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My Rating: 5 stars

At the end of her junior year, May 2nd to be exact, Valerie Leftman’s boyfriend, Nick Levil, opened fire in the school cafeteria. At first, Valerie was considered to be part of the crime because of the list. The “Hate List”. The list Valerie made with Nick, at first just a way to vent her anger. A list Nick took too seriously. Valerie was as shocked as everyone else; she was even shot by Nick while she tried to protect someone else. After a summer of hiding away in her room and therapy sessions, Valerie must return to her high school for her senior year. She must face the judging eyes of the kids at school, the new rules, the teachers and even the girl whose life she saved. Val is still haunted by the memory of that day and the boyfriend she still loves. This novel shows Val’s transition from scared to brave, and her journey to make amends and move on with her life.
Let’s see if I can actually describe how much I love this book. Honestly, from page one I was hooked. The plot and characters just reeled me in. I couldn’t put it down. I adore the plotline of this book, how every chapter there is something new and Val’s experiences are so real and honest. Jennifer Brown’s characters are so realistic and well thought out that I felt like I was in the book too, going through what they were going through. They all had different personalities and problems of their own. The ending was great; it actually brought tears to my eyes. Jennifer Brown, I praise you for this perfect novel, and I can’t wait to read your others books to come.