Andrea: Hate List by Jennifer Brown

 

Five months ago, Valerie Leftman's boyfriend, Nick, opened fire on their school cafeteria. Shot trying to stop him, Valerie inadvertently saved the life of a classmate, but was implicated in the shootings because of the list she helped create. A list of people and things she and Nick hated. The list he used to pick his targets.

Now, after a summer of seclusion, Val is forced to confront her guilt as she returns to school to complete her senior year. Haunted by the memory of the boyfriend she still loves and navigating rocky relationships with her family, former friends and the girl whose life she saved, Val must come to grips with the tragedy that took place and her role in it, in order to make amends and move on with her life.

 This book in particular struck me in ways that I didn't think was possible. Val, the main character goes back to school, mainly to make her mother happy. As she walks into the school, she is looked at with fear, disgust, and shock. Can you imagine walking into a building and have no one to be there for you? Not even your old friends? She goes into her classroom and it even goes to the point where a victim of her old boyfriend's shooting starts crying and has to leave the room, and eventually the school.

This book's writing style is an easy read, yet keeps you guessing. You start off with her normal life, however you travel back to her memories. I started off the book wondering what Nick would be like, would he be one of those abusive boyfriends, or one of those who didn't seem to care for their girlfriends? Reading on, it shocked me how amazing of a guy he was. He liked Shakespeare, he really seemed to love Val, and was such a sweet and romantic guy, and throughout the book, you wonder, why? Why did he do that? Was it to save Val from the people they put on the hatelist? Was it to satisfy himself? Was he pressured into it? One of the interesting ways done by the author, is that she ends the book on a big hanging question, allowing you to decide for yourself.

Her younger brother Frankie is one of the sweetest characters. He was always there for Val, even though you could just feel that he was having a hard time coping with the family issues and Val herself. What really moved me was Jessica Campbell. She was one of Val's bullies before the shooting. It's amazing how one event just happens that you never expected to happen, and this just proves that people can change. Jessica was a popular who had everything, friends, poplularity, and yet after Val saved her life, she pushed all that aside, at the cost of her reputation to try her hardest to befriend Val and get her out of her shell. She was just the most amazing person in the book and really shocked me. 

This was definitely another book that greatly moved me. Of course, you can never judge a book by it's cover. You must get to know them first before judging, that is one of the most important points to remember. Also, you must always look at the bright side, the past is the past, and you must look forward to the new possibilities that you have. If someone is in trouble, or needs support, lend them a helping hand. Sometimes all people need to keep them from going the wrong direction is knowing that someone is there for them. I recommend this book for everyone to read, and I think it will encourage you to at change a bit yourself to help others. 

My rating:

five out of five stars