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!

Book Summary

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."