SHELF HELP

Staff from your Monroe County Public Library recommend some of their favorites from the collection.

What: “Numb to This: Memoir of a Mass Shooting” by Kindra Neely

Why: This graphic novel deals with something that I grew up with – school shootings. I was homeschooled my whole life and one of the reasons was the violence in schools – especially the schools where I grew up in Orlando. My mom was afraid that something would happen to me at school and I can’t say that I blame her. I vividly remember watching the coverage of Columbine as it was happening. Of course I was only 8 at the time so I didn’t really understand the significance of what I was watching, but looking back on it, that was the first in a long, long list of school shootings that I would watch on the news growing up.

This book follows the author, Kindra Neely, as she deals with the aftermath of surviving a school shooting in 2015. I have a hard time saying that this is a fantastic book because of what she went through, but anyone who grew up in the shadow of a tragedy such as this will understand that this book is fantastic but so sad at the same time. It was a hard one to get through, but a book that I think everyone should read.

Where: This is available as a print book (graphic novel) from the Monroe County Library system.

How: You can request books online by logging in to www.keyslibraries. org and get e-books and e-audiobooks 24/7 at www.estuff.keyslibraries.org. If you don’t have a card, you can visit your local branch or register online to get one. Questions? info@keyslibraries.org

Recommended by: Jill Kenna, senior library assistant, Key West branch.