That's Not What Happened

By Kody Keplinger
Lexile = 720

After the shooting at Columbine High School so many years ago, I recall that there was a story about Cassie Bernall... It was reported that Bernall had been asked whether or not she believed in God before being shot during the massacre. That was later refuted, and this particular plot twist is the basis for this novel.

Leanne and Sarah are in a school bathroom during a school shooting. Sarah is killed; Leanne is a survivor. Word somehow gets out that Sarah died after the shooter asked her if she believed in God. She is somewhat of a martyr now; her parents and church find great comfort in her belief. BUT. Leanne knows that it didn't happen that way. The truth of that awful day has spiraled out of control and Leanne never came forward to set the record straight. Now she has decided it is time to come clean but no one will believe her. They think that she is merely trying to perhaps draw attention to herself and sully the reputation of her friend.

This book is not for everyone for obvious reasons. It has stirred up a bit of controversy as well.... it is just too close to the actual facts of Columbine. Ripped from the headlines, so to speak. From Wikipedia: In October 1999, Bernall's mother Misty Bernall authored a book She Said Yes: The Unlikely Martyrdom of Cassie Bernall. The book reached No. 8 on The New York Times best-sellers list. In the book, Misty Bernall repeated the story that her daughter was asked if she believed in God before she died, despite being told by investigators that the question had not been asked. Cassie's friend Emily Wyant, who was next to her in the library when she was shot, also told the family that the question had not been asked. Despite this, the Bernalls issued a statement standing behind the accuracy of their book, saying they had spoken to four witnesses who had told them that she had defended her faith before being killed.

That's Not What Happened is a good read... again, not for everyone, but it brings up questions of truth and how facts "evolve".

Watch a promotional interview with the author HERE.