Hate List

Brown, Jennifer. Hate List. New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2009. 408. Print.

ISBN-13: 978-0316041447

Valerie is alone. Her parents are constantly arguing, her friends act like she doesn’t exist, and most of the people in the community think she should be dead. Valerie’s boyfriend, the person she trusted more than anyone else, shattered her life when he brought a gun to school and wounded several students and killed many others, including himself. Most people believe Valerie was involved, but she had no idea what Nick was planning. Valarie was implicated in the shootings because of the list she helped create; a list of people and things she and Nick hated. This is the same list Nick used to pick his targets.

After spending weeks in the hospital recovering from a near fatal gunshot wound to the leg, Valerie is moved to the psychiatric ward for observation. During the many therapy sessions, she begins to think back on her relationship with Nick and all the events that led up to the terrible event that transformed an entire community. Following the summer after the shooting, Valerie is forced to confront her guilt as she returns to same school where the shooting took place. Valerie must come to grips with the tragedy and her role in it, in order to move on with her life.

Hate List is an extremely powerful story. I was in tears for the last eighty pages and felt emotionally drained by the time I reached the last page. Jennifer Brown has given us a wonderful example of the importance of keeping a watchful eye out for bullying in our schools.

Valerie is a strong character and it was a pleasure to witness her healing process. Once I started Hate List I couldn’t stop. I read every chance I could. Even though the subject matter is very serious, this book was a pleasure to read

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