Interesting characters, a fast pace and a lot of dialogue make this a quick but thought-provoking read. In Hate List, Valerie journeys through fear, pain and anguish in the aftermath of a school shooting – among the victims are students whose names figured on a hate list that Valerie had co-authored with her boyfriend Nick. Valerie, injured at the shoot-out, now has to return to school and face grieving and hostile students. Her analyst Dr. Hieler is a wall of protection and support. Like so with Valerie’s mom…I like the way she nags Valerie about her choices, blames her, argues with her, sniffles, storms and supports her. She is really very human as she struggles with a marriage that is nearing its end and wonders what to think of a daughter whose boyfriend was the killer at the school shooting. And you have to dislike Valerie’s unsupportive Dad who is neither invested in his marriage nor in parenting. The reader gets a numbing feel of how the surviving victims must live out the trauma repeatedly - healing is a long and tough journey. Nick, the killer is shown to be a nice kid and as much as a victim as his victims. In the end, the author successfully creates a space where you suspend judgment and blame. But you still know that the world remains an unsafe place where a bullied child’s anger may explode is ways that are tragic and will tell history in a way that everyone will wish rewritten. Reviewed by KB

Hate List is a remarkable story, neither slow nor ordinary. The characters in the book is what made the story so gripping. A must read!

I highly recommend the Hate List. My hope is that it makes people stop and think about how their words and actions can hurt others. In no way does this excuse the actions of the shooter. I would like to see all high school students and teachers read this book. Actually I think that everybody should read this. It is very well written.

I can definitely understand and relate to where Nick and Valerie were coming from with their Hate List. Yeah, they took it too far, but it wasn't just their fault. If people learned to be nice and respect one another, stuff like this wouldn't happen. Also, as she's pondering whether or not she's a hero, I'd say she is and isn't. Not everything is black and white, so it makes sense she could be both. Overall a really good read.

This book should definitely be mandatory reading for high schoolers. I don't think a lot of people realize how bullying can affect a person, and this story is a really good - although extreme - case of what could happen. I liked Valerie, although she was a little selfish, and I sometimes disliked her a little bit for starting The Hate List. With Nick, I hated him for killing all those people, but I also understood his anger with the bullies, and basically his whole life. Valerie's parents made me really upset when they kept blaming her for the shooting, and flat out said she ruined their lives. I do think Valerie should have picked up on all of the hints Nick left about how he felt towards his bullies, and his extreme anger. I also kinda think that Nick may have either been on drugs the day of the shooting, or all the bullying he had suffered just made him completely lose his mind, and he didn't know what he was doing. The author of this book is from Kansas City, Missouri, and the story took place in Missouri, so that definitely made this story more personal for me. One of the colleges they mentioned in this book is only 20 miles away from where I live! Valerie's mom drives a tan Buick car, and my mom used to drive a tan Buick car. Valerie's school's commons is where everyone gathers in the morning (even though it's not by the front entrance) and eats lunch, and that's exactly how my school's commons is, also! I kinda felt like this book was based off of my school, which was really creepy. Overall, I would definitely recommend this book - the writing style isn't that great, but the actual story is something everyone should read!

A little slow at the start, but my advice, don't stop reading it! It's an amazing book!

WOW! What a great book. Couldn't put it down.

i really liked it, at first yea, it's kinda a bit slow but it's such a good freakin' book. just read :)

So SAD!!!! I feel for everyone in this book!!!

it was good. kinda slow and a bit confusing and overdramatic. but, I guess because of the plot it has to be. I did really enjoy it though, and it is a great read!!!