On the other hand, she’s one of the girls who daily ridiculed Valerie and made her feel like an outcast. Is Nick a bad kid destined for trouble? And what about the bullies? On one hand, Jessica is a smart and popular student who is on the Student Council.

For example, one night when Nick tried to take Valerie on a date at a drive-in theater, some wealthy classmates ruined the date by spilling drink and food on him for no reason.

On the other hand, bullies made Nick’s life both in and out of school a constant hell. Is she a villain or a hero? And what about Nick, the shooter? On one hand, he was the one who took the hate list too far by opening fire on fellow teachers and friends, including some who weren’t on the list but were simply protecting those who were. On the other hand, when she realized what was happening, she tried to stop the slaughter and got shot while trying to save another student’s life. On one hand, Valerie’s list helped set in motion the plan to kill half the population of her school. What works well is Brown’s exploration of the question of what makes a person bad or good, which she does not only through her main character, Valerie, but also through the shooter, his friends, and the bullies whose names were on the hate list. Winner of many awards, Hate List works on some levels and doesn’t work on others, but overall it’s an interesting and thought-provoking read. Because it is told from the viewpoint of the shooter’s girlfriend, it’s also daring. With school shootings occurring on a regular basis these days, Hate List by Jennifer Brown is timely.