"Kent State" by Deborah Wiles tells the harrowing and transformative story surrounding the tragic events of May 4, 1970, when National Guardsmen opened fire on unarmed students protesting the Vietnam War at Kent State University. Through a blend of documentary-style narrative and fictional accounts, Wiles captures the complex emotions, societal tensions, and individual experiences of those involved. The story interweaves the perspectives of students, families, and communities, illustrating the impact of this pivotal moment in American history. It reflects on themes of protest, justice, and the fight for peace, resonating with contemporary discussions about activism and social change. [Generated by language model - please report any problems].

This book is the winner of numerous awards

This book is aimed at Young Adult readers. The term Young Adult (YA) is used for books which have the following characteristics: (1) aimed at ages 12-18 years, US grades 7-12, UK school years 8-15, (2) around 50-75k words long, (3) main character is aged 12-18 years, (4) topics include self-reflection, internal conflict vs external, analyzing life and its meaning, (5) point of view is often in the first person, and (6) swearing, violence, romance and sexuality are allowed. This book was published in 2021 by Thorndike Striving Reader .

Deborah Wiles spent her childhood summers in a small Mississippi town with her family, including a wacky grandmother who really did go to Hawaii and who loved to wear flip-flops. Deborah has worked as a journalist and radio commentator, and she currently teaches writing and oral history workshops for children. She lives with her family in Frederick, Maryland where she tends her garden, makes baking powder biscuits and drinks plenty of root beer. She has never stolen a chicken. yet. Love, Ruby Lavender is her first novel.