Aaron Hartzler

What We Saw

Critically acclaimed memoirist Aaron Hartzler, author of Rapture Practice, takes an unflinching look at what happens to a small town when some of its residents commit a terrible crime. This honest, authentic debut novel—inspired by the events in the Steubenville rape case—will resonate with readers who've ever walked that razor-thin line between guilt and innocence that so often gets blurred, one hundred and forty characters at a time. The party at John Doone's last Saturday night is a bit of a blur. Kate Weston can piece together most of the details: Stacey Stallard handing her shots, Ben Cody taking her keys and getting her home early. . . . But when a picture of Stacey passed out over Deacon Mills's shoulder appears online the next morning, Kate suspects she doesn't have all the details. When Stacey levels charges against four of Kate's classmates, the whole town erupts into controversy. Facts that can't be ignored begin to surface, and every answer Kate finds leads back to the same questions: Who witnessed what happened to Stacey? And what responsibility do they have to speak up about what they saw? National Book Award finalist Deb Caletti calls What We Saw "a smart, sensitive, and gripping story about the courage it takes to do what's right."

roro

I originally sought out this book because the story line caught my attention, but it ended up dragging a little bit. Overall, it was quite interesting but it didn't get to the interesting part until the end.

Victoria

"Sometimes, when change happens, you can't stop it or control it or direct it. You can only hang on for the ride."

This is one hell of an amazing book!

Bea R.

“‘Boys will be boys’ is what people say to excuse guys when they do something awful.”

“Not being able to say no isn’t the same as saying yes.”

Emi Gilmore 

4.5/5 stars 

 Trigger Warning: Rape 

This is a difficult book to rate, overall the writing and flow was 4 stars, but the theme and the importance of this book was a 5. 

This book is important. I wish I am rich enough to own multiple copies of it, and just pass them out to people who say things that repulse me. 

It's the story of a small town that descends into chaos after a girl presses sexual assault charges against four popular, athletic boys. It's a story of rape culture, and how people in our society today rarely places blame on the rapists, and instead the victim. 

I wish I was better at writing reviews, as I would be inserting many quotes I found almost impossible to read. I was disgusted about the views of characters, and how easy it was for them to point fingers at the victim. It's an important book and I believe that everybody needs to pick it up.

Myla Larsen

I don't even know what to say, that is a horrible subject matter to write about. I give the writer credit for how he writes and the romance in this book but I do not like the back story or the anticipation people had said that happened at the party and then find out its true? I know this book is not true but that not what I was expecting.

Ruth Lykins 

This book is so powerful. That's the best word to describe it as I'm overcome by emotion after finishing it. 

This book is rough. And raw. And hurts. 

It's the perfect way to broach the topic of this issue. 

This book is relatable and made me think about the situation at hand in a different way than I ever had before.

Jen Estrella

Trigger warning: Rape

Well, damn. After years of reading countless "inspired by real events" stories and exhausting three and four-star ratings on mediocre portrayals of today's society, here is a book that has managed to fluently talk about the crookedness of humanity without compromising the essential elements of writing. It may seem like a regular young adult-thriller, but do not be fooled. This is easily one of those rare gut-wrenching reads. 


  Don't judge a book by its cover. Mom is always saying that, but most of the time, I think that's exactly what people are asking us to do: Please. Judge me by my cover. Judge me by exactly what I've worked so hard to show you.


It's probably obvious what the entire book is about, so how does it depart from books that persuade and advocate underneath its pages? 

Sure enough, every other book has successfully delivered messages about the dangers of rape - how horrendous it is to be in the shoes of the victim, how assault isn't always obvious, how a victim copes, etc. but what about modernistic and present-day views? What about victim blaming? slut shaming? Rape jokes? What about rape culture? Although it isn't exactly something that is entirely new, it is a subject that is more often than not bypassed, normalized, or worse, considered completely trivial, and THIS right here is where this book comes in. 


  "Well, I just think it's awful what that (view spoiler)[Stallard (hide spoiler)] girl is doing to them. Dragging their good names through the mud. If you ask me, they oughta arrest her mother and put that poor girl in a good Christian home.


Am I saying that reading this book would be eye-opening to a person who was in the past possibly unperturbed by this collective way of thinking? You bet I am.

Most, if not all, individuals in our present-day world are represented by characters and groups in the story. You have the suspects, the victim, the bystanders, the jokers, the authorities, the fighters, and those who have yet to find where they stand. 

I love Kate. She is who everyone is most of the time - people who at first glance seem detached and indifferent but carry the nagging feeling of guilt and fear over something they find difficult to accept. I am pleased with her narrative and this novel's gradual and speculative pace which, in my opinion, didn't do much to reduce the supposed thrill/suspense whatsover. 

I also loved the brief showcases of power from some of the supporting characters particularly Ms. Speck and Mr. Johnston. Mr. Johnston is probably the only character that saved this book from being entirely feminist, and yes, including his character and one of his last scenes is a praiseworthy feat. 


  "I just don't believe (view spoiler)[Dooney and Deacon (hide spoiler)] [they] would have sex with a girl who told them no."
"What if she didn't tell them no because she couldn't? What if she was too drunk to say anything?"
"And whose fault is that?"
 

Kate is a mirror to most of us. We try to be aloof and unbothered. We repeatedly convince ourselves that it isn't a matter to be messed with, but there will always be that slow creeping fear and understanding that not doing anything makes us feel all the more powerless, and isn't that a more terrifying thought? 

This book is powerful. It does not hedge. It does not inform in moderation or attempt to rationalize motives and actions. It tells you a story and forces truths down your throat. It tries to tell you that "This is it. This is what it looks like. Open your eyes.", and you are compelled to accept no matter how appalling it sounds. It hits, it punches, and it festers you with reality, and you'll beg for a candy or a band-aid, but you won't be getting any. 
 
I have too many words in my head as of the moment, and I feel so tired from all the truth this book has so easily conveyed in 300 or so pages. This book is painful as it is true, and I feel nothing but gratitude towards the person who has managed to put one of the most alarming affairs of today's society into writing. Thank you, Mr. Hartzler. I look forward to your next work.

Emir Andrés Ibañez

El colegio de Kate queda patas arriba cuando la policía irrumpe en la cafetería y arresta a varios miembros del equipo de básquet acusados de violar a una chica en la fiesta del viernes pasado, a la cual Kate asistió y poco recuerda qué pasó, pues estaba igual de ebria que la chica a la que violaron. A partir de allí el autor explora la cultura de la violación y la marcada tendencia de culpar a la víctima por habérselo buscado. Es una novela muy bien hecha, que invita a la reflexión. Mi único problema fue que siento que no aporto nada nuevo ni nada que ya no se esté hablando, o ya se haya escrito. Pero como novela juvenil le doy el visto bueno, estas historias tienen que seguir escribiéndose pues son de muchísima ayuda.

Esmee hogeboom

Rebeca 

3 stars 

This book had a very great message but I didn't feel connected to any of the characters.

What We Saw

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