The story opens as Valerie Leftman is preparing to return to school after a school shooting that left many dead and others including herself injured; perpetrated by her now dead boyfriend Nick. Readers soon discover that the list of targets was created in part by Val in the form of a Hate List; a list of all the people that have ever wronged her of Nick.
Each chapter is introduced by a newspaper-type article relaying pieces the events of the fateful day in May. As Valerie attempts to rebuild a life by returning to school she is forced to face blame and hatred over the event, loss of friendships, guilt over the shooting and loss of a first love. As the story progresses we learn that Valerie was unaware of Nick’s plan, yet feels responsible for the events that occurred. She attempts to grieve over her lost love all while learning to accept that these events were not her fault. Through the help of her caring psychologist and one of the intended victims, Valerie is able to move past the guilt and grief and become a stronger person.
Brown does not shy away from the graphic representation of school violence and creates realistic high school setting; before and after the event. Valerie and Nick are well drawn allowing them to be flawed yet in the same instance human. Brown does not vilify Nick for his actions, and allows reader to see him as Valerie had before the shootings and helps reader to understand her grief. While many of the adults are flat and underdeveloped they are not perfect either. Val’s mother has difficulty dealing with her daughter after the events, and Val discovers that her father is having an affair and still blames his daughter for the events that took place. Positive adults do exist and perhaps the most touching relationship in the novel is between Val and her therapist, an individual who understands her better than she understands herself.
At the conclusion, this novel will have readers emotionally raw, yet inspired and guaranteed to leave a lasting impression.
Each chapter is introduced by a newspaper-type article relaying pieces the events of the fateful day in May. As Valerie attempts to rebuild a life by returning to school she is forced to face blame and hatred over the event, loss of friendships, guilt over the shooting and loss of a first love. As the story progresses we learn that Valerie was unaware of Nick’s plan, yet feels responsible for the events that occurred. She attempts to grieve over her lost love all while learning to accept that these events were not her fault. Through the help of her caring psychologist and one of the intended victims, Valerie is able to move past the guilt and grief and become a stronger person.
Brown does not shy away from the graphic representation of school violence and creates realistic high school setting; before and after the event. Valerie and Nick are well drawn allowing them to be flawed yet in the same instance human. Brown does not vilify Nick for his actions, and allows reader to see him as Valerie had before the shootings and helps reader to understand her grief. While many of the adults are flat and underdeveloped they are not perfect either. Val’s mother has difficulty dealing with her daughter after the events, and Val discovers that her father is having an affair and still blames his daughter for the events that took place. Positive adults do exist and perhaps the most touching relationship in the novel is between Val and her therapist, an individual who understands her better than she understands herself.
At the conclusion, this novel will have readers emotionally raw, yet inspired and guaranteed to leave a lasting impression.
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