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Three starred reviews!
A girl with cerebral palsy navigates loss, grief, and the aftermath of trauma following a school shooting in a world that wasn’t built for her in this “intimate, lyrical” (Publishers Weekly, starred review) novel in verse from Jamie Sumner, the acclaimed author of Roll with It.
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.
A girl with cerebral palsy navigates loss, grief, and the aftermath of trauma following a school shooting in a world that wasn’t built for her in this “intimate, lyrical” (Publishers Weekly, starred review) novel in verse from Jamie Sumner, the acclaimed author of Roll with It.
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.
Audible Audio
Published April 15, 2025
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About the author
Jamie Sumner
17 books342 followersJamie Sumner is the author of the critically-acclaimed middle-grade novels, Roll with It, Tune It Out, and One Kid's Trash. Her forth middle-grade novel The Summer of June hits shelves on May 31st, 2022 with Atheneum Books for Young Readers. She is also the author of the nonfiction parenting books, Eat, Sleep, Save the World and Unbound.
She has also written for the New York Times and the Washington Post as well as other publications. She loves stories that celebrate the grit and beauty in all kids. She and her family live in Nashville, Tennessee. Connect with her at Jamie-Sumner.com
She has also written for the New York Times and the Washington Post as well as other publications. She loves stories that celebrate the grit and beauty in all kids. She and her family live in Nashville, Tennessee. Connect with her at Jamie-Sumner.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 293 reviews
January 2, 2026
"A girl with cerebral palsy navigates loss, grief, and the aftermath of trauma following a school shooting in a world that wasn’t built for her in this deeply affecting novel in verse from Jamie Sumner, the acclaimed author of Roll with It."
"Sorrynotsorry if that was hard for you to read. Trust me, it was worse to live through."
First, my heart goes out to the people connected to Covenant School shooting in Nashville, Tn and other schools affected. When the author mentioned this school at the end of her book, I remember how we held our breath at our own school in Tn and prayed for all to survive. It is unimaginable and senseless to target innocent kids and adults. Our own school suffered a school bus shooting where the driver was killed.
The story is told in two parts: Before and After the shooting. The main narrator Bea tells the story in verse reminding us to be considerate of those in wheelchairs. When a shooter entered their class, she felt trapped while everyone else was able to take cover. This dives deep into the wounds and how they handle the outside after losing classmates and teachers. It is compelling how the little things are insignificant after a major trauma and feeling incapable of going on with PTSD. With every sound sending shockwaves through Bea's core and fear that enveloped her afterwards, would she ever feel some level of normalcy and safety again?
This is a great read for middle grade students up to adults. It makes you see others in a different light and the capabilities some are not able to experience. I loved the way the author used an equine therapy session for people like Bea to move forward. It can help individuals that have developed anxiety and depression from PTSD.
Shout out to the audio narrator Erin Moon and the author for creating a book sensitive to those that have experienced such tragedy or for those that live our lives practicing lock-down drills to keep children and ourselves safe.
"Sorrynotsorry if that was hard for you to read. Trust me, it was worse to live through."
First, my heart goes out to the people connected to Covenant School shooting in Nashville, Tn and other schools affected. When the author mentioned this school at the end of her book, I remember how we held our breath at our own school in Tn and prayed for all to survive. It is unimaginable and senseless to target innocent kids and adults. Our own school suffered a school bus shooting where the driver was killed.
The story is told in two parts: Before and After the shooting. The main narrator Bea tells the story in verse reminding us to be considerate of those in wheelchairs. When a shooter entered their class, she felt trapped while everyone else was able to take cover. This dives deep into the wounds and how they handle the outside after losing classmates and teachers. It is compelling how the little things are insignificant after a major trauma and feeling incapable of going on with PTSD. With every sound sending shockwaves through Bea's core and fear that enveloped her afterwards, would she ever feel some level of normalcy and safety again?
This is a great read for middle grade students up to adults. It makes you see others in a different light and the capabilities some are not able to experience. I loved the way the author used an equine therapy session for people like Bea to move forward. It can help individuals that have developed anxiety and depression from PTSD.
Shout out to the audio narrator Erin Moon and the author for creating a book sensitive to those that have experienced such tragedy or for those that live our lives practicing lock-down drills to keep children and ourselves safe.
August 29, 2025
Have you ever read a book that breaks your heart into a million pieces? I thought I've read tough books before, but this one was utterly devastating. Please check the content warnings of this book. Though the school shooting isn't necessarily described in graphic detail, I caution readers to keep this mind in the wake of recent mass shootings in the US.
To be quite honest, there aren't words that I could use to describe what it was like to read this book. As someone who is a huge advocate for gun control and as a mother of a school age child, I'm devastated at the US's inability to do something to protect our children. A school should be a safe haven, a place where children can thrive and learn. Unfortunately, our children are now on constant alert, in constant fear of what could happen when they least expect it. This isn't the first, nor will it be the last book that I've read about a school shooting, but the shock, heartbreak, and devastation never seem to go away. Sumner handled this with such grace and compassion as it is based off of her own experience losing a close friend to a school shooting. The characterization of Bea's grief, PTSD, and survivor's guilt tore through my soul. The children who experience these things are never the same. Please read this book ya'll. Like I said, be mindful of the content, but please pick this book up.
To be quite honest, there aren't words that I could use to describe what it was like to read this book. As someone who is a huge advocate for gun control and as a mother of a school age child, I'm devastated at the US's inability to do something to protect our children. A school should be a safe haven, a place where children can thrive and learn. Unfortunately, our children are now on constant alert, in constant fear of what could happen when they least expect it. This isn't the first, nor will it be the last book that I've read about a school shooting, but the shock, heartbreak, and devastation never seem to go away. Sumner handled this with such grace and compassion as it is based off of her own experience losing a close friend to a school shooting. The characterization of Bea's grief, PTSD, and survivor's guilt tore through my soul. The children who experience these things are never the same. Please read this book ya'll. Like I said, be mindful of the content, but please pick this book up.
July 7, 2024
“Sorrynotsorry if that was hard for you to read. Trust me, it was worse to live through.”
👩🦽➡️
Before: Bea Coughlin is a faculty kid; her mom is the school nurse at the small private school she attends. She has a Little that she watches over and takes that job very seriously.
After: when the shooting started, Bea froze in her wheelchair and is struggling to cope with the aftermath of being a school shooting survivor. Nothing is helping, not sleeping outside, talking (or not talking) to her mom, but when she suggests Bea attend horse therapy, she decides to give it a try. Through therapeutic horseback riding Bea is able to get some of her confidence back, as well as use her voice to fight for change.
🐴
This MG novel in verse packs quite the punch from reading about Bea’s experience in a school shooting to the PTSD she goes through afterwards and even the author’s note at the end, but as hard to read as these #books are, they’re even harder for our nation to live through in real life. As someone who has to do active shooter drills with tweens every year, I recognize how traumatizing they can be and it makes me so angry that we put our KIDS through this. They should feel safe in school. Period. We have to keep fighting for stricter gun laws as well as better mental health services for all citizens. Thank you @jamiesumner_author for sharing this story and your experience with us. This MG book releases April 15.
CW: school shooting (theme and recounted), gun violence, death, PTSD, cerebral palsy
I wanted just a little bit more from this. It was very short and I think it could have gone deeper. Such an important topic, though. 4 ⭐️
👩🦽➡️
Before: Bea Coughlin is a faculty kid; her mom is the school nurse at the small private school she attends. She has a Little that she watches over and takes that job very seriously.
After: when the shooting started, Bea froze in her wheelchair and is struggling to cope with the aftermath of being a school shooting survivor. Nothing is helping, not sleeping outside, talking (or not talking) to her mom, but when she suggests Bea attend horse therapy, she decides to give it a try. Through therapeutic horseback riding Bea is able to get some of her confidence back, as well as use her voice to fight for change.
🐴
This MG novel in verse packs quite the punch from reading about Bea’s experience in a school shooting to the PTSD she goes through afterwards and even the author’s note at the end, but as hard to read as these #books are, they’re even harder for our nation to live through in real life. As someone who has to do active shooter drills with tweens every year, I recognize how traumatizing they can be and it makes me so angry that we put our KIDS through this. They should feel safe in school. Period. We have to keep fighting for stricter gun laws as well as better mental health services for all citizens. Thank you @jamiesumner_author for sharing this story and your experience with us. This MG book releases April 15.
CW: school shooting (theme and recounted), gun violence, death, PTSD, cerebral palsy
I wanted just a little bit more from this. It was very short and I think it could have gone deeper. Such an important topic, though. 4 ⭐️
April 23, 2025
Ughhh…how to review this without feeling like a jerk? The author based it on the Covenant School shooting and her personal connection to one of the victims. The protagonist is a middle school girl who uses a wheelchair and survives the school shooting with the support of her adoptive mom, the kind same-sex couple who live next door, and a therapy horse. There was so much going on; the verse style was a limitation in both plot development and character development.
April 24, 2025
2025 reads: 84/300
i received a digital review copy from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. this did not affect my rating.
content warnings: school shooting, grief, ableism
there is a before and after for bea coughlin, an eighth grader with cerebral palsy. before the school shooting that took the lives of her teacher and classmates, and after, when she has to figure out how to keep going. as she learns to heal from this traumatic event, she finds the bravery to demand change.
with how prevalent school shootings, and discussion around them, are, many of our discussions leave out disabled people. this is true for other emergencies, too; there are almost never solid plans to get disabled people to safety should a fire or severe weather happen. this is something bea reflects on a lot throughout this book. as a wheelchair user, she felt helpless during lockdown, when her classmates were taking cover and she needed help. when she finds equine therapy, she begins to find the courage to speak up against school shootings and how disabled people are often disregarded in our society. this was a novel in verse, and i thought that was a great choice. bea had a lovely voice. i highly recommend this book.
i received a digital review copy from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. this did not affect my rating.
content warnings: school shooting, grief, ableism
there is a before and after for bea coughlin, an eighth grader with cerebral palsy. before the school shooting that took the lives of her teacher and classmates, and after, when she has to figure out how to keep going. as she learns to heal from this traumatic event, she finds the bravery to demand change.
with how prevalent school shootings, and discussion around them, are, many of our discussions leave out disabled people. this is true for other emergencies, too; there are almost never solid plans to get disabled people to safety should a fire or severe weather happen. this is something bea reflects on a lot throughout this book. as a wheelchair user, she felt helpless during lockdown, when her classmates were taking cover and she needed help. when she finds equine therapy, she begins to find the courage to speak up against school shootings and how disabled people are often disregarded in our society. this was a novel in verse, and i thought that was a great choice. bea had a lovely voice. i highly recommend this book.
May 26, 2025
Bea is a 5th grader with Cerebral Palsey who uses a wheelchair to get around. She goes to a private Christian school that falls victim to a school shooting. This novel in verse covers the lead up to the shooting, how Bea and her community handle the aftermath of the shooting, and a little bit about life with Cerebral Palsey.
As a lifelong wheelchair user, I'm so glad this book exists! This is a great read for both disabled and able bodied Middle grade kids. It's also a great read for adults. I like that it doesn't shy away from some of the difficulties of being a wheelchair user and navigating in a world that isn't built for folks like us. All of the characters are extremely likeable and the plot moves at a decent clip, so it's a quick, albeit heavy, read. The topics are discussed in an engaging way that I think will help kids tremendously. The serious moments are balanced out with some comic relief from our main character. I highly recommend this for both Middle grade as well as adult readers.
My thanks to Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, the author, and NetGalley for gifting me a digital copy of this book. My opinions are my own.
As a lifelong wheelchair user, I'm so glad this book exists! This is a great read for both disabled and able bodied Middle grade kids. It's also a great read for adults. I like that it doesn't shy away from some of the difficulties of being a wheelchair user and navigating in a world that isn't built for folks like us. All of the characters are extremely likeable and the plot moves at a decent clip, so it's a quick, albeit heavy, read. The topics are discussed in an engaging way that I think will help kids tremendously. The serious moments are balanced out with some comic relief from our main character. I highly recommend this for both Middle grade as well as adult readers.
My thanks to Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, the author, and NetGalley for gifting me a digital copy of this book. My opinions are my own.
March 31, 2025
This is one I would recommend to everyone. It follows a middle schooler before and after school shooting. She has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair and realized that she couldn't follow the directions of "just get down" when the unthinkable happened at her school.
This book is told in two parts where we get before the shooting and after the shooting and we see bits and glimpses of bea's life before and how she slowly works to heal afterward. This book has a lot to offer and is nuanced enough that it's appropriate for kids yet serious enough that adults also need to read this.
Queer secondary characters
This book is told in two parts where we get before the shooting and after the shooting and we see bits and glimpses of bea's life before and how she slowly works to heal afterward. This book has a lot to offer and is nuanced enough that it's appropriate for kids yet serious enough that adults also need to read this.
Queer secondary characters
June 24, 2025
This is an incredible upper elementary/ middle school book. The narrator is a 6th grader with cerebral palsy who uses a wheelchair. When an active shooter comes into her classroom, she realizes she can’t get down and cover like the other students. She describes the trauma of the shooting and dealing with the after effects.
July 7, 2025
This middle grade story in verse about a school shooting is absolutely devastating and I almost couldn’t finish it. I’m so glad I did though, and I’m also so glad that Sumner wrote this in verse because I couldn’t have handled even a single word more about the horrific tragedy of senseless gun violence. Although this book is exceptionally well done, I only recommend this to those kids and adults going in with eyes wide open about just how tough this story is.
Source: school library hardcover
Source: school library hardcover
November 22, 2025
4.75 rounded down
I cried. On the bus. It was a whole thing.
This is such a powerful and important book. It doesn't trivialize any side of the argument and instead just gives you brutal truth. I really appreciated how Sumner talks about faith in this book without it feeling preachy or jarring. This is such an important read and I'm so glad I was able to read it.
I cried. On the bus. It was a whole thing.
This is such a powerful and important book. It doesn't trivialize any side of the argument and instead just gives you brutal truth. I really appreciated how Sumner talks about faith in this book without it feeling preachy or jarring. This is such an important read and I'm so glad I was able to read it.
March 30, 2025
TW: School shooting (specifically the Covenant School shooting in Nashville)
I was in Nashville (in a school on the other side of town) when the tragedy at Covenant happened. Not really sure I have words for this one. Thank you, Jamie, for telling this story.
"Some people cried into empty hands
and went home to bury their faces
into empty pillows
to catch the scent of the one
they did not lose
at the mall/Target/parking lot/pool
but at the place that was supposed to be safe:
at school."
Thank you, Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing and Jamie Sumner, for an ARC. Opinions are my own.
Pub Date: April 15, 2025
I was in Nashville (in a school on the other side of town) when the tragedy at Covenant happened. Not really sure I have words for this one. Thank you, Jamie, for telling this story.
"Some people cried into empty hands
and went home to bury their faces
into empty pillows
to catch the scent of the one
they did not lose
at the mall/Target/parking lot/pool
but at the place that was supposed to be safe:
at school."
Thank you, Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing and Jamie Sumner, for an ARC. Opinions are my own.
Pub Date: April 15, 2025
July 26, 2025
A young girl with Cerebral palsy, is confined to a wheelchair when an active shooter destroys the peace at her school. The aftermath of the terror evolves into grief and harm. It is an amazing children's story of hope and healing.
July 16, 2024
Bea was born fighting to live but now as a sixth grader, she is content living with her adoptive mom, Max, next door to Lucius and Aaron, and being a sixth grade big sister to kindergarten Josie at school. Life is good, even from where she sits in the wheelchair she must use due to the cerebral palsy she has had since birth. But a school shooter changes everything.
Jamie Sumner’s book might be hard for some middle grade students to read, but its overall messages of rediscovering a sense of security, finding comfort in family (and a horse), plus learning to fight for what is important keep PLEASE PAY ATTENTION from being too harsh or frightening. Bea represents more than just a girl in a wheelchair and many readers who have felt powerless will find a connection to her. Others may take courage and decide to take action for a cause they believe in. Hopefully, the subject will result in meaningful conversations between students and their teachers, caregivers, pastors and other important adults in their lives.
Text is free of profanity and sexual content and the shooting does not include any physical descriptions of victims nor does the violence get overly graphic or an excessive word count. Representation: Bea has cerebral palsy and is adopted; neighbors Lucius and Aaron are a gay couple; Little Sister Josie struggles with anxiety.
Solid choice for those who enjoy NIV format and books that pack an emotional punch and leave them thinking. Target age: grades 5-7.
Read alikes: The Shape of Thunder by Jasmine Warga (NIV) and This is Not a Drill by K.A. Holt (written primarily in text messages)
Thanks for the eARC, Edelweiss.
Jamie Sumner’s book might be hard for some middle grade students to read, but its overall messages of rediscovering a sense of security, finding comfort in family (and a horse), plus learning to fight for what is important keep PLEASE PAY ATTENTION from being too harsh or frightening. Bea represents more than just a girl in a wheelchair and many readers who have felt powerless will find a connection to her. Others may take courage and decide to take action for a cause they believe in. Hopefully, the subject will result in meaningful conversations between students and their teachers, caregivers, pastors and other important adults in their lives.
Text is free of profanity and sexual content and the shooting does not include any physical descriptions of victims nor does the violence get overly graphic or an excessive word count. Representation: Bea has cerebral palsy and is adopted; neighbors Lucius and Aaron are a gay couple; Little Sister Josie struggles with anxiety.
Solid choice for those who enjoy NIV format and books that pack an emotional punch and leave them thinking. Target age: grades 5-7.
Read alikes: The Shape of Thunder by Jasmine Warga (NIV) and This is Not a Drill by K.A. Holt (written primarily in text messages)
Thanks for the eARC, Edelweiss.
April 9, 2025
My goodness, what a book. I wish stories like these weren’t necessary, but they are and this one, even in the sadness and grief, was so beautiful. Bea, a young girl with cerebral palsy, survives a shooting at her school and realizes more than ever how much the world isn’t built for her. A novel in verse, we follow Bea in the before and after of the shooting as she navigates through her grief, frustration and eventually her courage to speak out. I loved Bea so much. She was silly and vibrant and I really enjoyed her friendship with Josie and her relationship with Max. I liked seeing her slowly find her way back to herself, especially with horseback riding and how the book showed that healing isn’t linear. I think this is such an important book and I loved the author’s note at the end.
CW: school shooting, grief, child death, injury, ableism, medical content
Thank you to NetGalley, Simon Kids and Atheneum Books for Young Readers for an advanced reader’s copy!
CW: school shooting, grief, child death, injury, ableism, medical content
Thank you to NetGalley, Simon Kids and Atheneum Books for Young Readers for an advanced reader’s copy!
January 28, 2025
This was incredible. So well written. I need to process before I write an actual review.
June 7, 2025
A powerful middle grade novel in verse dealing with a heavy topic. Bea has already survived once: medical problems at birth put her in the NICU at the beginning of her life. Now, with cerebral palsy, she navigates school in a wheelchair with the support of teachers and her foster mom, Max. But then she has to survive again: this time, it's a school shooter. The trauma of the moment stretches into all the moments after, and Bea slowly discovers how to heal -- and how to raise her voice.
.
One of the things I love most about books is what it can teach us about empathy for situations we may never be in, and this one does that:
"Have you ever felt what I've felt?
"Could you try?"
This book is a hard one to read but so beautifully written and so important.
.
One of the things I love most about books is what it can teach us about empathy for situations we may never be in, and this one does that:
"Have you ever felt what I've felt?
"Could you try?"
This book is a hard one to read but so beautifully written and so important.
April 23, 2025
A stunning novel in verse. Highly emotional. The audio was gorgeous.
December 19, 2025
I realized yesterday that it had been a while since I’d experienced a true five-star read. Apparently, the book gods were listening, because Please Pay Attention by Jamie Sumner had just moved to the top of my TBR. I have a rule: if a book moves me to any extreme emotion, if it pulls me in so completely that I feel actual fear or anger, if I laugh out loud or cry, then it earns five stars. This book did all of that, though I have to admit I cried much more than I laughed. I’ve read books about school shootings before, but this one offers a powerful perspective. First, Bea’s guardian/mom works at her school. As a teacher, this immediately reminded me of the many conversations I had with Maggie and Sam when they attended the same school where I worked. Second, Bea is a wheelchair user, which adds another layer of vulnerability and difficulty as she tries to protect herself. Her fear and frustration during the shooting felt painfully real. If you’re a fan of middle-grade verse novels (or even if you're not), I cannot recommend this book enough. Just make sure you have some Kleenex nearby.
May 5, 2025
A harrowing story told in poem form loosely based on a school shooting that occured in the author's hometown. This may be a hard read for some, but I appreciated the sixth-grade voice and the realness of the trauma that often comes with surviving a tragedy such as this.
August 8, 2025
4.5 stars
Please just read this book
Please just read this book
April 22, 2025
Books about school shootings are difficult to read, but this one was done beautifully. Told in verse, this captures Bea before and after the shooting. Highly recommend.
August 19, 2025
Going to have to sit on this one before I review, but initial thoughts are positive.
October 2, 2025
I thought this book would take me days to get through given the tough subject matter. But it was so compelling, and short, that I listened to it in one day. I appreciated that the author delved into the aftermath of a school shooting and the difficult emotional journey each child is going through as told from the lens of this one girl with CP. The shooting not only traumatizes Bea in the ways you would expect, but also distorts her view of herself and how she engages in the world. She also experiences shame about not thinking of a friend during the incident, and I wish the book had delved into this human reaction even more.
This book was a reminder that trauma affects anyone, but especially children, in ways that you cannot predict and can have lifelong implications for how people interact with the world. While Bea's healing process is ongoing at the end of the book, I liked the inclusion of equine therapy and how Bea reformed her understanding of herself and her capabilities through her relationship with the horse and riding.
This book was a reminder that trauma affects anyone, but especially children, in ways that you cannot predict and can have lifelong implications for how people interact with the world. While Bea's healing process is ongoing at the end of the book, I liked the inclusion of equine therapy and how Bea reformed her understanding of herself and her capabilities through her relationship with the horse and riding.
February 26, 2025
TW: Violence, school shooting
This was a poignant story to read, even if I hate books written in verse. I'm giving it 3.5 stars because there were parts I had to read twice to make sure I wasn't missing something important and when I confirmed that in fact, the information I sought was not provided, it left me frustrated.
This is a bare bones description of a school shooting, in terms of no violence is described, merely suggested. Bea's facing the aftermath of the school shooting, including the loss of her teacher and her adopted mom suggests horse therapy. This finally helps her heal.
As I said, I feel a lot was missing from this story. Another book I read, This is Not a Drill by KT Holt, is written in text messages and I thought captures more emotion as the characters are searching for one another. The subchapters of this book are so fleeting and missing information that I don't think this provided the real depth that it could have.
As for politics, I cannot fathom why gun control is such a hot button issue that we continue to have school shootings and the people that can affect such change do not seem to care. Authors and newspapers can write about such tragedy, news channels can show the actual imagery of aftermath and students beg for the ability to be safe going to school and we as a country cannot even give our children peace that at school they won't be shot. Such a sad world it is out there.
Thank you to Atheneum Books for Young Readers and Netgalley for this ARC.
This was a poignant story to read, even if I hate books written in verse. I'm giving it 3.5 stars because there were parts I had to read twice to make sure I wasn't missing something important and when I confirmed that in fact, the information I sought was not provided, it left me frustrated.
This is a bare bones description of a school shooting, in terms of no violence is described, merely suggested. Bea's facing the aftermath of the school shooting, including the loss of her teacher and her adopted mom suggests horse therapy. This finally helps her heal.
As I said, I feel a lot was missing from this story. Another book I read, This is Not a Drill by KT Holt, is written in text messages and I thought captures more emotion as the characters are searching for one another. The subchapters of this book are so fleeting and missing information that I don't think this provided the real depth that it could have.
As for politics, I cannot fathom why gun control is such a hot button issue that we continue to have school shootings and the people that can affect such change do not seem to care. Authors and newspapers can write about such tragedy, news channels can show the actual imagery of aftermath and students beg for the ability to be safe going to school and we as a country cannot even give our children peace that at school they won't be shot. Such a sad world it is out there.
Thank you to Atheneum Books for Young Readers and Netgalley for this ARC.
April 13, 2025
When the shooting took place at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012, my son was 6 years old and in kindergarten. This shooting shook me to the core and literally broke everything inside of me. 13 years later, I still remember those beautiful innocent 6 and 7 year olds who lost their lives that day due to gun violence, along with the school staff; which included a Special Education teacher. My daughter at the time was only 4 and was not yet in school, however, she is special needs and while reading “Please Pay Attention” I was able to relate to Bea, who has Cerebral Palsy. While my daughter has a different condition, children with special needs react differently under certain circumstances and the thought of my child being in a room feeling helpless, not knowing what to do, breaks my heart. I’d be lying if I said I never worry about there being an active shooting at my children’s school. Every time I hear about a school shooting, my mind goes straight to my daughter’s EC classroom, because they’re considered an easy target and it frighten’s me, especially knowing the location of her classroom from the outside. It breaks my heart every time a parent loses a child to school gun violence, because this could have been my child/children. My heart goes out to all parents/families who’ve lost children and/or loved due to gun violence at their school; a place where they should be safe.
“Please Pay Attention” is a children’s beautiful novel dedicated to Katherine Koonce who put her life on the line for the children of The Covenant School on March 27, 2023 when unfortunately, herself along with 3 students and 2 additional staff lost their lives to gun violence. The novel follows the life of a young girl named Bea who has Cerebral Palsy, who lives as best of a normal life as she can, until there’s an active shooting at her school. Afterwards, the novel follows her grief process and finally her healing process. The novel allows you to feel what Bea is experiencing and why she feels the way she does, especially being a child who is special needs and uses a wheelchair. She goes through so many emotions throughout the novel, but grief takes times and there are many ways to heal that brokenness that’s being felt inside your soul; which then it takes time to heal and get back to where you once were.
Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the eARC of Jamie Sumner “Please Pay Attention.”
“Please Pay Attention” is a children’s beautiful novel dedicated to Katherine Koonce who put her life on the line for the children of The Covenant School on March 27, 2023 when unfortunately, herself along with 3 students and 2 additional staff lost their lives to gun violence. The novel follows the life of a young girl named Bea who has Cerebral Palsy, who lives as best of a normal life as she can, until there’s an active shooting at her school. Afterwards, the novel follows her grief process and finally her healing process. The novel allows you to feel what Bea is experiencing and why she feels the way she does, especially being a child who is special needs and uses a wheelchair. She goes through so many emotions throughout the novel, but grief takes times and there are many ways to heal that brokenness that’s being felt inside your soul; which then it takes time to heal and get back to where you once were.
Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the eARC of Jamie Sumner “Please Pay Attention.”
February 9, 2025
5 stars
When Jamie Sumner demands I pay attention, I absolutely do, and it's impossible not to when it comes to this heartwrenching novel and the challenge of separating the characters' experiences from what we all encounter far too often in modern society.
Young Bea is living her best life in the most expected place - school - when what used to be the unthinkable and is now becoming a far too regular occurrence happens: a shooting. Readers follow Bea through the experience, starting with a reflection on it and working back through the event and some of her processing. This is exactly the kind of book that the people who most need to read will be the first to say is too inappropriate for its young audience (and they, of course, will be dead wrong...again).
As usual, Sumner brings a youthful, realistic perspective to her middle grade protagonist. I wish - as we all do - that children didn't have to think about these kinds of experiences in modern society, but as they do, it's extra important that they see these horrors depicted in age appropriate texts. Sumner does a real service not only in explaining the unimaginable experience and impacts to this target audience but also forcing more seasoned readers to face this horrible pairing of young people and deadly incidents.
I wish we didn't need a book like this. Since we do, I'm glad we have one that's so well devised. This is another solid effort from Sumner, and it's one I'll be recommending to my own students.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Atheneum Books for Young Readers for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
When Jamie Sumner demands I pay attention, I absolutely do, and it's impossible not to when it comes to this heartwrenching novel and the challenge of separating the characters' experiences from what we all encounter far too often in modern society.
Young Bea is living her best life in the most expected place - school - when what used to be the unthinkable and is now becoming a far too regular occurrence happens: a shooting. Readers follow Bea through the experience, starting with a reflection on it and working back through the event and some of her processing. This is exactly the kind of book that the people who most need to read will be the first to say is too inappropriate for its young audience (and they, of course, will be dead wrong...again).
As usual, Sumner brings a youthful, realistic perspective to her middle grade protagonist. I wish - as we all do - that children didn't have to think about these kinds of experiences in modern society, but as they do, it's extra important that they see these horrors depicted in age appropriate texts. Sumner does a real service not only in explaining the unimaginable experience and impacts to this target audience but also forcing more seasoned readers to face this horrible pairing of young people and deadly incidents.
I wish we didn't need a book like this. Since we do, I'm glad we have one that's so well devised. This is another solid effort from Sumner, and it's one I'll be recommending to my own students.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Atheneum Books for Young Readers for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
February 8, 2025
There's a school shooting. But let's take a step back. Bea is a pretty normal middle schooler who happens to have cerebral palsy and was fostered/adopted by Max when she was very young. But then the school seems to explode around her, and she experiences PTSD. Horse therapy offers some hope for healing, but it cannot take away from the fact that school shootings should not happen.
I'd like to take a moment to complain that there aren't very many moments when this book feels like a novel in verse, but the few lines that really take advantage of the form do it well. This would be okay as an audiobook.
In many ways, this isn't as much a story as a call to action, but by using narrative elements and creating such a compelling character in Bea, Jamie Sumner invites anyone to empathize with the situation and recognize that there are ways to fight against school violence. I love how complex Bea is and the ways that we get to see her disability as well as her ability. There are humorous moments and tragic moments throughout this book. I would recommend it to elementary and middle school students who want to know more about what happens after a school shooting, particularly what it means to heal as a community. I would also advise those in government to consider Bea's words.
Thank you to Atheneum Books and NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
I'd like to take a moment to complain that there aren't very many moments when this book feels like a novel in verse, but the few lines that really take advantage of the form do it well. This would be okay as an audiobook.
In many ways, this isn't as much a story as a call to action, but by using narrative elements and creating such a compelling character in Bea, Jamie Sumner invites anyone to empathize with the situation and recognize that there are ways to fight against school violence. I love how complex Bea is and the ways that we get to see her disability as well as her ability. There are humorous moments and tragic moments throughout this book. I would recommend it to elementary and middle school students who want to know more about what happens after a school shooting, particularly what it means to heal as a community. I would also advise those in government to consider Bea's words.
Thank you to Atheneum Books and NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
June 21, 2025
Please Pay Attention is a letter told in POWERFUL verse from a student named Bea. She is a sixth grader with cerebral palsy, living with her adopted mom who also happens to be the school nurse. Bea loves magic tricks, her little, Josie, the sound of birds chirping, and doodling on “illegal” surfaces. All of this changes one morning when a shooter comes into her school, Cedar Crest. This story goes through Bea’s journey of healing from the trauma her community has endured.
“I throw my arms around his neck
and whisper, “Thank you for being my buddy.” (Sumner 213)
I was encapsulated by this book and although it was a quick read, it held lots of power. The heavy topic of child loss and a traumatic shooting was written in the way that it was easy to digest for people of all ages. Those topics are ones that get stuck in your throat and make your mouth go completely dry, but Jamie Sumner was able to write about them in ways that made the reader feel like they needed to keep turning the pages since Bea was strong enough to keep surviving. By the end chapters, tears were streaming down my face and snot was running down my nose, which was quite embarrassing to be happening on the airplane…. But nevertheless this book was powerful and I would recommend it to everyone. It was heavy and dark, but also hopeful and made me want to take a stand. I thought the strongest part of this story is that it is written in free verse being narrated by a sixth-grader. It brought a sense of softness to such hard topics. I think this book is important, especially for middle schoolers because it teaches several important lessons and unlocks new emotions.
“I throw my arms around his neck
and whisper, “Thank you for being my buddy.” (Sumner 213)
I was encapsulated by this book and although it was a quick read, it held lots of power. The heavy topic of child loss and a traumatic shooting was written in the way that it was easy to digest for people of all ages. Those topics are ones that get stuck in your throat and make your mouth go completely dry, but Jamie Sumner was able to write about them in ways that made the reader feel like they needed to keep turning the pages since Bea was strong enough to keep surviving. By the end chapters, tears were streaming down my face and snot was running down my nose, which was quite embarrassing to be happening on the airplane…. But nevertheless this book was powerful and I would recommend it to everyone. It was heavy and dark, but also hopeful and made me want to take a stand. I thought the strongest part of this story is that it is written in free verse being narrated by a sixth-grader. It brought a sense of softness to such hard topics. I think this book is important, especially for middle schoolers because it teaches several important lessons and unlocks new emotions.
August 21, 2025
This book was so raw and real. Incredible read!!! The message is so clear and tangible that I felt like I could connect with Bea and her story. I’ve been trained for active shooters, I know it’s quick, but to have it broken down in the eyes of a child are horrifying. The time stamps on the chapters bring it to life. The verse and position of every word in the book makes me feel the emotion. This was so impactful and everyone should read it.
2 things I think are worth highlighting:
1. I’ve NEVER thought about people who need special accommodations in those situations. How extra horrifying must that have been knowing she couldn’t “run” from the danger. I am going to be way more aware of the people around me and how I can help them too.
2. They do not talk about the shooter!!! They mention him a tiny bit, but that’s it. That’s how it should be treated everywhere!! This was about the victims, the community, the healing. It mentions that people often want the “why,” but I think people go to far to get the answers. They forget who is actually important here. The victims both gone and surviving. Get the answers needed to help prevent this happening again and move past the shooter. Focus on why we need change.
I also loved learning my about Equestrian Therapy! I’m definitely looking that up.
2 things I think are worth highlighting:
1. I’ve NEVER thought about people who need special accommodations in those situations. How extra horrifying must that have been knowing she couldn’t “run” from the danger. I am going to be way more aware of the people around me and how I can help them too.
2. They do not talk about the shooter!!! They mention him a tiny bit, but that’s it. That’s how it should be treated everywhere!! This was about the victims, the community, the healing. It mentions that people often want the “why,” but I think people go to far to get the answers. They forget who is actually important here. The victims both gone and surviving. Get the answers needed to help prevent this happening again and move past the shooter. Focus on why we need change.
I also loved learning my about Equestrian Therapy! I’m definitely looking that up.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 17, 2025
I typically don’t even rate books. If I finish them, you can assume I liked them.
This books is different.
Bea is a girl in a wheelchair who experiences a school shooting. I’m running across the school shooting theme a lot lately, which tells me that it’s becoming mainstream, and that genuinely hurts my soul. How I wish these stories didn’t exist because it was a thing no one could even imagine happening. But it happens, and now kids are reading about it more and more.
This particular book is a novel in verse, which makes it a quick read. The way that the author, Jamie Sumner, uses verse helps to add to the punch of the story. I’m glad I read this one on paper (I almost never read paper books anymore), not just so I could see the way the words were placed on the pages, but so I could hug it to me when I was finished. After I cried, then read the last two pages aloud to my husband. While crying. And as I said to him, I abhor the fact that we can’t take care of our children. And I hate even more that the people who really need to absorb the message in “Please Pay Attention” will never read it, and will never care.
This books is different.
Bea is a girl in a wheelchair who experiences a school shooting. I’m running across the school shooting theme a lot lately, which tells me that it’s becoming mainstream, and that genuinely hurts my soul. How I wish these stories didn’t exist because it was a thing no one could even imagine happening. But it happens, and now kids are reading about it more and more.
This particular book is a novel in verse, which makes it a quick read. The way that the author, Jamie Sumner, uses verse helps to add to the punch of the story. I’m glad I read this one on paper (I almost never read paper books anymore), not just so I could see the way the words were placed on the pages, but so I could hug it to me when I was finished. After I cried, then read the last two pages aloud to my husband. While crying. And as I said to him, I abhor the fact that we can’t take care of our children. And I hate even more that the people who really need to absorb the message in “Please Pay Attention” will never read it, and will never care.
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