That's Not What Happened by Kody Keplinger

Lee gets the idea that all the survivors - who, all but one, have formed a close bond of friendship because they're the only ones who really get it, the only ones who were really there - should write letters of their own experiences of that day, and how that day changed everything for them. And no matter what everyone thinks they know, they'll get everyone's stories wrong. The pedestal Sarah has been put on will only get taller. But when the McHales, who are pretty much Lee's second family, respond with outrage to the 'lies' Lee is telling them, she knows something more needs to be done.

She's tried so many times to tell people what really happened, but her own trauma and others' grief stopped her.

After hearing about the McHales' - Sarah's parents - book, Lee knows she needs to put the record straight. It's also the stories of all the other five survivors. This is her story her story of what really happened, her story of coping with the trauma afterwards, and her story of how she tried to put things right. That's Not What Happened is a long letter written by Lee several months after the third anniversary of the school shooting. Lee wants them all to get together and put their stories out their, tell the truth of what really happened that day, and how no-one really understands what the survivors experienced. But Sarah isn't the only person the community have ideas about they have impressions of who all six survivors are due to how they reacted that day. It's time to put the story straight about what really happened that day. Now Sarah's parents want to write a book about Sarah and how she defended her faith in her final moments, and Lee knows this isn't what Sarah would have wanted. Her story means so much to so many people, but her story is wrong. But the rumours spread, and now everyone has this idea of who Sarah was, and they've painted her as a martyr. No words were exchanged with the shooter, he just killed her. Lee was in the bathroom stall with Sarah, the both of them hiding. That she died defending her faith, as the shooter mocked her over the ugly cross necklace and her faith.

Lee's best friend Sarah died in the shooting, but shortly after the shooting, rumours started to spread about the final moments before Sarah died. It's been three years since the school shooting at Virgil County High School, and Leanne - known as Lee - is one of the six survivors. But I should have picked it up much sooner, because it's absolutely bloody incredible. I've wanted to read That's Not What Happened by Kody Keplinger from the moment I first heard about it. Trigger Warnings: This book features a school shooting, blood, panic attacks, discussion of trauma, and alcoholism.