This book is a conversation between the memories of many groups of people (represented each by one speaker) who were present at Kent State and in the town of Kent Ohio on May 4th, 1970. The conversation is phrased in such a way that it is meant to draw you, the reader, into the conversation, and spark questions. The speakers try to talk over one another, argue with one another, and reference events that you the reader are not familiar with, just like people would do if you walked into the middle of a conversation about an event you didn't attend.

It's an interesting writing strategy, and in my opinion, it pays off. The speakers describe events as plainly as possible, while other speakers call them out for forgetting black voices, or misremembering events, or romanticizing the four dead - instead of portraying them as fully human. This shows that we have tendencies to only recall our side of events, to live in our experiences and not be fully aware of everything happening around us, especially in times of chaos.

This book is not meant to be a definitive authority on every moment leading up to and covering the day of the massacre. It is meant to be an entry point into a conversation and a springboard for further research. This book is meant to put the reader into the conversation and encourage them to ask questions and research further.

The book closes with mentions of other events of violence, both government group against civilian group and government individual against civilian individual. Although some might argue that including people such as Sandra Brown in this conversation isn't appropriate or necessary, it provides a larger context for the conversation about abuse of power and individual rights.

I'm ready to research further.