it espouses. They sold me a book after all. I hope the proceeds go back to the town.
May 27, 2024
This book brought up so many memories of that day. I am a hospital nurse that worked on the many injured and the casualties of that day. I started this book on the eve of the second year since May 24, 2022. I remember standing around in the ER waiting those 77 minutes and praying that this was a mock drill until the first child was brought in and my heart sunk. However our nursing instincts kicked in and we knew we had a job to do.
The book had a paragraph about the shooter and his background but the rest focused on those who deserved the attention, the victims, the families and the survivors. The last chapters spoke of the community as a whole and the politicians that failed us. I was glad that I read it because it helped to answer so many questions and helped me to process some grief that had been bothering me for the last two years.
As a citizen of Uvalde, Texas I know that there is so much that is missing from this book on how this community is healing. This book was thin and rather fast read but so much needs to be heard. I would have loved to see more stories in it.
The book had a paragraph about the shooter and his background but the rest focused on those who deserved the attention, the victims, the families and the survivors. The last chapters spoke of the community as a whole and the politicians that failed us. I was glad that I read it because it helped to answer so many questions and helped me to process some grief that had been bothering me for the last two years.
As a citizen of Uvalde, Texas I know that there is so much that is missing from this book on how this community is healing. This book was thin and rather fast read but so much needs to be heard. I would have loved to see more stories in it.
December 9, 2024
No matter how many times you cover tragedies, hear victims stories, or help others to find the words to tell their stories, it never gets easier. Sometimes a story just hits harder and changes you forever. That was Uvalde for so many.
On the two-year mark of the tragedy in Uvalde, I stood at each picture of each victim at the memorial at the Uvalde County courthouse. I silent said a prayer for each family and loved one whose lives were devastated by this unthinkable massacre. I drove to each of the beautiful murals painted on the downtown buildings across the small town, and felt like I knew the victims just a little. I remember turning to my sister and saying they deserve for their stories to be told and heard. They deserve a nation to grieve for them and fight for them.
In One Year in Uvalde, John Quinones and Maria Selinas did just that - they gave voice to the stories of the families and community.
On the two-year mark of the tragedy in Uvalde, I stood at each picture of each victim at the memorial at the Uvalde County courthouse. I silent said a prayer for each family and loved one whose lives were devastated by this unthinkable massacre. I drove to each of the beautiful murals painted on the downtown buildings across the small town, and felt like I knew the victims just a little. I remember turning to my sister and saying they deserve for their stories to be told and heard. They deserve a nation to grieve for them and fight for them.
In One Year in Uvalde, John Quinones and Maria Selinas did just that - they gave voice to the stories of the families and community.
June 19, 2024
The amount of work, compassion and effort the Uvalde 365 team put into completing this assignment is a testament to the hearts and commitment of each member. Their ability to immerse themselves into a community that had a huge, gaping hole ripped into their hearts and lives was incredible. Reading this story was an honor and a privilege. To learn how the survivors of this tragedy continue to move forward one step at a time, one day at a time is simultaneously inspiring and heart breaking. So proud of the story that the entire world can read and discuss to further the intention that no more people be taken in another mass murder where people historically used to consider a safe place.
January 5, 2025
In the midst of a school shooting, the standard protocol is for news organizations to swoop in, do their best to file reports, and then, a few days later, the journalists move on, leaving behind the depths of despair and heartache. ABC News made a radical choice when it came to the tragedy in Uvalde, Texas: they committed to having a team stay for a year in order to more deeply understand and relay the fuller story about how a small town that lost so much might find a way to move forward. This is a remarkable book evoking both tears and joy in Uvalde's hope and resilience and comes highly recommended.
September 17, 2025
Very well written story. The idea for reporters to stay a year in Uvalde took it past just the usual media blitz and then leave. Bonds with families were formed. Seeing how people coped with the aftermath. I have kept up with the still ongoing story of this tragedy, and the court proceedings of the Chief of police and other officers. Some of them are still trying to claim that the deaths were all the killers responsibility. But as police officers, their job was to serve and protect. The police officers had also completed "active shooter" training just 2 months before. All of that training was met with chaos. No one stopped the shooter for seventy seven minutes. That's too long.
October 24, 2025
I still can’t believe this continues to happen. But this one seems to hit different due to the incompetence and cowardice almost 400 law enforcement officers that were literally on the scene in time to intervene. Some officers drove by the shooter, failed to and decided against engaging him as they watched him running into the school… I mean WTAF?!!! And for 400 cowards to stand around while those babies and teachers were being brutalized is truly devastating. No parents should ever have to bury their children, especially not due to being gunned down in their schools by an evil person with war weapons.
November 27, 2024
Not as balanced as I would have liked. I do appreciate learning more about the victims’ families but it felt like the victims themselves, the crime, and the perpetrator were not examined much. I did like the advocacy angle and reading about how this tragedy has fueled the families to demand dialogue and action re gun reform. Sadly this book is already outdated, because although it is only really meant to cover the year following the tragedy, legal action has now been started against some of the police responders, including Pete Arredonde.
April 13, 2025
So often after a mass shooting the media is there in the first days and weeks after the event then only returns for the big events afterward i.e 1 year, 5 year, 10 year etc. In this case they stayed for a year to get an idea of how a community comes to terms with what has happened on a day-to-day basis.
For outsiders, life returns to normal very quickly but for the communities involved in a mass shooting it is something they will live with every day, it will always be there 10, 20, and 30 years down the line.
For outsiders, life returns to normal very quickly but for the communities involved in a mass shooting it is something they will live with every day, it will always be there 10, 20, and 30 years down the line.
September 24, 2025
This book was heart wrenching. This hits close to home with me being familiar with the area and having children close in age to the victims. If you think this full account of what happened with all the details, you will be mistaken. This focuses more on the journalists that covered Uvalde for a year, their relationships with the victims and victims' families, and how their relationships changed from the beginning to the end of the year. It keeps a respectable distance from the gory details of what happened that awful day in May. Overall it was a pretty good read.
May 25, 2024
What a profound and deeply moving book filled with palpable grief and shimmering with hope. It would be easy to write this book as an investigative reporter who is detached with all the facts but this team spent an entire year with these 21 families as they navigated their grief and formed deep relationships that could only tell the story this book offered. I will hold this one close to my heart for a long time
July 9, 2024
John Quinones and Maria Elena Salinas and the entire Uvalde365 team capture the essence of what it means to be community in this story. Through unthinkable tragedy, we bear witness to strength and courage the families of the victims, the survivors, and members of the city embody. We should all strive to live a life that matters and pay forward our gifts, in remembrance of those who are no longer with us today. Thank you to the Cazares, Mata and Rubio families for sharing your stories.
August 4, 2024
This account of an ABC News team spending one year in Uvalde, Texas, following a school shoooting that left 21 people dead, is heartbreaking, maddening, encouraging and reflective of the indominable human spirit. The book includes photos of many of the families whose stories left lasting impressions and created new friendships with news team who spent so much time with them.
September 2, 2024
This book is so heartbreaking and we all need to read it. We need to remember the victims, support their families and the survivors, to held officials accountable. Never, NEVER forget what happened on Uvalde, in El Paso, Sandy Hook, the Pulse, in Las Vegas, Parkland, etc… the fact that this is a long list is just uggghhhhh💔
October 18, 2024
This is about ABC news deciding to spend 365 days in Uvalde after the horrific shooting at Robb Elementary. There's a lot more detail about the news operation than I was interested in, with a lot of names. The description of the actual event is detailed although not to the point of graphical descriptions of injuries.
November 24, 2024
Sad and maddening
I had of course heard about the Uvalde shooting but I was not aware of the 1 year news coverage. I was very interested in the police response portion of the book.
The book was very well written and it was interesting reading about all the families and their 1st year after the tragedy.
I had of course heard about the Uvalde shooting but I was not aware of the 1 year news coverage. I was very interested in the police response portion of the book.
The book was very well written and it was interesting reading about all the families and their 1st year after the tragedy.
December 30, 2025
This was a very tough book to read. But it was an important read for me since I live close to Uvalde, and I am an elementary school teacher. I knew John Quinones would tell the story properly and respectfully and that’s exactly how this was treated. I shed a lot of tears and had to put it down for stretches, but I’m glad I read it.
May 9, 2024
This was an excellent book describing the horrible day of the Uvalde school shooting. It also reveals the courage the community had to face a dysfunctional police force, advocate for better gun laws in Texas all while grieving the 21 lost.
May 28, 2024
Kudos to ABC news for staying with the people of Uvalde for a year and documenting their story. This book is a testament to the resiliency of the survivors of this tragedy and those who lost loved ones.
July 17, 2024
A Good Remberance
The book is a moving remembrance of the people killed and wounded in the shooting. It also spends time with parents of lost children. It goes over the tragedy but focuses on the victims.
The book is a moving remembrance of the people killed and wounded in the shooting. It also spends time with parents of lost children. It goes over the tragedy but focuses on the victims.
May 2, 2025
Kudos to the team who investigated and wrote this book! It was done with such heartfelt grace and talent. Don't start this book without a full box of kleenex within reach!
"Remember their names. Say their names".
"Remember their names. Say their names".
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews