Choosing Hope: Moving Forward from Life’s Darkest Hours by Kaitlin Roig-DeBellis with Robin Gaby Fisher

This is the story of Kaitlin Roig, a first grade teacher at Sandy Hook Elementary School.  On December 14, 2012 she crammed 16 children and herself into a small classroom bathroom, saving their lives when a shooter entered the school and killed 20 children and six adults.  

Kaitlin was an adopted child who grew up in a loving and supportive environment with strong values and unfailing belief in God.  From an early age she knew she wanted to become a teacher.  She was thrilled when she got her dream job as a first grade teacher at Sandy Hook.  

Kaitlin was a devoted and dedicated teacher who wanted her students not just to succeed academically, but to become kind, compassionate people.  The students loved and trusted her implicitly, so when they heard the sound of gunshots and Kaitlin urged the students into their tiny bathroom, they followed without a qualm.  Her description of the actual event is compelling and chilling beyond words.

What followed after the shooting were dark days and nights of depression and fear for Kaitlin as she relived the terror and tried to understand why it had happened.  It was in a therapy session that she suddenly realized that for her, healing could only come from action, and that the act of giving is what would allow her to survive and thrive.  She came to understand that while we cannot control all the bad things that may happen to us, we can control how we respond to them.  Kaitlin chose hope.

Wanting to bring this spirit of giving to others, Kaitlin, no longer a classroom teacher, formed a non-profit organization.  Classes 4 Classes is a website that connects children who need classroom materials with children who want to work to provide them.  Since it launched in April 2013, Classes 4 Classes has served more than a thousand students in ten states, and has been featured in many major publications.  Kaitlin is a sought-after motivational and inspirational speaker who continues to carry her message to audiences throughout the country - when you face your darkest hour, choose hope.

Reviewed by Kate Tesdell