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Summary

Life changed forever on Valentine's Day 2018 for Fred Guttenberg and his family. What should have been a day of love turned into a nightmare. Seventeen people died at Florida’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Fourteen-year-old Jaime Guttenberg was the second to last victim.

From grieving to activism. That Jaime and so many of her fellow students were struck down in cold blood galvanized many to action, including Jaime’s father Fred now an activist dedicated to passing common sense gun safety legislation. But this book is not about gun safety or Parkland.

Fred was already struggling with deep personal loss. Four months earlier his brother Michael died of 9/11 induced pancreatic cancer. He had been exposed to too much dust and chemicals at Ground Zero. Michael battled heroically for nearly five years and then died at age fifty.

Find the Helpers has a special meaning to the Guttenberg’s. It was a beloved family wisdom learned from watching Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. In the midst of tragedy, "always look for the helpers. There will always be helpers. Because if you look for the helpers, you’ll know there’s hope." ―Fred Rogers, 1999

Healing from grief. Discover the story of Fred Guttenberg’s journey since Jaime’s death and how he has been able to get through the worst of times thanks to the kindness and compassion of others. Good things happen to good people at the hands of other good people─and the world is filled with them. They include everyone from amazing gun violence survivors Fred has met to former VP Joe Biden, who spent time talking to him about finding mission and purpose in learning to grieve.

Review

I can't imagine being in the shoes of Fred Guttenberg. Here is someone who experienced one of the most difficult tragedies a parent could endure but found a way to take that pain and give it a voice. As I applaud and commend the proactive stance he took on his journey, I sit back upon reflection, humbled by his fearless conviction to be the voice his daughter is unable to be by fighting for regulation that could protect others alike.

Fred Guttenberg is one of the parents who tragically lost their child in the Parkland School shooting. His book, Find the Helpers, isn’t about what happened that day but his journey navigating through his life after.This journey, through the help of his family, friends, and community, gave him the courage to find a purpose to fight for life.

I couldn’t and didn’t want to put this book down. From the first chapter, he had a voice that I had to listen to. I found the book inspiring because of the length and battle he has fought to protect other people and his support for gun safety. His pain, loss, and grief permeate through the chapters. His story could be replaced by anyone at any time.

Overall, I found this such a captivating read that I recommend reading his journey. His powerful message will resonate and make you hopefully appreciate how precious life is. The takeaway message out of this tragedy is important and deserves to be heard. I recommend adding this to your reading list.