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Saving Sycamore: The School Shooting That Never Happened
The Power of Faith, Hope, and Relationships On September 28, 2016, school counselor Molly Hudgens was in her office at Sycamore Middle School when a fourteen-year-old armed with a semiautomatic handgun and an additional magazine of ammunition came to her in the counseling department. His plan was to kill people on campus. He told Hudgens she was the only person who could talk him out of it. After ninety minutes of talking with the young man, and ultimately praying on her knees with him, he relinquished the gun with no shots fired and no lives lost. In this memoir, Hudgens shares the story of that day and the thirty-nine years and 364 days leading up to it that prepared her for the best and worst day of her life. Her story is one of triumph over adversity and hope found in the bleakest of moments. As Hudgens walks readers through the incident, she shares how her faith, rapport with the student, and a strong school community guided her efforts and provided a positive outcome that day.
How do you have compassion for a student sitting in your office with a loaded gun and the desire to kill? Saving Sycamore is the remarkable story of a woman whose compassion was stronger than the homicidal rage in the heart of a desperate student. —Peter Langman , PhD, author of School Understanding High School, College, and Adult Perpetrators ; director of Research and School Safety Training, Drift Net Securities Saving Sycamore illustrates Molly’s leadership, compassion, faith, and vulnerability when the members of her school community needed her most on that fateful day and in the aftermath. This is a book about a faith journey. —Frank DeAngelis , principal of Columbine High School, 1996–2014; author of They Call Me “Mr. De”: The Story of Columbine’s Heart, Resilience, and Recovery Saving Sycamore is a must-read to learn how God worked to truly save lives at Sycamore Middle School. —Major General William B. Raines, Jr. , USA (retired); Charles H. Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center Executive Board
How do you have compassion for a student sitting in your office with a loaded gun and the desire to kill? Saving Sycamore is the remarkable story of a woman whose compassion was stronger than the homicidal rage in the heart of a desperate student. —Peter Langman , PhD, author of School Understanding High School, College, and Adult Perpetrators ; director of Research and School Safety Training, Drift Net Securities Saving Sycamore illustrates Molly’s leadership, compassion, faith, and vulnerability when the members of her school community needed her most on that fateful day and in the aftermath. This is a book about a faith journey. —Frank DeAngelis , principal of Columbine High School, 1996–2014; author of They Call Me “Mr. De”: The Story of Columbine’s Heart, Resilience, and Recovery Saving Sycamore is a must-read to learn how God worked to truly save lives at Sycamore Middle School. —Major General William B. Raines, Jr. , USA (retired); Charles H. Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center Executive Board
- GenresBook Club
174 pages, Paperback
Published October 4, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
March 26, 2025
This is the story of how the author talked a student out of engaging in violence with a firearm at the school where she was a guidance counselor. That's a pretty amazing thing to do. That said, the book was not for me.
The author is devoutly Christian and says that's what helped make the positive intervention, which, great. She goes on to say that God essentially trained for her entire life to be ready for that moment. This is where things start to get sticky for me. I do think all of the work, research, education, and training she did her whole life prepared her to meet the moment. That seems obvious. Saying God did that raises the obvious question of where was God when the shootings in Sandy Hook, Parkland, Uvalde, or any of the long list of places where tragedies occurred.
The author leaves out almost all of the information about the student, which is great to protect his privacy but makes the book a lot less interesting. Another, stronger, way to protect his privacy? Not writing a book about the incident.
The author works with Safe and Sound Schools, which does not promote gun control and believes that in certain cases teachers should be armed. Both stances are deeply disappointing and would seem to run counter to the lessons to be taken from the book.
Finally, and this is just conjecture, but the author is a white woman who is devoutly Christian, a gun owner, in rural Tennessee, so it seems very likely that she voted a certain way in the last election and that really rubs the wrong way. I know that's not fair since I can't be certain but I still can't escape it.
The author is devoutly Christian and says that's what helped make the positive intervention, which, great. She goes on to say that God essentially trained for her entire life to be ready for that moment. This is where things start to get sticky for me. I do think all of the work, research, education, and training she did her whole life prepared her to meet the moment. That seems obvious. Saying God did that raises the obvious question of where was God when the shootings in Sandy Hook, Parkland, Uvalde, or any of the long list of places where tragedies occurred.
The author leaves out almost all of the information about the student, which is great to protect his privacy but makes the book a lot less interesting. Another, stronger, way to protect his privacy? Not writing a book about the incident.
The author works with Safe and Sound Schools, which does not promote gun control and believes that in certain cases teachers should be armed. Both stances are deeply disappointing and would seem to run counter to the lessons to be taken from the book.
Finally, and this is just conjecture, but the author is a white woman who is devoutly Christian, a gun owner, in rural Tennessee, so it seems very likely that she voted a certain way in the last election and that really rubs the wrong way. I know that's not fair since I can't be certain but I still can't escape it.
October 15, 2020
No matter if you are a parent, student, educator or administrator this book is a MUST read for anyone with ties to a school system. Saving Sycamore offers a first-hand account of a would be school shooting. Fortunately for the staff and students of a rural school in Middle Tennessee a potentially fatal event never occurred thanks to a middle grades guidance counselor, Molly Hudgens.
Molly has gone on to receive a Medal of Honor for her bravery on that fateful day that could have been catastrophic for a small community in Cheatham County, Tennessee.
Scripture and faith have led Mrs. Hudgens down the path to heroism and a legacy that will live on in her small town for years to come. Saving Sycamore is an eye-opening look at what one educator went through to save her students and her school from disaster.
Molly has gone on to receive a Medal of Honor for her bravery on that fateful day that could have been catastrophic for a small community in Cheatham County, Tennessee.
Scripture and faith have led Mrs. Hudgens down the path to heroism and a legacy that will live on in her small town for years to come. Saving Sycamore is an eye-opening look at what one educator went through to save her students and her school from disaster.
November 15, 2022
I respect that this is a book in which a woman who has done something amazing and been through something incredibly difficult tells her story. I think this book is valuable in that you hear what she experienced and how she processed it. What brought the rating down for me is that I wasn’t expecting to read the equivalent of a church sermon. This doesn’t make the book bad, it just makes it not for me.
July 25, 2023
Just wow! Inspirational and beautiful!
February 11, 2024
Part of reading a book is relating to the characters. I so related to Molly!! As a special education teacher in a small school I became a safe place for not only my students but many others in the school who sought a listening, caring ear. Middle school is a very hard time for many students. Most are trying to find themselves and are at the confusing stage between childhood and adulthood. Even the seemingly adjusted kids are confused. Adding mental illness to the mix presents even more conflict. How great it would be to have a Molly in every school.
November 19, 2024
I heard about this book through a podcast called Medal of Honor, hosted by Malcolm Gladwell. The author is the recipient of the Civilian Medal of Honor, for her heroism is diffusing a possible school shooting in 2016.
The subject matter is so difficult to read about, but thankfully this story does not have a tragic ending.
This book should be mandatory reading for all people that work at a school. The way she stayed calm, listened to the student, treated them with respect while also working to get them to turn the weapon over to her are vital to keeping everyone at the school safe.
The subject matter is so difficult to read about, but thankfully this story does not have a tragic ending.
This book should be mandatory reading for all people that work at a school. The way she stayed calm, listened to the student, treated them with respect while also working to get them to turn the weapon over to her are vital to keeping everyone at the school safe.
December 20, 2020
Powerful read!
What a wonderful read! I am so thankful for Molly’s ability to share such a powerful story with a wider audience. She intertwines these two messages in every chapter: (1) God has a purpose for each of us and (2) today’s lessons are preparing is for tomorrow’s events. I am thankful I found this book. I read it in one sitting and will remember the messages daily. Thank you, Molly!
What a wonderful read! I am so thankful for Molly’s ability to share such a powerful story with a wider audience. She intertwines these two messages in every chapter: (1) God has a purpose for each of us and (2) today’s lessons are preparing is for tomorrow’s events. I am thankful I found this book. I read it in one sitting and will remember the messages daily. Thank you, Molly!
October 27, 2025
This book truly was an emotional read for me. As a teacher, it is the one scary event that we all hope never happens. The author breaks down that day and how she was the person who would help that child. As teachers we ALL would walk through fire for any of our students, and if not then you are in the wrong profession. I would highly recommend this book!
October 27, 2020
An excellent telling of how a guidance counselors life and faith prepared her for the most horrific moment someone can imagine. Thoroughly enjoyed the hope and faith that was shared. You will not be disappointed.
May 19, 2023
Very inspirational story - thankful for Molly’s willingness to share her story
January 2, 2024
Recommend all counselors, teachers, anybody in education to read. This book illustrates how important rapport with students matters.
December 27, 2024
Giving God ALL the credit for each and every step and purpose in her life. Trust in the Master Designer enabled Molly to do amazing things.
January 27, 2026
What a wonderful testimony of faith and trust in God!
January 2, 2023
Molly is inspirational to say the least. I had the privilege of meeting her and hearing this testimony in person as well. Her faith is astounding!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews