Hate List: The Aftermath of a Tragedy

The recent events of the shooting in Tucson, Arizona have caused much outrage and uncertain emotions amongst the victims, the families, and every American. The truth is that we were all victims. Some of us were hurt more than others, but everyone found their lives affected by this horrendous event. Many people claim the shooter, 22-year-old Jared Loughner, was mentally unstable, and it was a mental illness that caused him to commit this crime. Others protest that, mentally unstable or not, Loughner did commit this crime willingly and should be charged appropriately. Some say this shooting could have been prevented, others disagree.

Even with knowing all this information, supplied by the TV and newspaper, I am not exactly sure what to think.
As I am sure many other Americans feel, too.

Which brings me to a book I read recently, Hate List by Jennifer Brown. This novel follows the aftermath of a school shooting that leaves six dead and countless injured. The book's protagonist, Valerie Leftman, was the girlfriend to the shooter, Nick Levil. She has to cope and deal with unwanted emotions that come from knowing that she played a part in the shooting, a part that left fellow classmates dead, including Nick after he turned the gun on himself.

Ever since they first met, Valerie and Nick always seemed to fit together. They were both outcasts, bullied and tormented by the so-called "perfects" at their school. They were both interested in death, homicide, suicide, and otherwise. And they both had strong feelings for those they hated. There were many people, concepts, and things that Nick and Val hated. The two began to create a notebook, referred to as the Hate List, of things they never wish existed. Things they wanted dead. Nick would often joke about how things would be so much better if the things and people on the List would just disappear, gone forever. Val agreed it would be nice to live a life without these things, but she would never actually consider it to happen. The Hate List was an escape for her, just a list, nothing more. Later, it was clearly obvious to Val that the List meant something more to Nick.

The book begins with the start of a new school year for Valerie, after the shooting happened the previous May. She was nervous about her first day back, but thought going back was the best thing to do. She didn't want her already fragile family to fall apart after the thought of having to move, so Valerie continues to attend the same school, the same place the shooting occurred. Upon returning, Valerie is viewed as many different things: a villain, for being a part of the crime, a hero, for stopping Nick and saving someone that was on the Hate List, and a victim, for taking a bullet in the leg.

Told from the present and the past, this book carefully examines all emotions that come from a tragedy. Valerie becomes depressed during the summer after the shooting. Her parents don't know what to do with her. Her younger brother gets caught in the mix of rage and sadness that comes after someone you love does something so out of character.

Fortunately, with help of her therapist, Dr. Hieler, and a local art teacher, Bea, Valerie begins to see the importance and meaning in life. She starts seeing the truth in people, she realizes the people who are her true friends. And lastly, she lets go of Nick. The Nick Valerie knew was not the same Nick she saw in her school Commons area that May. She happily remembers their days together, but comes to an understanding that he is gone. Valerie finally sees the world for what it really is.

Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars