Week Twenty-Eight Book Twenty-Four--The Hate List

Valerie Leftman has dealt with bullying and school cliques for most of her life. And she started a hate list, which is basically a list of people that make her so angry...family, friends, even celebrities. Just getting their names onto a list makes her feel relieved.

When her boyfriend, Nick, joins in on creating the list, he takes his anger far...too far. In fact, he shocks everyone (including Valerie) when he turns the hate list into a hit list and starts shooting students and teachers at the school. Valerie tries stopping him and ends up getting shot in the leg. And when Nick commits suicide, Valerie is left to face the music of her peers, community, and media. Is she the villain that the hate list portrays her as, or was she simply a student trying to deal with the constant bullying? And just because her boyfriend became a shooter, does that mean that she is also guilty by default?


This book isn't really about the school shooting...it's about Valerie's life as she deals with picking up the pieces of Nick's decision. I loved this book! I really grew to appreciate ALL of the characters and all of their various opinions. And the plot made me think about those people who are truly left behind in a tragedy--girlfriends, families, and close friends of the "villains." We don't often consider the suffering that they endure.


A great look at the character Valerie. Even the people you would expect to ALWAYS be there for her--like her family and closest friends--may surprise you by their anger or indifference.


Definitely check this out--what a relief to read after so many recent disappointments!