Hate List by Jennifer Brown

Rating:
Characters: 19/20
Plot: 20/20
Originality: 19/20
Writing: 20/20
Recommendation: 20/20
Overall: 98/100 or A

Five months ago, Valerie Leftman's boyfriend, Nick opened fire on their school cafeteria. Six were killed, many were injured, and a whole community changed in less then an hour. Val saves the life of a fellow classmate, but is still implicated in the shooting in the media. She helped make a list of things that Nick and her hated. The very list that Nick used to pick his targets.

After a summer of seclusion, Val is forced to go back to school for her senior year. She haunted by the memory of the boyfriend that she still loves. She also has to navigate the rocky relationship with her family, former friend, and the girl whose life she saved. Val must come to terms on what happened that day and make amends with those that she lost and those that are still there.

Valerie was an amazing strong character. She has a different personality then most people in that situation. I loved Jessica Campbell. It took a lot of courage to be friends with Valerie, but I think that she found that from being alive. The plot of Hate List is emotional. Full of anger, confusion, and at the end, hope. It was so hard to stop reading at points. Brown crafts an original novel. I liked how most chapters had a quote or a newspaper article in the front. Brown is amazing writer and someone to look for future books. I highly recommend this book, but be prepared to cry. Hate List comes out September 1st.