Glimmer of Hope

September 15, 2018
Feb. 14, 2018, will go down as one of the most horrific days in U.S. history.The murder of 17 students and teachers from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, in a mass shooting by a former classmate sparked the March for Our Lives movement and nonprofit organization. As the survivors decided that #NeverAgain would they sit by while mass shootings happened in their country, they got to work controlling the narrative rather than allowing the story to be forgotten in the next news cycle. This volume, written by the student founders of March for Our Lives, includes poetry, personal essays, conversations, and excerpts from speeches that trace events from the immediate aftermath of the tragedy to the present day. Paragraphs at the beginning of each section introduce contributors and provide context. Ample color photographs illustrate the young people's nationwide reach. The message of political activism is clearly repeated throughout the book, which ends on a note of hope with a list of 10 policy reforms, including funding research into gun violence as a public health matter and legislation around gun sales, trafficking, and technology. While the quality of the writing is variable, teen readers will recognize and respond to the sincere passion of the sentiments expressed.Helpful for those seeking background about the movement directly from those involved and inspiring to those who wish to join their cause. (Nonfiction. 14-18)

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November 1, 2018

Gr 6 Up-"This one has to be different." Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School student Cameron Kasky's words summarize the spirit of the creators of the March for our Lives movement. This collaborative collection of essays by friends and family of Parkland victims exudes optimism and conviction. Arranged by date from the day of the shooting to the March for Our Lives demonstration on March 24, 2018, each chapter begins with a short expository passage about the events of the day. In individual and cooperative entries, students don't just describe feelings of rage and helplessness; they chronicle turning emotions into actions. From appearances on CNN to conversations in the U.S. Capitol to an 800,000-strong march on Washington, DC, they made their voices heard. The victims are enumerated, but the shooter is not named. The final chapter outlines the group's future goals: "Ten Commonsense Reforms," like banning high-capacity magazines and funding intervention programs. VERDICT A must-buy for most middle and high school libraries.-Deidre Winterhalter, Oak Park Public Library, IL

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from October 15, 2018
Grades 9-12 *Starred Review* This is a detailed, totally relatable account of how the anti-gun, anti-school-violence grassroots movement #NeverAgain grew and gained momentum and turned into the March 2018 March for Our Lives, an event that drew an estimated one million participants to Washington, D.C. The story is narrated by the teens who organized the march, mostly survivors of the February 14, 2018, Parkland High School shooting. Their testimonies begin on the afternoon of the 14th, as they're frantically texting friends and trying to reunite with parents in the aftermath of that event, and culminate six weeks later as they wait for their turns to speak on stage in front of the massive audience. They tell of gathering at friends' houses in the days immediately following the shooting, seeking comfort but also resolving to do something about their experiences. They describe the international outpouring of support prompted by press coverage and social media and candidly address both their public and private emotional responses. The contributions, mostly essays, are written in first person, and the accounts come across as genuine and authentic. This is a clarion call to action for teens, by teens, and it is moving and powerful.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)