The Ups and Downs of Kent State (Jesse)

The Ups and Downs of Kent State

Introduction

This is a short book by Deborah Wiles detailing the events of May 4^th, 1970. Students from Kent State protested the ongoing Vietnam war and it escalated into a battle against military forces. Four students were killed that day, and many more were injured. The story is one that should be told, no question. However, the way the author tells it is where this book went wrong. It is told in the form of a conversation between 7 individuals—at least that is how I interpreted it. Although this idea of telling a story has potential in concept, in practice it comes off as confusing and strange. There are characters in the fictional dialogue, but they are never well established and have no growth, they are only used to convey the story.

Part I: Ups, The Story.

The story line depicted in this book is well established and based on real events. The author gives a relatively clear image of what happened that night. Students from Kent State University protested the Vietnam war and the protest escalated in a confrontation with the police. The story is an important one and one that needs to be told. These days we are seeing more and more outrage and protest over police brutality and unfair law enforcement. This book, first published in April 2020, not only tells a story often left untold but that plays a key role in American history and current events. It is a great story and perfectly timed with national events…

But that still does not fix the way it is told.

Part II: Downs, The Narrative

            Narrative is defined as “a way of presenting or understanding a situation or series of events that reflects and promotes a particular point of view or set of values, the art or practice of narration” (Merriam-Webster). The way the author narrates and presents the information in the story, to me, is problematic. It seems to be a fictional conversation between 7 individuals, each with different opinions of what happened on May 4^th. Seems fine, but it comes off as confusing and pointless. The characters are shallow and one sided, they are only there to contribute to the story. There is not real description or growth in any of the characters, so it seems pointless to have them in the first place. The book would be a one-sitting read for anyone who sits for a couple of hours or more and it seems like the information provided could easily have been said in about 10 minutes worth of reading. It seems heartfelt and relatable at times but most of the time it is just confusing to have a conversation tell the story. The author seems to have partially committed to realistic fiction but either takes it too far or not far enough.

Part III: Conclusion, It’s…Good?

            The story is important and influential. The narrative is confusing. When it comes down to it, I cannot think of a better story to be told in this format. It is good in concept; the author is just struggling to fully commit to the idea. If you want to learn about the events that took place at Kent State on May 4^th, read this book, but first read a factual timeline of what happened and the effects. The article linked here will give all the context and facts needed to understand and enjoy what this book has to say. Then read the book (it will not take long), see what you think.

Works Cited

“Narrative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/narrative. Accessed 8 Sep. 2020.

"Kent State Shooting" History.com Editors, HISTORY, https://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/kent-state-shooting#:~:text=Four%20Kent%20State%20University%20students,the%20conflict%20in%20Southeast%20Asia. Accessed 8 Sep. 2020.