HATE LIST

HATE LIST

By Jennifer Brown

2009

405 Pages

From Inside Cover:

What if you wished someone would die and then it happened? What if the killer was someone you loved?

Five months ago, Valerie Leftman's boyfriend, Nick, opened fire on their school cafeteria. Shot while trying to stop him, Valerie inadvertently saved the life of a classmate, but was implicated in the shootings because of the list she helped create. A list of people and things she and Nick hated. The list he used to pick his targets.

Now, after a summer of seclusion, Val is forced to confront her guilt as she returns to the school to complete her senior year. Haunted by the memory of the boyfriend she still loves and navigating rocky relationships with her family, former friends, and the girl whose life she saved, Val must come to grips with the tragedy that took place and her role in it, in order to make amends and move on with her life.

My Thoughts:

If you plan to pick up this book make sure you have a box of Kleenex handy. The story is just tragic. In light of Columbine and so many other stories of high school shootings Hate List is an important story that needs to be read by kids and adults alike.

As Val recounts the days leading up to the shooting and the horrible days after I felt myself torn between anger and sadness. The big question is-Why do things like this happen?

Val survives but the questions of her involvement remains. Is she also a victim or someone who helped plan the attack?

Emotions run high as the reader is taken on a journey that will haunt you long after the book is finished.

Overall rating:

Two thumbs way up! A MUST read.

This book was borrowed through Inter Library Loan-but I'll be pushing our library to buy a copy.