Over My Shoulder: A Columbine Survivor's Story of Resilience, Hope and a Life Reclaimed

This book is for survivors and victims. It is for those who have been through trauma or plain hard times. Kacey Johnson writes from the perspective of a true survivor of the gravest tragedy. Over My Shoulder is certainly for the friends, parents, colleagues, and neighbors of the hurting. Kacey humbly shows us it is time we look at our scars and see what beauty is sprouting from them. In the 20 years since Columbine, our country (and all over the world) has experienced more and more horrific events. We are all merely degrees away from these tragedies (Sandy Hook, VT, Orlando, Paris). What despair we could fall in! Her story comes at just the right time. Hope is to be found. Good days are ahead. Beauty has not left us.

Halfway through page 2 I had the chills as Kacey recounted her experience in the library that fateful day at Columbine High School that so drastically changed the trajectory of her life and so many others. I couldn't put the book down and finished it in 24 hours. Her honesty and introspection are heartfelt and inspiring. Her words are humble and real. The journey Kacey took to get to the place where she was ready to share her story with the world is a true page-turner. She and co-author Karen Schelhaas have penned a tribute to a journey of grief and healing worth the read.

This story was rifting and filled with every ingredient of the human situation. Above all, it left the reader filled with a renewed sense of hope in the love of family, friends and God. Thank you, Kacey, for sharing your journey with the world. We are better for it. To God be the glory!!!

Real. Raw. Inspiring. You won’t put it down and you will leave feeling full of hope. Each of us has our own trials, but as Kacey shares her journey of devastation and courage to overcome, she teaches us how to navigate our trials with beauty and grace. To increase our strength through faith and not succumb to the obstacles we face. Thank you for sharing your story, for being so brave.

This book offers a perspective of the brokenness in our teenagers and hope for the future. I am thankful for the author's courage to share her story so that her words can help others know that they are not alone in their struggles and to provide inspiration for parents in how to battle with our teenagers against hopelessness and offer ways to overcome fears.A number of chapters gave me insight into the depth of pain that I hope my teenagers won't ever have to face, but unfortunately, these scenes are hitting too frequently. As parents we cannot deny the need for us to demand change in how we address re-building safe schools. School shootings are a multi-faceted issue; this book is a memoir of one person’s story through pain and suffering, which allows us to understand raw lessons from a new perspective. Here, I will share two of the many lessons I learned:- Chapter 3 - The Dark Descent: At Kacey's first high school before she transferred to Columbine, two of her close friends committed suicide within weeks of each other. Kacey spiraled into a dark depression and made her own plan for suicide. Her friend alerted Kacey's parents of her plan. Kacey's parents called the suicide counselor, "and he sternly told them to 'act like parents.' It was confirmation of what my parents already knew. By Tuesday night, my life was no longer my own."Act like parents. These valiant Acts of Parenthood that Kacey’s parents took toward Kacey completely disrupted their lives and they knew that these acts were their responsibilities as a parent.The message this gives me: when our kids are mentally unstable, parents have to Act Like Parents and we need to take serious steps to get our children help. As parents, we know there are times when our teenagers need to wrestle with failures and disappointments on their own and we walk alongside them but let them struggle through it. However, when our teenagers are mentally unstable, we parents have to step in and step up. Mental illness is a deep issue and this is not the space to unpack solutions, but I applaud Kacey and her parents for acting upon the suicide counselor’s advice.- Chapter 10 - Beauty From Ashes: Kacey realized that by sharing her story, by being “vulnerable, others could potentially be inspired to tackle their own mountains.” Organizations began asking Kacey to speak and the speaking engagements began to pile up. She started to feel frustrated about the travel and time commitment away from her family. But a woman on the plane engaged Kacey in conversation and soon revealed the emotional trouble she was having with her teenage son. Kacey listened and acknowledged. Then Kacey told this woman her story which helped the woman see another perspective on the situation. Kacey suggested ways to reach out to her son in the same ways that her parents and church youth group had reached out to her. Kacey writes, “This is the story entrusted to me to use for a purpose far greater than I can imagine…”The message this gives me: each of us has been entrusted with a vulnerable story to share. When God places us in the position to share and we step out in faith to share, He allows us to be a part of His greater purpose.These are just two of the many lessons. This book is a courageous gift, a powerful book of perspective.

Kacey’s story of hope, resilience, and recovery is inspirational. The book is extremely well written and definitely worth the read!

Beautifully written, heartbreaking true story of courage, grit and faith. Kacey's journey should be required reading for every lawmaker, every educator, every parent.

This book is, at times, hard to read but it is a book that needs to be read. And I have recommended to everyone I know. There is a concept in literature of "Everyman" - an ordinary person with whom the reader can identify who experiences extraordinary circumstances. Let me expand that, if I may, to "Everygirl" and "Everyfamily" - because family never leaves the pages that Kacey writes.This is not that you read - this is a personal journey you experience with the turning of each page.Her voice is pure. Her voice is honest. Her voice is unflinching.And this book is not at all, "How I physically survived Columbine and emotionally healed" - that would be trite and quite untrue. There is so much more to this book because....life. And there are so many layers in life that Kacey talks about - and has the power and freedom and perspective to talk about.And her voice challenges the reader to think differently. There is one phrase that will always stay with me - I won't spoil it by sharing it.If you are not a better person from reading this book, then read it again.Thank you, Kacey, for sharing your story. And thank you for being there, to this day, to lend your voice, compassion and experience to the students and parents who have, since then, experienced what you did 20 years ago. The voice is good.

Great book, these people went through a lot.

Interesting to hear about the trauma of a victim of this tragedy.