Synopsis
Kent State by Deborah Wiles is a powerful and poignant young adult novel in verse that recounts the tragic events of May 4, 1970, at Kent State University in Ohio, where the Ohio National Guard opened fire on unarmed student protesters, killing four and wounding nine. Written in free verse and told through multiple perspectives, the book captures the voices of students, protesters, National Guardsmen, townspeople, and members of the Black United Students (BUS), weaving together a tapestry of conflicting emotions, beliefs, and experiences surrounding the Vietnam War and the escalating tensions on campus. Wiles, who was a teenager during the event, draws on extensive research, including visits to the Kent State campus and its archives, to craft a narrative that is both historically grounded and emotionally resonant, aiming to honor the victims and provoke reflection on issues of protest, power, and government overreach.
The novel unfolds over the four days leading up to the shootings, setting the stage with a prelude that contextualizes the era’s unrest, including the Vietnam War, the military draft, and President Nixon’s decision to bomb Cambodia, which intensified student outrage. Wiles employs a conversational and sometimes confrontational style, with unnamed voices representing different groups—students angry at the war, Guardsmen caught in a volatile situation, townspeople wary of campus radicals, and Black students navigating racial tensions and institutional bias. The narrative captures the chaos, fear, and confusion of the moment, particularly the misconception among some white students that the Guardsmen’s rifles held blanks, while Black students, informed by BUS, stayed away, aware of the real danger. Wiles intersperses vivid imagery and lyrical passages to evoke the era’s sounds, feelings, and cultural touchstones, such as the music that defined the time.
Central to the story are the four students who lost their lives: Allison Krause, Jeffrey Miller, Bill Schroeder, and Sandy Scheuer. Wiles eulogizes each, providing intimate details about their lives and aspirations—Allison, who died in her boyfriend’s arms; Jeffrey, who had reassured his mother he’d be safe; Bill, an ROTC student with dreams of becoming a military psychologist; and Sandy, a music lover simply walking to class. These personal portraits underscore the tragedy’s human toll, emphasizing that two of the victims were not even protesting. The novel also addresses the broader context, including the role of BUS and the subsequent killings at Jackson State College, highlighting racial dynamics and the government’s suppression of dissent. Wiles’ use of varied fonts, sizes, and spacing distinguishes each perspective, creating a dynamic, almost theatrical reading experience that mirrors the cacophony of the event.
Ultimately, Kent State is both a historical reckoning and a call to action. Wiles challenges readers to confront uncomfortable truths about the violation of First Amendment rights and the cost of polarization, drawing parallels to contemporary issues like Parkland, Black Lives Matter, and climate protests. The novel’s brevity—often read in under an hour—belies its emotional depth, leaving readers to grapple with the unresolved questions of what happened and why. Through her author’s note, Wiles reflects on her personal connection to the event and her intent to spark dialogue among young readers, encouraging them to see themselves as champions of justice. The book’s raw honesty, combined with its poetic form and multi-voiced structure, makes it a compelling and thought-provoking exploration of a dark chapter in American history that continues to resonate decades later.