Starred Review ALA Booklist (Mon Oct 01 00:00:00 CDT 2018)

Starred Review This is a detailed, totally relatable account of how the anti-gun, anti-school-violence grassroots movement verAgain 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.

Kirkus Reviews

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)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Through the collective voices of students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, following the events of Feb. 14, 2018, a rallying cry for fighting gun violence emerges. Chapters are told in rotating perspectives that represent multiple students and focus less on the shooting itself and more on their processing of the trauma. The accounts also convey how quickly survivors mobilized after the mass shooting, sharing their outrage through social media and news outlets, and speaking directly to representatives. Speeches written and delivered by students at the March 2018 March for Our Lives are integrated, while photographs show powerful moments of protest as well as quieter interactions between Stoneman Douglas students. Through honest and stirring narratives, the contributors encourage readers to join a movement of monumental importance. Ages 12-up. (Oct.)

School Library Journal (Thu Nov 01 00:00:00 CDT 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 800,000strong 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