PLEASE PAY ATTENTION

It's impossible to hear Erin Moon's delivery of this affecting story without experiencing the same emotions as its first-person protagonist. Bea is a middle-grade student in a small school who has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair. When a shooter enters the building, she becomes tragically aware of her disadvantaged situation. This novel in verse recounts in present tense the events before, during, and after the shooting. Moon creates a thoroughly likable Bea. Initially, her voice bubbles with the optimism and playful sarcasm of a typical kid. However, her panicked emotions during the shooting are palpable. Listeners will feel helplessness, panic, and dread in Moon's breathless, halting delivery. Afterward, Bea becomes more reticent until loved ones and a therapy horse help her recover and find new strength. L.T. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2025]