The Hate List
Jennifer Brown
*****
Valerie never intended for her boyfriend, Nick Levil, to use their list. The list was just between them. Nobody was supposed to die.
Valerie is a hero. But she doesn’t always believe so. The last school year ended with her boyfriend, Nick, shooting up the school. Now as she looks back, she sees the warning signs that were supposedly clear, at how unstable Nick really was. While trying to find her life and carry on as if the shooting never happened, that Nick never shot anyone, Valerie endures a constant inward battle against herself and her emotions. Along with a battle against her peers, some who believe Valerie should have killed herself along with Nick. Valerie’s struggles create an emotional tale of woe, and show just how hard “moving on” can be, not just for a single person, but for a community.
I highly recommend this book, it’s a page turner, and an excellent read.
11 comments:
This was my review of the same book. I got to listen to the author of this book at a workshop I went to. Quite interesting. She usually writes humor and this was her first YA novel.
4.0 out of 5 stars How do you go on after your boyfriend goes on a shooting rampage?, November 2, 2009
This was an excellent YA novel about the aftermath of a school shooting. The protagonist, Valerie, was the girlfriend of the shooter and has to live with the consequences of being known as his ally and as the co-author of the "hate list" that instigated the bloodshed. Was she involved? Did she know he was going to do this?
Valerie returns to high school the fall after the shootings. She is shunned and feared, but tries to continue on. She's been in therapy and she's working through the feelings she has about her boyfriend Nick -- the guy she loved vs the boy who shot her classmates. How did she not know that he was planning this?
This is a well done novel about the aftermath of school violence. How people adapt, change, come to terms with the senseless act. The reactions of enemies, friends, family -- it's all here. There are no pat answers and Valerie isn't magically cured. The violent act changes everyone.
Recommend!
Ms C.
Wow, sounds so depressing. I should read this, everyone I've talked to about it loves it!
It so good Johanna, im sure you'll enjoy it.
GROSS! This seems like another book like Deadline were someone is being stupid and ends up blamming everyone else for their problems and issues.
Well, this sounds both intriguing and really messed up... I'm gonna have to ponder whether or not I'm gonna read this one.
With all the good reviews, I'm going to have to check out this book.
I would love to do this one for a book club!
I recently finished reading this book and it was amazing. To read about what this girl went through especially through high school....Wow definately recommend this book for book club.
this read sounds like a good one. yet it might be depressing, it leaves you wondering in a sense. what if you were in her shoes.. how would you react. im definitely going to read this one.
I think this should be a book club book!
This book sounds very interesting i might want to read this book.
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