Chelsey

Murders happen every day, but we rarely hear about the victims left behind—family and loved ones of those violently killed. Seventeen-year-old Chelsey Shannon shares her story of having her father, and only surviving parent, tragically taken from her when she was thirteen. Her story begins with the death of her father and follows her very personal journey of grief and healing. Through writing, personal growth, and ultimately finding a supportive environment at her high school for performing arts, Chelsey has come through the other side of these horrible circumstances to flourish in both her creativity and in life. 

In her lowest moments, Chesley found her only solace in writing, and her book includes some of her raw poetry and essays she wrote as a way to cope with the pain of the senseless crime that would change her life forever. Some highlights from Chelsey's story include:

Losing her mom to cancer at the age of six

The days leading up to and directly after the murder of her father

Life changes—moving to a new house, moving in with aunts

The healing process—learning to let others in and finding a way to establish meaningful connections with people again