Parkland Speaks: Survivors from Marjory Stoneman Douglas Share Their Stories

Gr 7 Up—This collection of poems, essays, photographs, and other works of art reflect the anger, sadness, confusion, and hope that poured out of the students and teachers who survived the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on February 14, 2017. The earnestness of the writing and the raw emotion on display paints a vivid picture of their experiences. Page after page is full of loving tributes to friends and teachers who did not survive. Frantic telephone calls and text messages to family and friends and the unimaginable terror of hiding in a closet or classroom are also discussed. Much of the writing was done in the first few months after the shooting, giving students a way to process their grief and anxiety. The photographs often depict scenes from the protests and marches that happened in the wake of the shooting, which were inspired and led by the students who channeled their emotions into becoming outspoken advocates for gun reform. This is an intense, hard, and very direct window into the experience of surviving a mass shooting.