Kate Weston doesn't remember much from high school
basketball star John Doone's party. She vaguely
remembers drunkenly taking shots with Stacey Stallard and
her childhood best friend, Ben Cody, escorting her safely
home. Unfortunately, accusations are emerging from that
same party as four of the school's top athletes
find themselves under investigation by the police and the
news media. Kate wants to know what happened, but will
WHAT WE SAW that night change everything she believes
about her friends?
WHAT WE SAW is a gritty and gut wrenching tale that looks
into the athletic culture and society's willingness to
blame the victim, particularly if someone is "from a good
family" while the victim is "trash." Sensitive readers
should note that rape is the central issue of the story
and Aaron Hartzler doesn't flinch at portraying the
sometimes quite reprehensible ways a rape victim is
treated. WHAT WE SAW is an indicting portrayal of what
happens when cliques and perception overshadow the truth.
Aaron Hartzler does a marvelous job with character
development as Kate is a phenomenal heroine. I love
Kate's determination to find out what happened that
night, even as her closest friends show no interest in
knowing the truth. It's not easy to stand alone but Kate
looks beneath the ascribed societal roles and hierarchy
to uncover the truth.
Aaron Hartzler also challenges the reader to look at the
systems issues underlying the problem. Even the school
officials, charged with protecting the well being of their
students, made assumptions and blamed the victim. As a
school social worker, I was horrified by some of the
reactions of so-called professionals and I cheered for
those who stood up and did the right thing. There is one
scene in particular involving Mr. Johnston that
encapsulates the entire book and I dearly love Mr.
Johnston's character for his bravery at using the
teachable moment.
WHAT WE SAW is loosely based on the real events of the
Steubenville High School rape case and gets to the heart
of a deeply divisive issue. Aaron Hartzler uses fictional
characters to challenge the reader about what defines
consent and how saying nothing can sometimes be just as
damaging as actively participating in an injustice. It's
not an easy read but it is a very necessary read and
involves the kind of conversations we should be having
with our youth about the choices they make. WHAT WE SAW
is highly recommended!
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."
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