This Is Not a Drill - by K a Holt (Hardcover)

I like how realistic this book is.

I don't understand what author would think this book is a good idea, let alone a publisher who would publish it. Why are you targeting a book like this to kids? There is a point in trying to write books to relate to them, then there is a point in trying to traumatize their already existant nightmares. Absolutely awful. It feels like the author is just trying to profit off of very deadly events. Do you really think schools or parents are going to be like "this is an amzing piece of literature." I guarantee the communities around Uvalde Sandy Hook or any other school aren't going to be like "Jolly, a book glorifying our horror."

This is single-handedly one of the worst pieces of children's literature that I have ever had the displeasure of coming across. From a teacher's perspective, the text is simply not written well, and I think it's tacky to write a book about such a serious and RELEVANT topic. School shootings are a very scary thought and a very real concern for students, teachers, and parents everywhere. So the fact that this author thought it was a good idea to publish a book that glorifies a child "being the hero" in such circumstances is repulsive and appalling. Ava, the main character, starts off the story with her bad day getting worse when the lockdown alarm rings while she's in the bathroom. The story is told through a series of texts and notifications. The slang and text phrases used in the story, are outdated and cringe, as the middle schooler tries to navigate finding her brother (who is having an asthma attack btw) and getting him an emergency inhaler. There are elements in this story that glorify the students working together to outsmart the shooter (and the police?) to guide their friend to safety. The main character essentially spends most of the story running around the school worrying about everything except her safety, which I do not think is the message that we should be promoting to students. In every emergency training that I have ever undergone, the message stressed to children is to NOT try and be a hero, as their safety should be their biggest concern. This work is insensitive to those who have experienced a school shooting and is NOT something that I will have in my classroom, which is a shame because if it was written tastefully it could have been a very useful tool to start meaningful discussions within the classroom. Additionally, the logistics of the book don't make sense? the shooter enters the building at 11:30 am. and yet is not stopped until after 3 pm. AND NO ONE GETS HURT? Statistically, 50% of active shooter events are over in five minutes, a shot being fired every 4-15 seconds with a 40-70% hit rate. (ALICE training). In my personal opinion, this book was not written with sensitivity or to inform readers. I understand the value of teaching students about lockdowns without traumatizing students, but I think this book presents an unrealistic expectation and ultimately fumbled the ball on this one...

Children should NOT be reading this book! This book tells the story of a middle school lockdown. However, throughout the book the young characters intentionally choose to ignore all safety procedures, putting themselves and other students in danger. From peeking out windows, to loudly attracting the attention of the intruder, to LITERALLY RUNNING THROUGH THE HALLWAYS to "save" other people. This book is exactly what NOT to do during lockdown. In the end, the book shows that everything turns out fine and the children are praised as heroes for "saving their teacher at all costs". This is absolutely NOT how it would turn out in real life. This book runs the real risk of getting children killed. In addition, children who read this will be exposed to a child frantically apologizing for arguing with her dad because what if it's the last time they talked? Children telling each other the things they would have liked to do before they died. And the intruder turns out to be a teacher's raging ex husband. I don't know why anyone would think this was acceptable for children.