That's Not What Happened by Kody Keplinger

On the third year anniversary of surviving her high school shooting, Lee can't stand the thought of graduating without setting the record straight.

Only Lee knows what happened as she and her best friend hid together in a bathroom stall. Only she knows what was spoken between them and the shooter. But in all the chaos that surrounded the shooting, false heroes were created, others unwittingly became villains, and stories changed to suit the narrative. 

That's NOT what happened is the story of six of the survivors. Each one of them with a different version of the events of that day. 

As they share their experiences with each other, they realize that what was currently considered fact, is actually fiction. The truth is no longer acceptable, and there are some that feel Lee needs to be stopped.

This  heart wrenching story tackles a difficult topic in a raw and beautiful way, lending a voice to those that that disappear from the media attention, never understanding how any of this happened.  It helps you grasp, to a small degree, the anguish and pain of the characters as they struggle with depression, anxiety, and PTSD, all the while trying to reassure their families that they are doing okay.

It's a reminder that the damage of such a tragedy extends far beyond our comprehension.

God bless any and all of those impacted by events such as these.

Read and reviewed by L.M. Potter