
A parent should reach for this book when their teenager is navigating the fallout of a social crisis, or if they are exploring the complex concepts of shared responsibility and restorative justice. It is a profound choice for families wanting to discuss the nuances of bullying, school violence, and the path to redemption. The story follows Valerie, a girl whose boyfriend committed a school shooting. While she was a victim who tried to stop him, she also helped him write the Hate List that sparked the tragedy. It is a raw and realistic look at guilt, family breakdown, and the difficult journey of returning to a community that blames you for its deepest wounds. Due to the intense subject matter, it is best suited for mature readers aged 14 and up who are ready to grapple with heavy emotional questions.
Includes strong language consistent with high school settings.
Questioning whether the protagonist is a victim or an accomplice.
Explores depression, isolation, and the breakdown of a family unit.
Graphic descriptions of a school shooting and injuries.
The book deals directly with school shootings and suicide. The approach is secular and unflinching, focusing on the psychological aftermath rather than the gore of the event itself. The resolution is realistic: there is no magic fix, but there is a clear path toward healing and self-advocacy.
A mature high schooler who is interested in social justice or psychology, or a teen who feels misunderstood by their peers and is looking for a story about finding one's own voice amidst public perception.
Parents should be aware of the intense opening scenes describing the shooting. It is a book that benefits from being read alongside the teen to facilitate discussions about the signs of extreme distress in peers. A parent might reach for this after their child mentions feeling like an outcast, or if there has been a significant incident of bullying or 'cancel culture' in their local school community.
Younger teens (14) will focus on the drama of the 'Hate List' and the bullying, while older teens will likely connect more with the themes of institutional failure and the complexity of moving on after a life-altering mistake.
Unlike many books on school violence, this doesn't focus on the shooter; it focuses on the person who loved him, providing a unique look at the collateral damage of tragedy.
The story picks up six months after Valerie's boyfriend, Nick, opened fire in their high school cafeteria. Valerie, who was shot in the leg while trying to stop him, must return for her senior year. The narrative moves between the present day and the events leading up to the shooting, exploring the creation of the Hate List: a notebook where Valerie and Nick vented about their bullies. Valerie must navigate a broken home, a community that views her as an accomplice, and her own internal battle over whether she truly loved a monster.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Your experience helps other parents find the right book.
Sign in to write a review