Olivia Wageman

Who Killed the Knapp Family? is a book by Nicolas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn which was adapted into an essay for the New York Times. Lynsey Addario photographed for the book and her pictures are featured in the essay.

The story covers the Knapp family, a family from rural Oregon. Kristof rode the schoolbus with the five Knapp children during the 1970s. The once blissful and innocent children are now adults ridden with addiction, criminal records, and despair. The story is told from Kristof’s perspective with WuDunn writing as needed to keep it from getting too informal.

The photo of Dee Knapp, the mother, who had to bury four of her children alone and with her remaining son, Keylan portrays the agony she has had to go through. She is sitting with Keylan behind her, arms on her shoulder, being the quiet strength that she desires. A photo of Dee Knapp’s granddaughter Amber taking a breathalyzer as a part of her probation shows how routine this is in her life. These photos are memorable because of the raw expressions that were captured. The way the photos are spaced in the article gives the reader time to digest the text before they are given a visual. All of Addario’s visuals strengthen the image in the reader’s head and give them emotion and texture.

This story is something to emulate as a journalist because it is factual and compelling at the same time. This story hooks readers quickly by showing them how much can change in a few decades and the impact that has on everyone around them. Who Killed the Knapp Family? reminds readers that community carries on through bad times and creates new hope for future generations.