PLEASE PAY ATTENTION by Jamie Sumner

 

Bea was born early with cerebral palsy. A nurse in the hospital adopted her and became the center of Bea's life. Bea is telling the before and after of her story. This story involves a school shooting in a school much like The Covenant School in Nashville, TN. Author Jamie Sumner uses the school shooting in her community as an inspiration for Bea story.

Bea is a sixth grader. She loves her school, especially how the older students are role models for the littles. Bea has been paired with a little girl named Josie. Josie is very nervous about school. She reluctantly comes each day, but it takes quite a bit of convincing from Bea to get the little girl to take part.

The day of the shooting is traumatic for all the students. Bea realizes that her wheelchair makes it nearly impossible for her to escape during this terrible event. In the days that follow, Bea learns who was hurt and who died. She also realizes that she didn't even think about Josie who fortunately survived. Guilt causes sleepless nights for Bea and a fear that something else will happen that she won't be able to escape.

Through horseback riding therapy, Bea begins to recover and discover she has a voice that might be able to change things if she speaks up and demands people listen to the issues of gun control.