Book Review: Hate List by Jennifer Brown

For Valerie Leftman and her fellow high schoolers, life changed drastically on May 2nd. That was the day Nick Levil, Valerie's boyfriend, opened fire on his classmates, killing six and wounding many others before killing himself. Although Valerie had no idea of his plan and was shot herself while trying to stop Nick, everyone believes she was involved because of the "hate list" - a notebook Nick and Valerie kept of names of people who had angered or upset them. Valerie used it as a way to vent her frustrations, but for Nick it was much more.

During the summer, and as she heads into her senior year, Valerie is forced to deal with the physical and emotional pain of recovering. The story of the shooting unfolds for readers through newspaper articles and flashbacks as Valerie attempts to move on. Hate List is a heavy but captivating book. Fans of realistic fiction like Wintergirls, If I Stay, 13 Reasons Why, and Nineteen Minutes should give it a try.



Hate List
By Brown, Jennifer
2009-09 - Little, Brown Young Readers
9780316041447 Check the Library's Catalog

After Valerie Leftman's boyfriend, Nick, opens fire on their school cafeteria, Val is shot trying to stop him, but is implicated in the shootings because of the list she helped create. Now, Val is forced to confront her guilt as she returns to school to complete her senior year. …More