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Hate List by Jennifer Brown Near the end of their junior year at high school, Valerie's boyfriend Nick went on a shooting spree in the cafeteria, targeting the students from their "Hate List" - a list of students and teachers who made them angry - a list started by Valerie herself. After killing 6 and injuring many others (including shooting Valerie in the thigh), Nick turned the gun on himself and committed suicide. Five months later, Val is facing her return to school for one final year. Haunted by the boyfriend she still loves and navigating rocky relationships with her family, her former friends, and the girl whose life she saved, Val must come to grips with the tragedy that took place and the guilt she lives with every minute of the day.
This is such a powerful book, and so different from other books written about fictional school shootings. Telling this story from the perspective of the shooter's girlfriend sends the reader in all kinds of emotional directions, hand in hand with the main character. This isn't just a case of a bad kid who goes crazy and brings a gun to school - we, the readers, are given opportunities to see Nick as Val and his friends saw him. We sit with Val as she undergoes psychological therapy, we spend time with her at school and see the reaction of the students who aren't sure if she is a hero or an accomplice, a bystander or a murderer. There are repercussions for this character (and everyone around her) far beyond what we would normally think about when we hear about a school shooting. Hate List is a compelling and important novel. I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy realistic fiction. There are so many lessons to be learned here about kindness, acceptance, forgiveness, caring and healing. It can be a draining and exhausting book to read, but also a very rewarding experience. "Just like there's always time for pain, there's always time for healing"
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AuthorThis book lover's blog is brought to you by the Learning Commons at Vincent Massey School, Calgary. Specifically, Ms. Gammon and various student book reviewers. We want to share our favorite titles with you! Archives
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