What do you think?
How We Ricochet
Intimate, impactful, and incisive, this newest novel from Faith Gardner, critically acclaimed author of Girl on the Line, is an unflinching look into the devastating consequences of a mass shooting for one girl and her close-knit family, for readers of This Is How It Ends and All the Bright Places.
It seems sometimes a charade that we continue celebrating in the face of relentless tragedy.
How dare we? But then . . . what else is there to do?
Betty’s mom needed new pants for her job.
That was why Betty was at the mall with her mom and sister when the shooting started.
Afterward, nothing is the same.
There are no easy answers to be found, and Betty’s search for them leads her to Michael, the brother of the shooter. But this path only shows Betty one thing: that everything she thought she knew—about herself, about the world around her—can change in a heartbeat.
A moving, powerful journey of life after tragedy, How We Ricochet is an unflinching and necessary story for our time that will resonate with readers everywhere.
It seems sometimes a charade that we continue celebrating in the face of relentless tragedy.
How dare we? But then . . . what else is there to do?
Betty’s mom needed new pants for her job.
That was why Betty was at the mall with her mom and sister when the shooting started.
Afterward, nothing is the same.
There are no easy answers to be found, and Betty’s search for them leads her to Michael, the brother of the shooter. But this path only shows Betty one thing: that everything she thought she knew—about herself, about the world around her—can change in a heartbeat.
A moving, powerful journey of life after tragedy, How We Ricochet is an unflinching and necessary story for our time that will resonate with readers everywhere.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published May 24, 2022
About the author
Faith Gardner
25 books1,470 followersFaith Gardner is the author of adult suspense and YA novels. She lives in the Bay Area with her family.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
July 2, 2022
An unfortunately always timely story of the aftermath of a shooting at a mall that Betty and her mother and sister were visiting, this shows us the different ways people can try and pick up the pieces after a horrific act of violence.
Betty tries to find some way to grasp back some control over her life and understand what led up to the situation she was in, leading to her going to far and trying to control the people around her too, particularly her sister.
Betty's sister Joy, who was once part of the goth scene, never at home, always on to the next gig, shuts herself in her room - and doesn't leave for several months. It was difficult seeing her spiral further and further while being largely unnoticed or seen as a burden by her mother and sister.
Betty's mom I really didn't like. Choosing to do interviews, and trying to change the laws around guns I fully understood, but when it came to her daughters she just did not care. She just wanted to talk about herself, and her work, and when Joy really started spiralling she chose to up and leave instead.
Despite some frustration with the characters, the story was beautifully told, and I really enjoyed the ending, which felt realistic but also gave me hope for Betty and her family's future as they move on to the next stages of their lives.
Betty tries to find some way to grasp back some control over her life and understand what led up to the situation she was in, leading to her going to far and trying to control the people around her too, particularly her sister.
Betty's sister Joy, who was once part of the goth scene, never at home, always on to the next gig, shuts herself in her room - and doesn't leave for several months. It was difficult seeing her spiral further and further while being largely unnoticed or seen as a burden by her mother and sister.
Betty's mom I really didn't like. Choosing to do interviews, and trying to change the laws around guns I fully understood, but when it came to her daughters she just did not care. She just wanted to talk about herself, and her work, and when Joy really started spiralling she chose to up and leave instead.
Despite some frustration with the characters, the story was beautifully told, and I really enjoyed the ending, which felt realistic but also gave me hope for Betty and her family's future as they move on to the next stages of their lives.
March 31, 2022
How We Ricochet
by Faith Gardner
HarperCollins Children's Books, HarperTeen
Pub Date: May 24
This explosive novel with its spectacular cover reveals the impact of a mass shooting event on survivors.
Betty, her Mom, and her sister head to the mall for pants for the Mom's new job. Betty, who goes next door for a cupcake, hears gunfire and runs to find her family. She encounters the gunman, who shoots himself right in front of her. She and her family survive, but not without profound consequences to their lives.
Her Mom copes by getting involved in gun control. Her sister becomes agoraphobic and develops a substance abuse disorder. Betty tries to keep everybody together, and reaches out to the shooter's brother for answers.
How do people survive such trauma and move toward healing? This sensitive tale shows each character's difficult path to recovery from an event that could happen to any of us. Written for readers 13 and older, and highly recommended!
Thanks to the author, HarperCollins Children's Books, HarperTeen, and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine.
#HowWeRicochet #FaithGardner#HarperTeen #NetGalley #TeenYAFiction #impactmassshootingonsurvivorsfiction #SanFranFictionNovel #tragedyinfiction #howtoovercometragedyfiction #PTSD #agoraphobia #substanceusedisorder
#bookstagramcommunity
by Faith Gardner
HarperCollins Children's Books, HarperTeen
Pub Date: May 24
This explosive novel with its spectacular cover reveals the impact of a mass shooting event on survivors.
Betty, her Mom, and her sister head to the mall for pants for the Mom's new job. Betty, who goes next door for a cupcake, hears gunfire and runs to find her family. She encounters the gunman, who shoots himself right in front of her. She and her family survive, but not without profound consequences to their lives.
Her Mom copes by getting involved in gun control. Her sister becomes agoraphobic and develops a substance abuse disorder. Betty tries to keep everybody together, and reaches out to the shooter's brother for answers.
How do people survive such trauma and move toward healing? This sensitive tale shows each character's difficult path to recovery from an event that could happen to any of us. Written for readers 13 and older, and highly recommended!
Thanks to the author, HarperCollins Children's Books, HarperTeen, and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine.
#HowWeRicochet #FaithGardner#HarperTeen #NetGalley #TeenYAFiction #impactmassshootingonsurvivorsfiction #SanFranFictionNovel #tragedyinfiction #howtoovercometragedyfiction #PTSD #agoraphobia #substanceusedisorder
#bookstagramcommunity
July 4, 2023
To jest jedna z tych trudnych do oceny gwiazdkowej książek, bo opisywane sytuacje nigdy nie są biało-czarne, bo nasze przeżycia nigdy nie wyglądają identycznie; nie mogę ich ocenić i mówić o realizmie czy odpowiednio skonstruowanych postaciach – bo taka trauma na każdym z nas odciśnie zupełnie inne piętno.
Betty, razem z siostrą i matką, dostają rykoszetem. Ale nie fizycznym, a emocjonalnym. Są świadkami strzelaniny w galerii handlowej, cudem umykają spod kosy kostuchy, ale te wydarzenia całkowicie zmieniają ich spojrzenie na świat i plany na przyszłość: matka staje się aktywistką, chce przeciwdziałać powszechnemu dostępowi do broni, udziela się politycznie i charytatywnie, by zapewnić bezpieczną przyszłość swoim córkom; Joy nie wychodzi z domu, boi się miejsc, które mogłyby stanowić kolejny cel napastnika, popada w uzależnienia. A Betty? Cóż, Betty będzie próbowała posklejać całą rodzinę. Jednocześnie postanowi sprawdzić, co kierowało młodym terrorystą, poznać jego pobudki, by ustrzec się przed kolejnymi atakami, zauważając czerwone flagi znacznie wcześniej.
Podczas lektury często będziemy się irytować. Irytować na bohaterki i ich decyzje, bo nie zawsze będą one w pełni racjonalne i zrozumiałe. To nie jest okej, że młoda Betty musi niejako utrzymywać całą rodzinę i pilnować starszej siostry odgrywając rolę matki. To nie jest okej, że Joy, będąc w takim stanie, nie otrzymała żadnej pomocy psychologicznej, że matka po prostu pozwala jej siedzieć bezpiecznie w domu, nie próbując z nią porozmawiać. To nie jest okej, że matka zostawia dwie młode córki i wyjeżdża do innego miasta, by występować w telewizji i prasie, co prawda z dobrych pobudek, jednak na tyle ślepo wierząc swój cel, żeby zostawić nieradzące sobie z życiem dzieci same sobie. Tylko że właśnie, to są bardzo indywidualne przeżycia, na każdej osobie taka trauma odbiłaby całkiem inne piętno, i nie jesteśmy w stanie powiedzieć, jak my byśmy zachowali się w takiej sytuacji, co dokładnie kryje się w głowie bohaterów, bo dopiero pod koniec książki, kiedy decydują się na poważną rozmowę, okazuje się, dlaczego robią to, co robią. Tego nie powinno się oceniać. Nie wiemy, co zrobilibyśmy w takiej sytuacji, jaką przemianę przeszłoby każde z nas.
Mogę ocenić styl książki, który jest prosty, przystępny, dla młodzieży, a jednocześnie wciąż starający się działać na emocje oraz stosować naprawdę zgrabne poetyckie metafory. Mogę ocenić poszczególne wątki, na przykład nie do końca podoba mi się fakt wprowadzenia w fabułę romansu. Wydaje mi się, że, literacko, lepiej wypadłoby, gdyby bohaterowie do końca szli za swoim celem pod tytułem "robię to ze względu na wydarzenia z galerii" i aby nie zmieniało się to w romantyczne uczucie. Jest wiele elementów, przez które oceniłabym tę książkę, jako książkę samą w sobie, za dość średnią.
Jednak "Rany, których nie widać" to historia, która dostarczy nam wielu emocji, nie tylko ze względu na samą fabułę i próbę wczucia się w historię, chociaż nikt nie chciałby przeżyć tego samego, ale także ze względu na decyzje autorskie i bohaterskie, przy których niejednokrotnie złapiemy się za głowę – tylko weźmy pod uwagę, że -na szczęście- nie jesteśmy na ich miejscu. Bo na ich miejscu ciężko wymagać racjonalizmu.
Pełna opinia w Reading vlogu: https://youtu.be/PNs1VkD9jRk
Betty, razem z siostrą i matką, dostają rykoszetem. Ale nie fizycznym, a emocjonalnym. Są świadkami strzelaniny w galerii handlowej, cudem umykają spod kosy kostuchy, ale te wydarzenia całkowicie zmieniają ich spojrzenie na świat i plany na przyszłość: matka staje się aktywistką, chce przeciwdziałać powszechnemu dostępowi do broni, udziela się politycznie i charytatywnie, by zapewnić bezpieczną przyszłość swoim córkom; Joy nie wychodzi z domu, boi się miejsc, które mogłyby stanowić kolejny cel napastnika, popada w uzależnienia. A Betty? Cóż, Betty będzie próbowała posklejać całą rodzinę. Jednocześnie postanowi sprawdzić, co kierowało młodym terrorystą, poznać jego pobudki, by ustrzec się przed kolejnymi atakami, zauważając czerwone flagi znacznie wcześniej.
Podczas lektury często będziemy się irytować. Irytować na bohaterki i ich decyzje, bo nie zawsze będą one w pełni racjonalne i zrozumiałe. To nie jest okej, że młoda Betty musi niejako utrzymywać całą rodzinę i pilnować starszej siostry odgrywając rolę matki. To nie jest okej, że Joy, będąc w takim stanie, nie otrzymała żadnej pomocy psychologicznej, że matka po prostu pozwala jej siedzieć bezpiecznie w domu, nie próbując z nią porozmawiać. To nie jest okej, że matka zostawia dwie młode córki i wyjeżdża do innego miasta, by występować w telewizji i prasie, co prawda z dobrych pobudek, jednak na tyle ślepo wierząc swój cel, żeby zostawić nieradzące sobie z życiem dzieci same sobie. Tylko że właśnie, to są bardzo indywidualne przeżycia, na każdej osobie taka trauma odbiłaby całkiem inne piętno, i nie jesteśmy w stanie powiedzieć, jak my byśmy zachowali się w takiej sytuacji, co dokładnie kryje się w głowie bohaterów, bo dopiero pod koniec książki, kiedy decydują się na poważną rozmowę, okazuje się, dlaczego robią to, co robią. Tego nie powinno się oceniać. Nie wiemy, co zrobilibyśmy w takiej sytuacji, jaką przemianę przeszłoby każde z nas.
Mogę ocenić styl książki, który jest prosty, przystępny, dla młodzieży, a jednocześnie wciąż starający się działać na emocje oraz stosować naprawdę zgrabne poetyckie metafory. Mogę ocenić poszczególne wątki, na przykład nie do końca podoba mi się fakt wprowadzenia w fabułę romansu. Wydaje mi się, że, literacko, lepiej wypadłoby, gdyby bohaterowie do końca szli za swoim celem pod tytułem "robię to ze względu na wydarzenia z galerii" i aby nie zmieniało się to w romantyczne uczucie. Jest wiele elementów, przez które oceniłabym tę książkę, jako książkę samą w sobie, za dość średnią.
Jednak "Rany, których nie widać" to historia, która dostarczy nam wielu emocji, nie tylko ze względu na samą fabułę i próbę wczucia się w historię, chociaż nikt nie chciałby przeżyć tego samego, ale także ze względu na decyzje autorskie i bohaterskie, przy których niejednokrotnie złapiemy się za głowę – tylko weźmy pod uwagę, że -na szczęście- nie jesteśmy na ich miejscu. Bo na ich miejscu ciężko wymagać racjonalizmu.
Pełna opinia w Reading vlogu: https://youtu.be/PNs1VkD9jRk
July 15, 2023
"ale przede wszystkim musimy spróbować zrozumieć człowieka, a żeby zrozumieć człowieka, musimy zrozumieć tych, którzy są najbliżej nas"
mam wrażenie, że ta książka, chociaż porusza ważny temat, to tak po prostu przeze mnie przeleciała. irytowały mnie zachowania bohaterek, nawet tej głównej.
nie mnie oceniać zachowania osób, które przeżyły to, co one, ponieważ nie byłam w takiej sytuacji, natomiast... frustrowałam się. i to nawet nie była frustracja czy irytacja pełna złości, to było raczej coś w rodzaju "hej, rozumiem cię, to normalne, ale nie podoba mi się, że musiałaś przez to przetrwać".
co nie zmienia faktu, że spodziewałam się czegoś o wiele lepszego.
mam wrażenie, że ta książka, chociaż porusza ważny temat, to tak po prostu przeze mnie przeleciała. irytowały mnie zachowania bohaterek, nawet tej głównej.
nie mnie oceniać zachowania osób, które przeżyły to, co one, ponieważ nie byłam w takiej sytuacji, natomiast... frustrowałam się. i to nawet nie była frustracja czy irytacja pełna złości, to było raczej coś w rodzaju "hej, rozumiem cię, to normalne, ale nie podoba mi się, że musiałaś przez to przetrwać".
co nie zmienia faktu, że spodziewałam się czegoś o wiele lepszego.
July 20, 2025
Nie wiem kto zawalił - autor czy tłumacz.
“Serce kołatało mi w żebra” (a nie żebrach?!)
“Spokojnie, porozmawiam mu o tym”
“Jadł miękki pretzel”
Czytanie tego bolało, nawet nie mogłam zwrócić uwagi na fabułę.
“Serce kołatało mi w żebra” (a nie żebrach?!)
“Spokojnie, porozmawiam mu o tym”
“Jadł miękki pretzel”
Czytanie tego bolało, nawet nie mogłam zwrócić uwagi na fabułę.
April 21, 2024
I liked this well enough, while we were able to see into Betty's feelings and thoughts, I don't feel we really got to know Betty. She's more of a 3rd party observer for what's actually happening. Maybe what happened didn't happen to Betty directly but I still feel she should've been given the same level of care. It really shows how some people fall through the cracks of a mass trauma.
September 9, 2023
Książka podejmuje tematykę masowych strzelanin w miejscach publicznych. W tym konkretnym wypadku dochodzi do strzelaniny w centrum handlowym. Biorą w niej udział siostra oraz matka głównej bohaterki. Fabuła skupia się na tym jak to wydarzenie wpłynęło na ich życie, czy można było temu zapobiec, a jeśli tak to w jaki sposób. Miałam bardzo duże oczekiwania względem tej pozycji, niestety okazała się ona dużym rozczarowaniem. Trochę ciężko jest mi oceniać zachowania bohaterek bo jednak to co przeszły było traumatyczne. Nie zmienia to jednak faktu, że totalnie nie umiałam się z nimi zżyć, bardziej mnie denerwowały niż uruchamiały jakieś pokłady empatii. Być może miało to pokazać, że w obliczu zagrożenia każdy będzie inaczej radził sobie z rzeczywistością. Tak czy inaczej szczególnie działała mi na nerwy matka Joy i Betty o ojcu nie wspominając. Taki, a nie inny odbiór może wynikać z tego, że po prostu nie rozumiem motywów ich postępowania. Totalnie abstrahując od denerwujących zachowań- nie polubiłam się z żadnym z bohaterów no może oprócz Michaela. On wydawał się być takim słoneczkiem mimo wszystkich trudności, które go spotkały. Momentami książka strasznie topornie napisana, miałam wrażenie, że pojawiły się jakieś błędy i dziury w redakcji. Mimo swej niewielkiej objętości zajęła mi strasznie dużo czasu, końcówka dłużyła się niemiłosiernie. Na mojej ocenie zaważył właśnie sposób rozwiązania tej historii, który chyba nie do końca mnie satysfakcjonuje. W ogólnym rozrachunku jest to trochę zmarnowany potencjał, który po prostu do mnie nie przemówił. Doceniam za podjęcie takiej, a nie innej tematyki, która wciąż chyba stosunkowo rzadko przewija się w literaturze. Szczególnie w tej kierowanej dla młodszych osób. Można z niej wyciągnąć kilka kwestii do przemyślenia i skupienia się na nich, niestety wszystkie te aspekty, które mi się nie spodobały przyćmiły resztę :((
June 18, 2022
How We Ricochet is a timely YA piece about a family dealing with the aftermath of being present at a mass shooting at a mall. This mother and two daughters are going about their lives and suddenly they are forced to face their own mortality. This leaves them each spinning in wildly different directions. Mom becomes an anti-gun activist, Joy becomes a complete shut-in masking her fears with substances and Betty, our main character, finds herself drawn to the brother of the shooter. Each are trying to understand what happened, why them and how to cope with grief and survivor's guilt. I thought this was really well thought out, we saw lots of different perspectives of coping with fear and grief as well as some teen angst and adult denial. I really loved the three different perspectives because they each were equal measures rational and irrational.
This is a quick read but certainly not an easy one. I want to say today's teens live in a different world but frankly Columbine happened when I was in high school and that was literally decades ago, so unfortunately, the world feels like it's just repeating itself over and over leaving more victims of grief. This one will definitely tug on your heart and give you plenty to think about.
Thanks to Harper Teen for the gifted copy. All opinions above are my own.
This is a quick read but certainly not an easy one. I want to say today's teens live in a different world but frankly Columbine happened when I was in high school and that was literally decades ago, so unfortunately, the world feels like it's just repeating itself over and over leaving more victims of grief. This one will definitely tug on your heart and give you plenty to think about.
Thanks to Harper Teen for the gifted copy. All opinions above are my own.
June 13, 2023
Ta książka miała mieć takie mocne 4, ale umówmy się, że jest 3.75.
Jest dobra. Jest naprawdę dobra, jest ładnie napisana, zaczyna się mocno i dosadnie, od razu od momentu, który interesuje czytelnika. A potem akcja zwalnia na ponad 100 stron i to dość drastycznie. No bo nic ciekawego się nie dzieje. Od części 2 tej książki ciężko jest powiedzieć, że ta książka zaskakuje. Zakończenie i w ogóle ostatnie rozdziały trochę nadrobiły. Ważny temat, przede wszystkim poruszono rzeczywisty problem. Myślę że narracja najwięcej dodaje tej historii. Gdyby nie to, jak jest napisana, mogłaby mieć słabszą ocenę.
Przez dużą swoją część ta opowieść mnie wciągnęła i pozytywnie zaskoczyła. Jest trochę w stylu tego co czytałam w 2020 roku. Można było jednak jeszcze ciut lepiej to pociągnąć, ale i tak jest SUPER!
Jest dobra. Jest naprawdę dobra, jest ładnie napisana, zaczyna się mocno i dosadnie, od razu od momentu, który interesuje czytelnika. A potem akcja zwalnia na ponad 100 stron i to dość drastycznie. No bo nic ciekawego się nie dzieje. Od części 2 tej książki ciężko jest powiedzieć, że ta książka zaskakuje. Zakończenie i w ogóle ostatnie rozdziały trochę nadrobiły. Ważny temat, przede wszystkim poruszono rzeczywisty problem. Myślę że narracja najwięcej dodaje tej historii. Gdyby nie to, jak jest napisana, mogłaby mieć słabszą ocenę.
Przez dużą swoją część ta opowieść mnie wciągnęła i pozytywnie zaskoczyła. Jest trochę w stylu tego co czytałam w 2020 roku. Można było jednak jeszcze ciut lepiej to pociągnąć, ale i tak jest SUPER!
October 7, 2023
To było dobre, ale jednocześnie bez większych emocji...
January 14, 2024
3.5 ⭐ bardzo mnie dotknęła emocjonalnie i porusza bardzo trudny temat, niestety reszta wątków mnie totalnie nie zaangażowała
May 25, 2022
This book illustrates the ripple effect of shootings in the United States through a family that is present during one of these attacks. These types of stories keep increasing with every new shooting we watch on tv.
I live in a very dangerous part of Mexico, and even my family feels sorry for the gun situation in Northamerica, it feels like every couple of weeks theres news of another terrible incident.
I live in a very dangerous part of Mexico, and even my family feels sorry for the gun situation in Northamerica, it feels like every couple of weeks theres news of another terrible incident.
May 22, 2022
I said this recently about another book, and I'm saying it again now; some books are very difficult to review, because they are so good, it feels pointless trying to explain how good they are. This is one of those books.
Faith has made some unusual choices, which help the story stand out. We don't see the shooting; the book picks up in the aftermath, and though there's a flashback, it's all from Betty's point of view, and she never gets close enough to see what's happening. We get a few bits of information from her sister and mother, but nothing substantial. We never even learn exactly why the gunman did it; he was angry at a clerk, and while we can fill in the gaps, we're not told why.
The other choice that stands out is that neither her mother nor sister are injured in the shooting. In current terms, they are 'lucky'. They were not hurt. That doesn't stop any of them from suffering in various ways. I ... well, I can't say I 'loved' or 'enjoyed' it, but the fact that all three women reacted in completely different ways felt very true to life. No one experiences anything the same way as anyone else, so why would we not all react differently as well? The gunman's brother and mother are also reacting in different ways, and that's a perspective we very rarely get in any kind of real way.
I loved the maybe love interest/maybe friend interest, and Antonio is awesome as well.
This was hard to read in spots. But I definitely recommend it. I think this needs to be in classrooms and libraries and bedrooms all over the country and beyond.
Faith has made some unusual choices, which help the story stand out. We don't see the shooting; the book picks up in the aftermath, and though there's a flashback, it's all from Betty's point of view, and she never gets close enough to see what's happening. We get a few bits of information from her sister and mother, but nothing substantial. We never even learn exactly why the gunman did it; he was angry at a clerk, and while we can fill in the gaps, we're not told why.
The other choice that stands out is that neither her mother nor sister are injured in the shooting. In current terms, they are 'lucky'. They were not hurt. That doesn't stop any of them from suffering in various ways. I ... well, I can't say I 'loved' or 'enjoyed' it, but the fact that all three women reacted in completely different ways felt very true to life. No one experiences anything the same way as anyone else, so why would we not all react differently as well? The gunman's brother and mother are also reacting in different ways, and that's a perspective we very rarely get in any kind of real way.
I loved the maybe love interest/maybe friend interest, and Antonio is awesome as well.
This was hard to read in spots. But I definitely recommend it. I think this needs to be in classrooms and libraries and bedrooms all over the country and beyond.
June 29, 2023
DNF 50%
1,75/2⭐
Powiem tak, frustracja goniła frustracje i ci wszyscy bohaterowie włącznie z matką byli jacyś po 1 antypatyczni wobec siebie (co rozumiem, bo okej, traumę się przeżywa w różny sposób), ale też tacy kompletnie niezbieżni z tym, czym sobie wmawiają, że są....Dziwne to było straszne, plus tłumaczenie tego momentami było tak dla mnie chaotyczne, że musiałem kilka razy czytać jedno zdanie..
Średnio jestem w stanie napisać coś więcej, bo też mam takie odczucie, że więcej było o strzelaninie samej w sobie i opisów i jakiś dialogów, niż jakieś kreacji charakterów i tego, dlaczego do pewnych rzeczy dochodzi, dlaczego pewne styczne się stykają i jak to wpływa na pewne konfrontacje...
Rozczarowanie
Nie wykluczam, że spróbuję po Angielsku, bo może to kwestia redakcji, a nie tłumaczenia, ale no brakuje mi esencji tej historii
1,75/2⭐
Powiem tak, frustracja goniła frustracje i ci wszyscy bohaterowie włącznie z matką byli jacyś po 1 antypatyczni wobec siebie (co rozumiem, bo okej, traumę się przeżywa w różny sposób), ale też tacy kompletnie niezbieżni z tym, czym sobie wmawiają, że są....Dziwne to było straszne, plus tłumaczenie tego momentami było tak dla mnie chaotyczne, że musiałem kilka razy czytać jedno zdanie..
Średnio jestem w stanie napisać coś więcej, bo też mam takie odczucie, że więcej było o strzelaninie samej w sobie i opisów i jakiś dialogów, niż jakieś kreacji charakterów i tego, dlaczego do pewnych rzeczy dochodzi, dlaczego pewne styczne się stykają i jak to wpływa na pewne konfrontacje...
Rozczarowanie
Nie wykluczam, że spróbuję po Angielsku, bo może to kwestia redakcji, a nie tłumaczenia, ale no brakuje mi esencji tej historii
March 24, 2022
***Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a complimentary copy of HOW WE RICOCHET by Faith Gardner in exchange for my honest review.***
After Betty, her sister and mom survive a mass shooting, the trajectory of their lives change. Her sister Joy refuses to leave the house. Their mom becomes an instant viral anti-gun activist while Betty is just trying to deal with her PTSD and hold her family together. She seeks out a former classmate, the brother of the shooter, though keeps her identity secret.
From the blurb, I had assumed the protagonist in HOW WE RICOCHET would have been shot of lost someone in the shooting which wasn’t the case. Faith Gardner’s choice to show the secondary victims of the shooting, including the killer’s brother and mom, and how their lives changed was a great approach to addressing the trauma of mass shootings. HOW WE RICOCHET is not a Message Book or preachy, but a story that shows different responses to tragedy which made me think of the number of victims we never hear about who carry the aftermath of those shooting sprees.
Gardner doesn’t takes the road less traveled with the story and avoids predictability and tropes.
I enjoyed the story, though wished I had more of an emotional connection to Betty, Joy, their mom or even Michael. I wanted to feel something and for the story to stay in my head after I finished. For those reasons I rated four rather than five stars.
After Betty, her sister and mom survive a mass shooting, the trajectory of their lives change. Her sister Joy refuses to leave the house. Their mom becomes an instant viral anti-gun activist while Betty is just trying to deal with her PTSD and hold her family together. She seeks out a former classmate, the brother of the shooter, though keeps her identity secret.
From the blurb, I had assumed the protagonist in HOW WE RICOCHET would have been shot of lost someone in the shooting which wasn’t the case. Faith Gardner’s choice to show the secondary victims of the shooting, including the killer’s brother and mom, and how their lives changed was a great approach to addressing the trauma of mass shootings. HOW WE RICOCHET is not a Message Book or preachy, but a story that shows different responses to tragedy which made me think of the number of victims we never hear about who carry the aftermath of those shooting sprees.
Gardner doesn’t takes the road less traveled with the story and avoids predictability and tropes.
I enjoyed the story, though wished I had more of an emotional connection to Betty, Joy, their mom or even Michael. I wanted to feel something and for the story to stay in my head after I finished. For those reasons I rated four rather than five stars.
November 19, 2025
How We Ricochet by Faith Gardner is a fast, emotionally intense portrait of what happens to a family when an ordinary day turns into a nightmare. The story opens strong and immediately grabs you, pulling you straight into the emotional fallout of a mass shooting — something heartbreakingly real in our world today.
Betty quickly became my favorite character. She’s layered, vulnerable, and strong in ways she doesn’t fully realize. The way the shooting affects every part of her life feels painfully authentic. Her mother, on the other hand, was frustrating — but in a way that felt intentional and honest. Her spiraling behavior highlights how trauma never hits just one person; it ripples outward.
The book is reflective and sad, dealing with a topic that leaves you angry, drained, and deeply thoughtful. Yet the ending manages to be emotional and satisfying, offering a sense of hope without minimizing the weight of what these characters endure.
A powerful, fast read that lingers long after the final page.
Betty quickly became my favorite character. She’s layered, vulnerable, and strong in ways she doesn’t fully realize. The way the shooting affects every part of her life feels painfully authentic. Her mother, on the other hand, was frustrating — but in a way that felt intentional and honest. Her spiraling behavior highlights how trauma never hits just one person; it ripples outward.
The book is reflective and sad, dealing with a topic that leaves you angry, drained, and deeply thoughtful. Yet the ending manages to be emotional and satisfying, offering a sense of hope without minimizing the weight of what these characters endure.
A powerful, fast read that lingers long after the final page.
October 2, 2022
i really enjoyed this book! this book was fresh, heartbreaking, and different. this book was about a mass shooting survivor. i loved betty. i thought her voice was so unique. i flew through this book. the writing was really easy to read and the story was unputdownable. i thought it dragged a little towards the end, but it picked up quickly. i really enjoyed this one.
December 16, 2022
This book starts with a shooting and follows Betty and her mom and sister, who survived the incident, and how they all deal with the trauma. Each of them have extremely different reactions, the mother going into full activist mode, Joy drinking and refusing to leave the house, and Betty spiraling trying to hold them all together.
TW: self-harm,
TW: self-harm,
August 13, 2026
Easily one of the best YA books I’ve read in YEARS. HIGHLY recommend! It does not disappoint.
May 4, 2023
3.5/5
June 24, 2022
What a moving story. Really made me think! A good look at how a shooting affects everyone around you, and isn’t about one singular person. Trauma effects everybody differently.
March 24, 2023
Started out strong, but it got a little muddled and rushed by the end.
June 5, 2022
Riveting. Poignant. Relevant.
This is an absolute must-read for everyone. Be aware of the trigger warnings: mass shooting, attempted suicide, violence.
I read this book a couple of days after the mass shootings in New York and Texas. At first, I worried that I might not be able to read it since, honestly, the shootings have been so traumatic. However, I found that I couldn’t put it down.
Faith Gardner explores the impact of mass shootings through Betty, an 18 year old trying to find her place in the world. While at the mall with her mom and sister, a man comes into the store her mom and sister are at and starts shooting. Although her mom and sister are physically fine, they’re far from okay. Gardner explores the different responses to this traumatic event through Betty, who wants to understand why the shooter did what he did, through Betty’s mom who throws herself into an activist role, and through Betty’s sister who doesn’t leave the house at all after the attack.
I can’t stress the relevance of this book enough. It’s well-written, emotional, and it will break your heart. I think that the author brilliantly writes and explores the aftermath of a shooting—something the news channels often don’t show. I truly believe this book will get important conversations started on how to help people who have been affected by mass shootings.
Make this your next read. Move it up your TBR. Make your book club read this. Seriously. I am begging you to read this book.
Thank you @epicreads for sending me a copy. This book shook me to my core and has changed the way I go about things after events like this.
This is an absolute must-read for everyone. Be aware of the trigger warnings: mass shooting, attempted suicide, violence.
I read this book a couple of days after the mass shootings in New York and Texas. At first, I worried that I might not be able to read it since, honestly, the shootings have been so traumatic. However, I found that I couldn’t put it down.
Faith Gardner explores the impact of mass shootings through Betty, an 18 year old trying to find her place in the world. While at the mall with her mom and sister, a man comes into the store her mom and sister are at and starts shooting. Although her mom and sister are physically fine, they’re far from okay. Gardner explores the different responses to this traumatic event through Betty, who wants to understand why the shooter did what he did, through Betty’s mom who throws herself into an activist role, and through Betty’s sister who doesn’t leave the house at all after the attack.
I can’t stress the relevance of this book enough. It’s well-written, emotional, and it will break your heart. I think that the author brilliantly writes and explores the aftermath of a shooting—something the news channels often don’t show. I truly believe this book will get important conversations started on how to help people who have been affected by mass shootings.
Make this your next read. Move it up your TBR. Make your book club read this. Seriously. I am begging you to read this book.
Thank you @epicreads for sending me a copy. This book shook me to my core and has changed the way I go about things after events like this.
May 29, 2022
Content Warnings: gun violence, mass shooting, mental health, divorce, alternate post-high school plans, parental abandonment, agoraphobia.
An important look at the aftermath of a mass shooting and how it effects the people who were there when it happened. Betty was at the mall with her mom and older sister when a gunman walks into a department store, opening fire on the shoppers. In the aftermath, Betty’s mom becomes an anti-gun activist and her sister doesn’t leave the house. Betty doesn’t what to think or how to feel about the whole mess.
An important look at the aftermath of a mass shooting and how it effects the people who were there when it happened. Betty was at the mall with her mom and older sister when a gunman walks into a department store, opening fire on the shoppers. In the aftermath, Betty’s mom becomes an anti-gun activist and her sister doesn’t leave the house. Betty doesn’t what to think or how to feel about the whole mess.
April 24, 2022
How We Ricochet
by Faith Gardner
Pub Date 24 May 2022
HarperCollins Children's Books, HarperTeen
Children's Fiction | Teens & YA
I am reviewing a copy of How We Ricochet through HarperCollins Children’s Book and Netgalley:
Sometimes it seems that there is a charade we continue to celebrate even in the face of tragedy. But how dare we do that? And what else are we supposed to be do?
Betty’s mom needed new pants for her job.
That was why Betty was at the mall with her mom and sister when the shooting started.
Afterward, nothing is the same.
But there are no easy answers to be found, and Betty’s search for them leads her to Michael, the brother of the shooter. But this path only shows Betty one thing: that everything she thought she knew about herself, about the world around her can change in a heartbeat.
I give How We Ricochet five out of five stars!
Happy Reading!
by Faith Gardner
Pub Date 24 May 2022
HarperCollins Children's Books, HarperTeen
Children's Fiction | Teens & YA
I am reviewing a copy of How We Ricochet through HarperCollins Children’s Book and Netgalley:
Sometimes it seems that there is a charade we continue to celebrate even in the face of tragedy. But how dare we do that? And what else are we supposed to be do?
Betty’s mom needed new pants for her job.
That was why Betty was at the mall with her mom and sister when the shooting started.
Afterward, nothing is the same.
But there are no easy answers to be found, and Betty’s search for them leads her to Michael, the brother of the shooter. But this path only shows Betty one thing: that everything she thought she knew about herself, about the world around her can change in a heartbeat.
I give How We Ricochet five out of five stars!
Happy Reading!
May 9, 2022
Betty, her sister Joy and her mom are at the mall together when there is a mass shooting. Betty had stepped away for a minute to get ice cream so she was next door, but her mom and sister were in the thick of the shooting, thankfully unharmed. The three of them all deal with the situation in very different ways. Betty's mom Beverly, literally goes on a crusade for better gun control and becomes a viral activist for the public. Joy refuses to leave her room fearing going out into public again and also develops and abuse problem. Betty continues on with her life while also trying to figure out what motivated shooter to act. The aftermath of this situation is honestly portrayed by characters who are very realistic. I feel like there was something missing in the plot but I am not sure what. Regardless, I enjoyed the realness of the story of survival from a trauma and the sometime difficult healing paths the characters are experiencing. Well done! Thanks to NG for the ARC!!!
June 12, 2022
I received an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Disclaimer: I can see students enjoying this. That’s why it’s a solid 3 stars. I did not care for this book as an adult reader and that’s okay because I am not the intended audience.
This is a story of Betty, a high school graduate living with her older sister and single mother. Her mother and sister experience a mass shooting. The story is all about how each individual handles the after effects of a shooting. Personally? I did not like Betty at all. I found her ignorant and self absorbed. I found her relationship with her father to be the only authentic experience. I appreciate the obtuseness of her as a new adult, but I don’t know. She rubbed me the wrong way. Michael was the only character I truly loved in this story. I do love the way the novel worked itself, and I will absolutely recommend it to my students.
Disclaimer: I can see students enjoying this. That’s why it’s a solid 3 stars. I did not care for this book as an adult reader and that’s okay because I am not the intended audience.
This is a story of Betty, a high school graduate living with her older sister and single mother. Her mother and sister experience a mass shooting. The story is all about how each individual handles the after effects of a shooting. Personally? I did not like Betty at all. I found her ignorant and self absorbed. I found her relationship with her father to be the only authentic experience. I appreciate the obtuseness of her as a new adult, but I don’t know. She rubbed me the wrong way. Michael was the only character I truly loved in this story. I do love the way the novel worked itself, and I will absolutely recommend it to my students.
April 1, 2022
After a mass shooting at a mall Betty, her mom and her sister are all leave reeling.
Her mom, Beverly, goes on a crusade against gun violence becoming a prominent activities.
Her sister, Joy, retreats within herself and her room too afraid to leave their home.
Betty starts trying to figure out what led the shooter to this course of action.
There's politics, struggles with mental illness and substance abuse, changed perspective on public spaces, a smidge of romance, and the desire to find forgiveness and peace.
This story examines a scenario all too common in the US and the various ways those who experience the situations try to find healing in the aftermath.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy!
Her mom, Beverly, goes on a crusade against gun violence becoming a prominent activities.
Her sister, Joy, retreats within herself and her room too afraid to leave their home.
Betty starts trying to figure out what led the shooter to this course of action.
There's politics, struggles with mental illness and substance abuse, changed perspective on public spaces, a smidge of romance, and the desire to find forgiveness and peace.
This story examines a scenario all too common in the US and the various ways those who experience the situations try to find healing in the aftermath.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy!
August 27, 2022
This was a different read. A shooting occurs at a mall and throughout the story the reader in immersed in Betty’s PTSD, as a side- victim. Not even sure that’s the correct wording. Her mother and sister were right in the middle of the shooting, she was outside of the store when it happened. We see how she deals with her PTSD, as we see the path her mother and sister take. This was a hard read to get through. I didn’t really connect with the protagonist. To truly get to center of her PTSD, took a very long time. The relationship with the shooter’s brother was also drawn out. I would give this one 3.5 stars, just for the fact that we see the survivor’s side of a shooting and what it was like to come out the other side.
June 13, 2024
Don't take this rating too seriously. I was so bored that I couldn't finish the book. The author describes an excessive amount of time detailing the response to a random act of violence, a shooting at a clothing store. Although she talks about it forever, you never feel the true dread the characters ought to have felt. The promise of a friendship with the shooter's brother kept me reading, but that should have happened a lot sooner. So forgettable that after a single week I couldn't remember what it was about and had to look it up.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews