Please Pay Attention

Gr 5-8–After a tragic event traumatizes her school community, sixth grader and wheelchair user Bea is racked with guilt, anxiety, and grief. Unable to sleep or speak to her mom about it, Bea is stuck in a cycle of reliving the tragedy, feeling that she could have done more to protect her classmates and her teacher. It isn’t until Bea starts equine therapy, a program that uses horse care and riding as a path to working through emotional or behavioral problems, that she is able confront her trauma and begin the healing process. Written as a letter advocating for gun control, Bea frames her story as a journey from trauma to hope, as well as a plea for action. Drawn from Sumner’s personal connection to the 2023 Covenant School shooting in Nashville, Bea’s experience contains an emotional depth and authenticity that resonates deeply without feeling preachy. The verse novel format enhances the pacing, using line breaks and poem length to mirror Bea’s fluctuating emotional state. The poems are raw and honest, yet never overly focused on the tragedy itself. The secondary characters are equally well developed, supporting Bea in her quest for courage and peace.