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Hate List
Say Something: A Hate List Novella
In Hate List, Jennifer Brown delivered a powerful story about grief, friendship, and forgiveness in the aftermath of a school shooting. Now, she explores an evocative new narrative while digging deeper into the themes first touched upon in her debut novel.
David Judy knows what it's like to be bullied. Shy and gentle, with a soft voice and "a girl's name for a last name", he is a prime target.
Thankfully, there's one girl David feels at ease with - Valerie, the girl who's been dating his neighbor and sometimes-friend, Nick. Valerie is kind to David and pulls him into their circle of outcast friends, where he finally feels like he (sort of) belongs. So when David starts to suspect that Nick and his friend Jeremy are planning a revenge plot against their tormentors, he wrestles with whether or not to tell someone. By the time he finally works up the courage to say something...it's too late.
David tries to put what he knows behind him - to forget and move on - but that's hard to do as senior year starts and he watches his old friend, Valerie, struggle in a deep, dark place of guilt and confusion. It's time to speak up. David may not be able to end bullying, but by standing up, he might just make a difference. And that's what matters.
David Judy knows what it's like to be bullied. Shy and gentle, with a soft voice and "a girl's name for a last name", he is a prime target.
Thankfully, there's one girl David feels at ease with - Valerie, the girl who's been dating his neighbor and sometimes-friend, Nick. Valerie is kind to David and pulls him into their circle of outcast friends, where he finally feels like he (sort of) belongs. So when David starts to suspect that Nick and his friend Jeremy are planning a revenge plot against their tormentors, he wrestles with whether or not to tell someone. By the time he finally works up the courage to say something...it's too late.
David tries to put what he knows behind him - to forget and move on - but that's hard to do as senior year starts and he watches his old friend, Valerie, struggle in a deep, dark place of guilt and confusion. It's time to speak up. David may not be able to end bullying, but by standing up, he might just make a difference. And that's what matters.
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First published January 7, 2014
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About the author
Jennifer Brown
33 books1,631 followersTwo-time winner of the Erma Bombeck Global Humor Award (2005 & 2006), Jennifer's weekly humor column appeared in The Kansas City Star for over four years, until she gave it up to be a full-time young adult novelist.
Jennifer's debut novel, HATE LIST (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2009) received three starred reviews and was selected as an ALA Best Book for Young Adults, a VOYA "Perfect Ten," and a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year. HATE LIST also won the Michigan Library Association's Thumbs Up! Award, the Louisiana Teen Readers Choice award, the 2012 Oklahoma Sequoyah Book Award, was an honorable mention for the 2011 Arkansas Teen Book Award, is a YALSA 2012 Popular Paperback, received spots on the Texas Library Association's Taysha's high school reading list as well as the Missouri Library Association's Missouri Gateway Awards list, and has been chosen to represent the state of Missouri in the 2012 National Book Festival in Washington, DC. Jennifer's second novel, BITTER END, (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2011) received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and VOYA and is listed on the YALSA 2012 Best Fiction for Young Adults list and is a 2012 Taysha's high school reading list pick as well.
Jennifer writes and lives in the Kansas City, Missouri area, with her husband and three children.
Jennifer's debut novel, HATE LIST (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2009) received three starred reviews and was selected as an ALA Best Book for Young Adults, a VOYA "Perfect Ten," and a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year. HATE LIST also won the Michigan Library Association's Thumbs Up! Award, the Louisiana Teen Readers Choice award, the 2012 Oklahoma Sequoyah Book Award, was an honorable mention for the 2011 Arkansas Teen Book Award, is a YALSA 2012 Popular Paperback, received spots on the Texas Library Association's Taysha's high school reading list as well as the Missouri Library Association's Missouri Gateway Awards list, and has been chosen to represent the state of Missouri in the 2012 National Book Festival in Washington, DC. Jennifer's second novel, BITTER END, (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2011) received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and VOYA and is listed on the YALSA 2012 Best Fiction for Young Adults list and is a 2012 Taysha's high school reading list pick as well.
Jennifer writes and lives in the Kansas City, Missouri area, with her husband and three children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 144 reviews
January 15, 2016
What if there was a school shooting? What if people died? What if the school shooter was your friend, Nick? What if people blamed his girlfriend, Valerie, for knowing and not stopping the shooting? And you had a crush on her? And what if you were the one who knew what he was planning, but were afraid to tell? And what if you're still afraid to tell, even though you know Valerie knew nothing about the shooting? David Judy, the boy with the last name of a girl, struggles with what he thinks he knows, what thought he knew, and who and how to tell.
In SAY SOMETHING, we're privy to David's first person account begins the September before the shooting, and switches between then and the September after the shooting time frames in this sequel to Jennifer Brown's THE HATE LIST which was narrated by Valerie. David's point of view, as a victim of bullying shows Nick, the shooter not as a monstrous murderer, but as a troubled young man who had been mercilessly, systematically bullied. His peers who could have intervened didn't know how, and feared for their own victimization. Adults how could have intervened didn't. Bullies who knew better. None of the characters are stereotypes or one dimensional and by the end we see characters at their worst, best and in between. While violence and school shooting can never be condoned, I found myself empathizing with most of the characters.
Read THE HATE LIST, then immediately read SAY SOMETHING.
In SAY SOMETHING, we're privy to David's first person account begins the September before the shooting, and switches between then and the September after the shooting time frames in this sequel to Jennifer Brown's THE HATE LIST which was narrated by Valerie. David's point of view, as a victim of bullying shows Nick, the shooter not as a monstrous murderer, but as a troubled young man who had been mercilessly, systematically bullied. His peers who could have intervened didn't know how, and feared for their own victimization. Adults how could have intervened didn't. Bullies who knew better. None of the characters are stereotypes or one dimensional and by the end we see characters at their worst, best and in between. While violence and school shooting can never be condoned, I found myself empathizing with most of the characters.
Read THE HATE LIST, then immediately read SAY SOMETHING.
January 2, 2017
Jennifer Brown doesn't disappoint in the Hate List Novella "Say Something." I loved "Hate List" and finding out there is a novella, I was thrilled but also worried that it wouldn't do the book justice, as is often the case with novellas. But that definitely wasn't a problem here.
The novella is from the POV of David, a friend of the school shooter Nick and his girlfriend Valerie. A boy who is sensitive, sweet and emotional. All those traits might seem like a good thing when you're an adult, but when you're in high school, it's the recipe to become the target of jocks and the so-called cool kids.
David deals with bullying that goes way beyond just calling him names. Though it makes his high school life hell, he weathers it. Until things suddenly change and his best friend shoots up the school, killing and injuring people.
David is left behind not with survivor's guilt, but the guilt of having had the knowledge what's going to happen and not being able to stop it. Of having seen the signs and not spoken out. Of letting down the one person he cares about.
This book was moving and touching. David's remorse, his pain and his guilt at times brought me to tears. It was hard to blame him and it was difficult not to blame him for not stopping Nick.
I enjoyed getting more information about the times when Nick wasn't with Valerie, times we didn't get to see in the first book.
"Say Something" is a great novella that is definitely worth reading.
4 I-wish-he-would've-said-something stars.
The novella is from the POV of David, a friend of the school shooter Nick and his girlfriend Valerie. A boy who is sensitive, sweet and emotional. All those traits might seem like a good thing when you're an adult, but when you're in high school, it's the recipe to become the target of jocks and the so-called cool kids.
David deals with bullying that goes way beyond just calling him names. Though it makes his high school life hell, he weathers it. Until things suddenly change and his best friend shoots up the school, killing and injuring people.
David is left behind not with survivor's guilt, but the guilt of having had the knowledge what's going to happen and not being able to stop it. Of having seen the signs and not spoken out. Of letting down the one person he cares about.
This book was moving and touching. David's remorse, his pain and his guilt at times brought me to tears. It was hard to blame him and it was difficult not to blame him for not stopping Nick.
I enjoyed getting more information about the times when Nick wasn't with Valerie, times we didn't get to see in the first book.
"Say Something" is a great novella that is definitely worth reading.
4 I-wish-he-would've-said-something stars.
January 12, 2020
Readers of The Phantom Paragrapher will know that a topic that I find fascinating and I like to read about is school shootings, as someone who was bullied I can feel for the loners and the outliers as often I feel like an outcast myself - yet I know I wouldn't go to the acts of extreme that these people committed. One of the very first schools shooting novels that I read was The Hate List by Jennifer Brown. This novella was released in 2014 and is a book that I have had sitting on my kindle for years. Say Something is set the beginning of the senior year and going through the aftermath of the incident and the school trying to return back to some sort of normalcy. Say Something is told from the perspective of David Judy who was good friends with Nick - he was the shooter. During this book, David starts to flashback to memories before the shooting and realizes that he knew Nick was going to do something but at the time he didn't say anything and this novella - David will see incidents and just wish that people would speak up but he soon learns that the world is silenced and more often than not filled with cowards who are too scared to confront what is happening. If only David had said something, would Nick still be alive today? Would those who have been killed be here? Would anything have changed? Find out in Say Something by Jennifer Brown - a novella that will leave you thinking the " What If " questions.
April 11, 2016
Initial reaction: "Say Something" is a great follow-up narrative to Brown's "Hate List". Brief read, but very emotional subject matter.
Full review:
Though this was a very brief read, I still wanted to pick my heart up off the floor after reading "Say Something." David is the main character for this narrative - former friend to Valerie, also suffering from survivor's guilt in the aftermath of the school shooting of their junior year. The narrative flips back and forth between junior and senior year, narrating David's experiences with physical and verbal bullying, being helped in an unexpected place by the absolute last person he thought possible, and struggling between his guilt in silence and being able to "say something." (Interestingly enough, I had A Great Big World's "Say Something" running through my head as I read this novella.)
I thought this was written with the same maturity and heart as "Hate List", with decent pacing between the past and present. David's range of emotions in the before, during and aftermath of the shooting are palpable. I appreciated the narrative for what it offered, though I'll admit it was over about as soon as it began. It's definitely a narrative I'd recommend reading after "Hate List" to get the full impact and weight of the story.
Overall score: 4/5 stars.
Full review:
Though this was a very brief read, I still wanted to pick my heart up off the floor after reading "Say Something." David is the main character for this narrative - former friend to Valerie, also suffering from survivor's guilt in the aftermath of the school shooting of their junior year. The narrative flips back and forth between junior and senior year, narrating David's experiences with physical and verbal bullying, being helped in an unexpected place by the absolute last person he thought possible, and struggling between his guilt in silence and being able to "say something." (Interestingly enough, I had A Great Big World's "Say Something" running through my head as I read this novella.)
I thought this was written with the same maturity and heart as "Hate List", with decent pacing between the past and present. David's range of emotions in the before, during and aftermath of the shooting are palpable. I appreciated the narrative for what it offered, though I'll admit it was over about as soon as it began. It's definitely a narrative I'd recommend reading after "Hate List" to get the full impact and weight of the story.
Overall score: 4/5 stars.
September 8, 2015
The whole time I was reading Great Big Worlds song "Say Something" was playing in my head. This book is amazing and I loved it! Although it was just a novella, it was just as powerful as Hate List. David Judy is someone we can all relate to, and even though he didn't say something until it was to late, he was still dealing with stuff inside and he was sort of like Nick. One day he just snapped and couldn't take it anymore, the only difference is Nick did something, when he should have said something like David.
June 29, 2015
This was such a wonderful and thought provoking novellas. Hate List is one of my favorites so I am glad I also enjoyed this one. I would highly recommend reading Hate List! You read the novella after you read that one.
October 26, 2023
was it needed? not at all. did I regret reading it? that's debatable. it wasn't a horrible book, but compared to Hate List, it sucked. i didn't expect much (especially with the short length of the book) but there was only one time throughout the whole novella that I actually felt something other than boredom. i would much rather have had Nick's or even Duce's perspective rather than a person i completely forgot was even in their friend group.
April 5, 2025
"Say something. Nobody would know the truth. Did the truth even matter anymore?"
I don't even know what to say rn.
"Nick looked up, and our eyes locked. His mouth twitched on one side in the tiniest of smirks. He looked scared. But also proud. And in that moment when we stared at each other, I felt it. I felt him thinking, This is ours. Because he wasn’t the only one who put Chris’s name on the hate list. I was guilty, too."
"I’d known it all along and had been telling myself I was wrong. But I was so right. Nick Levil was going to shoot up the school."
February 4, 2018
Hate List was probably my favourite novel of Jennifer Brown. While the subject matter was difficult to read, it was so real and so expertly written.
This is David’s story; one of the school shooter’s closest friends. One that thinks he could have stopped it, one who knew a little too late what would happen. All the signs were there, David didn’t put it all together until that morning. He had several choices but maybe made the wrong one. Was it out of denial or fear but it was too little too late and now he lives with the knowledge that it’s his fault and he should have said something. Now he’s just afraid to, scared that he’ll become ostracized and hated.
Say something is a little of the aftermath; how students adjusted and what followed. It really saddened me that after all that had transpired, it seemed not a lot had changed. The popular people were still the same; the outcasts were still cast out and the bullying just continued as if there was nothing learned by the horrible events of that day. This novella was emotional and my heart broke for the boy who had known too much and now lives with the guilt of it.
Great Novella, Jennifer Brown continues to be one of my favourite young Adult authors.
This is David’s story; one of the school shooter’s closest friends. One that thinks he could have stopped it, one who knew a little too late what would happen. All the signs were there, David didn’t put it all together until that morning. He had several choices but maybe made the wrong one. Was it out of denial or fear but it was too little too late and now he lives with the knowledge that it’s his fault and he should have said something. Now he’s just afraid to, scared that he’ll become ostracized and hated.
Say something is a little of the aftermath; how students adjusted and what followed. It really saddened me that after all that had transpired, it seemed not a lot had changed. The popular people were still the same; the outcasts were still cast out and the bullying just continued as if there was nothing learned by the horrible events of that day. This novella was emotional and my heart broke for the boy who had known too much and now lives with the guilt of it.
Great Novella, Jennifer Brown continues to be one of my favourite young Adult authors.
November 24, 2023
Ini side story dari cerita penembakan di Garvin High dari buku Hate List. Tokoh utamanya adalah David Judy, salah satu teman Nick dan Valerie. David digambarkan lemah dan penakut. Dia sering diejek Chris Summers dan Jacob Kinney sebagai gay.
Secara mengejutkan, dia tahu bahwa Nick memperlihatkan tanda-tanda tidak beres sebelum hari penembakan. Dia melihat bahwa nama-nama orang di Daftar Kebencian sudah dicoret. Dia juga melihat Nick membawa pistol bersama Jeremy di Blue Lake. Dia bahkan tahu tempat Jeremy kemungkinan bersembunyi. Tapi dia terlalu takut untuk memberi tahu siapa pun.
Kita bisa saja merasa kesal dengan ketidakberdayaan David di sepanjang cerita. Tapi jika kita ditempatkan di posisi David, sanggupkah kita membuka suara?
Secara mengejutkan, dia tahu bahwa Nick memperlihatkan tanda-tanda tidak beres sebelum hari penembakan. Dia melihat bahwa nama-nama orang di Daftar Kebencian sudah dicoret. Dia juga melihat Nick membawa pistol bersama Jeremy di Blue Lake. Dia bahkan tahu tempat Jeremy kemungkinan bersembunyi. Tapi dia terlalu takut untuk memberi tahu siapa pun.
Kita bisa saja merasa kesal dengan ketidakberdayaan David di sepanjang cerita. Tapi jika kita ditempatkan di posisi David, sanggupkah kita membuka suara?
December 31, 2019
This guy sort of irritates me a little but I understand his fears so I don't hate him hate him. Ugh the only thing that makes me want to smack him is
April 27, 2017
Great preview to Hate List.
April 26, 2018
That moment when you like a novella more than the actual book oh
October 12, 2018
Review to come:
This is a novella to the hate list. I really enjoyed it. Brief read, but very emotional subject
This is a novella to the hate list. I really enjoyed it. Brief read, but very emotional subject
October 10, 2023
I've been waiting to read this e-book for awhile since it's a different character's POV from one of my favorite books, THE HATE LIST. Glad I finally tracked it down to read yesterday! (Shoutout to Kim for her help, thank you and Atheneum!) It was interesting being back in this world and a pretty easy transition since I'd just reread THE HATE LIST. I didn't expect the book to be from David's POV as he was a pretty minor character, but it was interesting to get his take on things. I couldn't believe all that he'd known and not told anyone about, the biggest (spoiler alert!) being seeing Nick's gun as he walked into the school that day. Like what?! At the same time I knew the shooting couldn't be stopped. It was just awful that David had a lot of warning signs and didn't tell anyone about it. Oh, the other big one that bugged me a lot was that he knew where Jeremy was and no one tracked him down for a year. UGH, really David?! I did find it interesting to hear from a witness that Chris Summers DID actually help people before he was killed. I didn't totally believe the girl Angela Dash interviewed cuz she sounded like a friend of his and he seemed like a terrible person. Anyway, this novella was interesting and showed another side to Nick and Valerie as well. I'm glad I finally got to read it!
February 28, 2020
Ayant déjà lu Hate List, le premier tome de la série, je savais que cette lecture serait insoutenable. Je savais qu’elle serait lourde. Et pourtant, il ne m’aura pas fallut plus de 24h pour finir ce roman.
Oui, le sujet est lourd. Mais il est important de l’aborder, car beaucoup trop de gens subissent le harcèlement scolaire. Et si, en tant que lecteur, nous trouvons ça insupportable, on peut comprendre pourquoi les victimes peuvent arriver à des solutions extrêmes pour échapper à ce fléau. Peut-être que ce livre devrait être plus connu, plus lu, pour aider à lutter contre ce cauchemar.
Je ne recommande certainement pas aux victimes de harcèlement, de le lire.
Oui, le sujet est lourd. Mais il est important de l’aborder, car beaucoup trop de gens subissent le harcèlement scolaire. Et si, en tant que lecteur, nous trouvons ça insupportable, on peut comprendre pourquoi les victimes peuvent arriver à des solutions extrêmes pour échapper à ce fléau. Peut-être que ce livre devrait être plus connu, plus lu, pour aider à lutter contre ce cauchemar.
Je ne recommande certainement pas aux victimes de harcèlement, de le lire.
January 2, 2021
3.5 Stars
It's been like 10 years since I read Hate List so it isn't too familiar in my mind. This is a quick telling of another "friend" of the shooter. I probably would've enjoyed it more had I read it closer to the finishing of the other one. I would recommend that for future readers!
It's been like 10 years since I read Hate List so it isn't too familiar in my mind. This is a quick telling of another "friend" of the shooter. I probably would've enjoyed it more had I read it closer to the finishing of the other one. I would recommend that for future readers!
January 16, 2021
This is a super short listen. Only half of it is a new story from David’s perspective. Then, it goes to Valerie’s perspective and tells the same story from The Hate List. So, it was just ok.
March 4, 2022
I am glad this was included in the back of Hate List or I wouldn’t have known about it! While it is a short read, it helps put pieces together seeing David’s viewpoint. Good finishing to a great read.
December 17, 2025
you know what else i hate? chris summers!!!!!!!!!!
February 14, 2016
A gorgeous, heart-stopping, sad and above all powerful story about bullying, death and more.
I absolutely loved Hate List, it was super powerful, so you can imagine how I felt when I found out there would be new material. This time following David. We switch between the now (Senior Year) and the then (Junior Year), showing us two sides. The bullying, the anger, the shooting in the Then-part, and How to go on, nothing changes, sadness in the Now-part.
I loved David, though I really think he shouldn't have kept the secret with him that long, especially not if he cared about people close to him (like Valerie). I can imagine why he did kept it secret though. He didn't want people to hate him more, he has already been bullied enough, he just wanted people to leave him alone. But throughout the book, throughout the times, you will notice his conscience is gnawing at him, until he can no longer contain it and spills it out.
I really liked that we have a now and then. It gives us more insight in David and what happened to him. But also shows us that he noticed that Val was changing, that Nick was changing, that he was sad about Val changing to something totally different.
I would recommend this book to everyone who has read the Hate List and wants to know more or wants to know a different side to the story.
Review first posted on http://twirlingbookprincess.com/
I absolutely loved Hate List, it was super powerful, so you can imagine how I felt when I found out there would be new material. This time following David. We switch between the now (Senior Year) and the then (Junior Year), showing us two sides. The bullying, the anger, the shooting in the Then-part, and How to go on, nothing changes, sadness in the Now-part.
I loved David, though I really think he shouldn't have kept the secret with him that long, especially not if he cared about people close to him (like Valerie). I can imagine why he did kept it secret though. He didn't want people to hate him more, he has already been bullied enough, he just wanted people to leave him alone. But throughout the book, throughout the times, you will notice his conscience is gnawing at him, until he can no longer contain it and spills it out.
I really liked that we have a now and then. It gives us more insight in David and what happened to him. But also shows us that he noticed that Val was changing, that Nick was changing, that he was sad about Val changing to something totally different.
I would recommend this book to everyone who has read the Hate List and wants to know more or wants to know a different side to the story.
Review first posted on http://twirlingbookprincess.com/
April 16, 2018
Sono felice che la mia edizione di Hate List contenga anche la novella oggetto della recensione di oggi, perché anche quella è un piccolo calcio nello stomaco - anche lei merita e chiude il cerchio della storia di Valerie e del massacro alla Garvin High.
E come sempre forse ho scritto troppo, specialmente considerando che questa è una novella e non un romanzo vero e proprio.
E spero di non aver spoilerato niente, ma sia Hate List che Say Something dovrebbero essere considerati come una lettura obbligatoria.
Nella mia recensione di Hate List non avevo citato Jeremy e David - non perché non fossero in qualche modo importanti, ma perché c'erano tante altre cose che volevo dire.
Jeremy è un ragazzo più grande, uno che le superiori le ha finite da qualche anno, uno che beve, uno che fuma erba, uno che picchia la sua ragazza - un amico di Nick.
Jeremy è quello con cui Nick passava più tempo nelle settimane prima della sparatoria, quello che rendeva lo sguardo di Nick totalmente diverso - più freddo, quasi irriconoscibile, tanto che Valerie pensava che Nick volesse lasciarla.
Quello che Valerie sospetta fosse parte attiva nella pianificazione di quanto successo quella mattina per mano di Nick.
David, il protagonista di questa novella, è l'unico che all'inizio di Hate List sembra felice del ritorno di Valerie alla Garvin High.
David è quello che la abbraccia, quello che prova ad alzarsi per farle posto al loro solito tavolo in mensa, quello che poi abbassa lo sguardo e asseconda la decisione di Stacey e Duce di tagliare qualsiasi legame con Valerie per non essere in nessun modo associati a lei - come se non si fossero mai conosciuti, come se non fossero mai stati amici, come se non avessero mai condiviso nulla.
In Hate List, attraverso alcuni episodi di bullismo che Valerie ricorda, vediamo Nick passare dalla tristezza e dallo sgomento con le lacrime agli occhi a uno sguardo vuoto e a una rabbia silenziosa - forse la più pericolosa.
E lo vediamo anche qui, in un modo ancora più inquietante che mette i brividi.
David ha fatto il suo ingresso alla Garvin High all'inizio del terzo anno, vittima di bullismo fin da subito per il suo essere molto esile e timido. Preso di mira da Chris Summers - lo stesso che tormentava Nick - e dal suo amico Jacob Kinney, David si prende una piccola cotta per Valerie, l'unica gentile con lui fin da subito e che lo invita ad unirsi al suo gruppo di amici.
In un'alternanza di capitoli tra junior year e senior year, vediamo quello che David affronta giorno dopo giorno.
Vediamo tutte le angherie di Chris, vediamo il proposito di David di farsi forte di fronte a lui e Jacob andare in frantumi, vediamo come Nick si fosse preso delle punizioni per difenderlo, vediamo il suo rapporto con Valerie e gli altri, vediamo come un giorno ha scoperto la Hate List a casa di Nick - come la trovasse una cosa divertente tutto sommato, proprio perché era nata come un modo per sfogare la frustrazione e non come qualcosa nato con il proposito di uccidere.
I capitoli nel passato iniziano proprio con alcune voci della lista - che non vedeva soltanto i nomi di coloro che li tormentavano ma anche cose come i compiti, il colore rosa, la brutta abitudine di alcune persone di parlare per abbreviazioni.
E poi David comincia ad accorgersi che qualcosa non va, che Nick si comporta in maniera strana, assiste a discorsi ed eventi che lo turbano e lo mettono a disagio, vorrebbe avere il coraggio di parlare ma come non aveva il coraggio di affrontare Chris Summers, così non ha il coraggio di dire nulla su quello che teme Nick e Jeremy stiano facendo. Magari si sbaglia, quindi tace. Ma poi è troppo tardi.
Nel corso del senior year, David si accorge di come nulla sia fondamentalmente cambiato - come lui sia ancora preso di mira, come Jacob non abbia imparato niente dalla morte del suo migliore amico, come Nick sia considerato l'unico pazzo e tutti gli altri normali, come Valerie non sembri più la stessa che conosceva, come lui stesso ancora non abbia il coraggio di prendere una posizione, come lui abbia ancora paura di Chris nonostante sia morto e mantenga le vecchie abitudini di non mangiare in mensa.
E ci sono i sensi di colpa che lo stanno divorando, i sensi di colpa per non aver detto niente e per continuare a non farlo, i sensi di colpa per un gesto che quel 2 maggio 2008 l'ha spiazzato e ha cambiato la prospettiva delle cose.
E rivediamo Valerie, sia in momenti lasciati fuori da Hate List durante l'anno scolastico e sia in momenti dopo la conclusione della storia.
Attraverso David vediamo quel cambiamento che Valerie non aveva visto in sé, quel suo essere diventata più silenziosa, riservata e arrabbiata che l'aveva fatta diventare così simile a Nick - che l'ha fatta sospettare e mai scagionare del tutto dall'essere egualmente responsabile, di aver saputo e di non aver detto niente.
Ma era qualcun altro che sapeva e non ha parlato.
E presto o tardi arriverà al punto di rottura, al punto in cui non riuscirà più a trattenere tutto quello che ha visto e sentito per sé.
Say Something non è solo il titolo della novella, è quello che David si ripete in continuazione - è quello che non riesce a fare, perché c'è troppo da dire e forse è troppo tardi e perché ha paura delle conseguenze.
Jennifer Brown ci incita a parlare, ci incita ad essere coraggiosi, ci incita a fare la cosa giusta e ad assumerci le nostre responsabilità. A sottoporci ad un esame di coscienza, a chiederci che genere di persone siamo o vogliamo essere.
Jennifer Brown porta ancora in scena l'ambivalenza umana, ancora ci mostra il cambiamento di Nick da ragazzo gentile a freddo e arrabbiato e il percorso di Valerie, che per David diventa un'estranea che non ha il coraggio di avvicinare.
E dopo averci fatto odiare Chris Summers attraverso i ricordi di Valerie e David, l'autrice ci mostra anche un altro aspetto di lui - uno inaspettato, uno che io stessa avevo guardato con disprezzo quando veniva decantato come un eroe.
E ancora una volta ci dimostra che siamo tutti vittime e carnefici, eroi e cattivi - tutti e due allo stesso tempo perché nessuno di noi è un errore.
E come sempre forse ho scritto troppo, specialmente considerando che questa è una novella e non un romanzo vero e proprio.
E spero di non aver spoilerato niente, ma sia Hate List che Say Something dovrebbero essere considerati come una lettura obbligatoria.
Nella mia recensione di Hate List non avevo citato Jeremy e David - non perché non fossero in qualche modo importanti, ma perché c'erano tante altre cose che volevo dire.
Jeremy è un ragazzo più grande, uno che le superiori le ha finite da qualche anno, uno che beve, uno che fuma erba, uno che picchia la sua ragazza - un amico di Nick.
Jeremy è quello con cui Nick passava più tempo nelle settimane prima della sparatoria, quello che rendeva lo sguardo di Nick totalmente diverso - più freddo, quasi irriconoscibile, tanto che Valerie pensava che Nick volesse lasciarla.
Quello che Valerie sospetta fosse parte attiva nella pianificazione di quanto successo quella mattina per mano di Nick.
David, il protagonista di questa novella, è l'unico che all'inizio di Hate List sembra felice del ritorno di Valerie alla Garvin High.
David è quello che la abbraccia, quello che prova ad alzarsi per farle posto al loro solito tavolo in mensa, quello che poi abbassa lo sguardo e asseconda la decisione di Stacey e Duce di tagliare qualsiasi legame con Valerie per non essere in nessun modo associati a lei - come se non si fossero mai conosciuti, come se non fossero mai stati amici, come se non avessero mai condiviso nulla.
In Hate List, attraverso alcuni episodi di bullismo che Valerie ricorda, vediamo Nick passare dalla tristezza e dallo sgomento con le lacrime agli occhi a uno sguardo vuoto e a una rabbia silenziosa - forse la più pericolosa.
E lo vediamo anche qui, in un modo ancora più inquietante che mette i brividi.
David ha fatto il suo ingresso alla Garvin High all'inizio del terzo anno, vittima di bullismo fin da subito per il suo essere molto esile e timido. Preso di mira da Chris Summers - lo stesso che tormentava Nick - e dal suo amico Jacob Kinney, David si prende una piccola cotta per Valerie, l'unica gentile con lui fin da subito e che lo invita ad unirsi al suo gruppo di amici.
In un'alternanza di capitoli tra junior year e senior year, vediamo quello che David affronta giorno dopo giorno.
Vediamo tutte le angherie di Chris, vediamo il proposito di David di farsi forte di fronte a lui e Jacob andare in frantumi, vediamo come Nick si fosse preso delle punizioni per difenderlo, vediamo il suo rapporto con Valerie e gli altri, vediamo come un giorno ha scoperto la Hate List a casa di Nick - come la trovasse una cosa divertente tutto sommato, proprio perché era nata come un modo per sfogare la frustrazione e non come qualcosa nato con il proposito di uccidere.
I capitoli nel passato iniziano proprio con alcune voci della lista - che non vedeva soltanto i nomi di coloro che li tormentavano ma anche cose come i compiti, il colore rosa, la brutta abitudine di alcune persone di parlare per abbreviazioni.
E poi David comincia ad accorgersi che qualcosa non va, che Nick si comporta in maniera strana, assiste a discorsi ed eventi che lo turbano e lo mettono a disagio, vorrebbe avere il coraggio di parlare ma come non aveva il coraggio di affrontare Chris Summers, così non ha il coraggio di dire nulla su quello che teme Nick e Jeremy stiano facendo. Magari si sbaglia, quindi tace. Ma poi è troppo tardi.
Nel corso del senior year, David si accorge di come nulla sia fondamentalmente cambiato - come lui sia ancora preso di mira, come Jacob non abbia imparato niente dalla morte del suo migliore amico, come Nick sia considerato l'unico pazzo e tutti gli altri normali, come Valerie non sembri più la stessa che conosceva, come lui stesso ancora non abbia il coraggio di prendere una posizione, come lui abbia ancora paura di Chris nonostante sia morto e mantenga le vecchie abitudini di non mangiare in mensa.
E ci sono i sensi di colpa che lo stanno divorando, i sensi di colpa per non aver detto niente e per continuare a non farlo, i sensi di colpa per un gesto che quel 2 maggio 2008 l'ha spiazzato e ha cambiato la prospettiva delle cose.
E rivediamo Valerie, sia in momenti lasciati fuori da Hate List durante l'anno scolastico e sia in momenti dopo la conclusione della storia.
Attraverso David vediamo quel cambiamento che Valerie non aveva visto in sé, quel suo essere diventata più silenziosa, riservata e arrabbiata che l'aveva fatta diventare così simile a Nick - che l'ha fatta sospettare e mai scagionare del tutto dall'essere egualmente responsabile, di aver saputo e di non aver detto niente.
Ma era qualcun altro che sapeva e non ha parlato.
E presto o tardi arriverà al punto di rottura, al punto in cui non riuscirà più a trattenere tutto quello che ha visto e sentito per sé.
Say Something non è solo il titolo della novella, è quello che David si ripete in continuazione - è quello che non riesce a fare, perché c'è troppo da dire e forse è troppo tardi e perché ha paura delle conseguenze.
Jennifer Brown ci incita a parlare, ci incita ad essere coraggiosi, ci incita a fare la cosa giusta e ad assumerci le nostre responsabilità. A sottoporci ad un esame di coscienza, a chiederci che genere di persone siamo o vogliamo essere.
Jennifer Brown porta ancora in scena l'ambivalenza umana, ancora ci mostra il cambiamento di Nick da ragazzo gentile a freddo e arrabbiato e il percorso di Valerie, che per David diventa un'estranea che non ha il coraggio di avvicinare.
E dopo averci fatto odiare Chris Summers attraverso i ricordi di Valerie e David, l'autrice ci mostra anche un altro aspetto di lui - uno inaspettato, uno che io stessa avevo guardato con disprezzo quando veniva decantato come un eroe.
E ancora una volta ci dimostra che siamo tutti vittime e carnefici, eroi e cattivi - tutti e due allo stesso tempo perché nessuno di noi è un errore.
September 25, 2020
I can understand why so many people are giving this novella a high rating, but I had trouble connecting with the characters. I absolutely ADORED Hate List but found that Say Something felt disconnected. It didn't pack the same punch (of course, hard to do when it's the length that it is). I see this problem a lot when sequels are written long after their successor was published. It was like Ms. Brown was reaching to get back to that world but it fell a little flat for me. Maybe if it was written a couple of years before (of course, I know how publishing anything takes a long time) it might have felt like the same situation?
The author has wonderful writing ability and maybe it was supposed to have a different feeling from Hate List because it was different people, but it felt less urgent. I didn't feel the guilt or the shame that the character was telling us about. I can understand that anyone would freeze up and not say anything, but I was having a difficult time getting close with the character while I was in his head. Maybe I'm crazy but this was not the novella for me (and that's okay :) I still very much enjoy Ms. Brown's storytelling and am anxious to pick up another one of her works :D
The author has wonderful writing ability and maybe it was supposed to have a different feeling from Hate List because it was different people, but it felt less urgent. I didn't feel the guilt or the shame that the character was telling us about. I can understand that anyone would freeze up and not say anything, but I was having a difficult time getting close with the character while I was in his head. Maybe I'm crazy but this was not the novella for me (and that's okay :) I still very much enjoy Ms. Brown's storytelling and am anxious to pick up another one of her works :D
January 13, 2021
This short story was included in my copy of Hate List.
In here we follow David, a close friend of Val & Nick's, who ha information about the day of the shooting that he's never shared with anyone.
As a new kid at school David is incessantly bullied by the same folk who torment Nick, so when Nick stands up for him they become friends.
David saw the warning signs that everyone accuses Val of seeing, he also figured out - only slightly before - that Nick was going to do something terrible that day.
This was a good read, a great companion to Hate List. In here we see the friend group as slightly more fleshed out than in the main book, which was definitely one of the only things lacking in Hate List. It also shows that in the aftermath of such a tragedy there is no magical kumbaya moment that turns the school into a happy, positive place. Students are still getting bullied, students are still doing the bullying, everything is different but also the same.
It also fleshes out the Jeremy plot - one that is distinctly lacking from Hate List - and explains why Val was hounded by the police, but Jeremy wasn't mentioned throughout the book.
In here we follow David, a close friend of Val & Nick's, who ha information about the day of the shooting that he's never shared with anyone.
As a new kid at school David is incessantly bullied by the same folk who torment Nick, so when Nick stands up for him they become friends.
David saw the warning signs that everyone accuses Val of seeing, he also figured out - only slightly before - that Nick was going to do something terrible that day.
This was a good read, a great companion to Hate List. In here we see the friend group as slightly more fleshed out than in the main book, which was definitely one of the only things lacking in Hate List. It also shows that in the aftermath of such a tragedy there is no magical kumbaya moment that turns the school into a happy, positive place. Students are still getting bullied, students are still doing the bullying, everything is different but also the same.
It also fleshes out the Jeremy plot - one that is distinctly lacking from Hate List - and explains why Val was hounded by the police, but Jeremy wasn't mentioned throughout the book.
July 11, 2015
Loved this little novella giving David's recollection of his junior year and the shooting that occurred. His guilt is overtaking him, but he still has difficulty with telling what he knows...thus "say something."
I enjoyed the chapters that alternated between his junior and senior years at school and it helped to remind the reader of what happened when Nick shot all the kids.
Recommendation:> If you've read The Hate List, be sure to read this afterward. This should not, however, be read first.
I enjoyed the chapters that alternated between his junior and senior years at school and it helped to remind the reader of what happened when Nick shot all the kids.
Recommendation:> If you've read The Hate List, be sure to read this afterward. This should not, however, be read first.
August 5, 2025
Did I need this book? No..
Is it still a good book? I guess so...
ANYWAY
I feel the need to say that I don't like David. He let Valerie deal with his guilt on her own, watching her take every blow and not stand up for her. He was a coward and, honestly, an annoying ass. This book opened up levels of hatred that almost rival the ones for Oliver Lavoy (If you know, you know) The hatred was for Colin Summers, his friend, David, Nick, Stacey, Duce and pretty much everyone minus Val.
Either way, this book may not have been wanted or needed, but I suppose it was a good Novella.
Is it still a good book? I guess so...
ANYWAY
I feel the need to say that I don't like David. He let Valerie deal with his guilt on her own, watching her take every blow and not stand up for her. He was a coward and, honestly, an annoying ass. This book opened up levels of hatred that almost rival the ones for Oliver Lavoy (If you know, you know) The hatred was for Colin Summers, his friend, David, Nick, Stacey, Duce and pretty much everyone minus Val.
Either way, this book may not have been wanted or needed, but I suppose it was a good Novella.
December 25, 2015
i absolutely adored hate list. it was such an amazing book and when i saw this one, i was understandably excited. unfortunately it was nowhere near as good as hate list. it was still good, and maybe if it hadn't been so long since i read hate list, i would have enjoyed it more.
February 16, 2018
Que dire de ce livre ? Lorsque j'ai lu Hate List, les tueries dans des lycées n'étaient pas aussi... régulières ? Mais bien sur, il y en avait, seulement moins. Mais maintenant.. C'est encore plus glaçant de lire ce genre d'histoires. Parce que c'est la triste réalité. Il y a trois jours, il y a encore eu une fusillade dans un lycée, en Floride. Ma lecture a donc été encore plus compliquée, horrible. Je n'ai fait que pleurer.
Ici, nous rencontrons David, qui était un ami de Nick, le tueur. C'est une nouvelle, pas une suite de Hate List, seulement l'histoire venant d'un autre point de vue. Je vous conseille donc d'avoir lu Hate List avant de commencer celui-ci.
Nous rencontrons donc David, qui n'ouvre pas sa bouche, qui reste silencieux malgré les choses qu'il sait, qu'il ressent, malgré les choses qui devraient sortir de sa bouche. David se fait clairement harcelé au lycée, ça va même jusqu'aux gestes. Il est donc normal qu'il deteste ces personnes, qu'il éprouve de la haine. Sauf que... cela va un peu trop loin. Il ne fait qu'écrire le nom de son harceleur et.. il le regrette plus tard. Il souhaite l'effacer. Il se deteste, ensuite. C'est un personnage très fort, qui m'a encore plus touché que le personnage de Val' dans Hate List. Il est bouleversant, et il m'a beaucoup fait pleurer. Il s'en veut pour des choses, mais il n'y peut rien, au fond. Il ne peut rien changer. Il ne pouvait rien changer. C'était horrible de le voir se torturer l'esprit, de voir que les autres allaient de l'avant et que lui non.
Ce roman est une énorme claque. Il m'a bien plus touché que Hate List, sûrement parce que... ce n'était pas devenu une réalité, en 2011/2012. Ou en tous cas, moins qu'actuellement. J'ai du mal à parler de ce livre. Je me retrouve incapable d'écrire une chronique. J'ai une boule dans la gorge, à nouveau. C'est un livre à lire, ne serait-ce que pour se rendre compte de la terrible réalité.
Ici, nous rencontrons David, qui était un ami de Nick, le tueur. C'est une nouvelle, pas une suite de Hate List, seulement l'histoire venant d'un autre point de vue. Je vous conseille donc d'avoir lu Hate List avant de commencer celui-ci.
Nous rencontrons donc David, qui n'ouvre pas sa bouche, qui reste silencieux malgré les choses qu'il sait, qu'il ressent, malgré les choses qui devraient sortir de sa bouche. David se fait clairement harcelé au lycée, ça va même jusqu'aux gestes. Il est donc normal qu'il deteste ces personnes, qu'il éprouve de la haine. Sauf que... cela va un peu trop loin. Il ne fait qu'écrire le nom de son harceleur et.. il le regrette plus tard. Il souhaite l'effacer. Il se deteste, ensuite. C'est un personnage très fort, qui m'a encore plus touché que le personnage de Val' dans Hate List. Il est bouleversant, et il m'a beaucoup fait pleurer. Il s'en veut pour des choses, mais il n'y peut rien, au fond. Il ne peut rien changer. Il ne pouvait rien changer. C'était horrible de le voir se torturer l'esprit, de voir que les autres allaient de l'avant et que lui non.
Ce roman est une énorme claque. Il m'a bien plus touché que Hate List, sûrement parce que... ce n'était pas devenu une réalité, en 2011/2012. Ou en tous cas, moins qu'actuellement. J'ai du mal à parler de ce livre. Je me retrouve incapable d'écrire une chronique. J'ai une boule dans la gorge, à nouveau. C'est un livre à lire, ne serait-ce que pour se rendre compte de la terrible réalité.
May 11, 2025
In "Say Something," Jennifer Brown presents a gripping exploration of guilt, responsibility, and the courage to speak up in the aftermath of a school shooting. Told through the eyes of David Judy, a boy grappling with his own secrets and fears, the story delves into the complex dynamics of bullying and its devastating consequences. David, who once harbored a crush on Valerie (the narrator of "Hate List"), finds himself torn between loyalty to his friend Nick, the shooter, and the growing realization that he could have done something to prevent the tragedy.
The narrative skillfully weaves between the months leading up to the shooting and the subsequent year, offering a nuanced portrayal of Nick not as a monster, but as a troubled young man driven to extremes by relentless bullying. Brown avoids simplistic characterizations, presenting each individual with depth and complexity. From the peers who stood by, paralyzed by fear, to the adults who failed to intervene, the novel highlights the collective responsibility in addressing the issue of bullying.
"Say Something" is a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant read that challenges readers to confront their own complicity in the face of injustice. While never condoning violence, Brown fosters empathy for the characters, prompting reflection on the importance of speaking out and the potential for redemption even in the darkest of circumstances.
The narrative skillfully weaves between the months leading up to the shooting and the subsequent year, offering a nuanced portrayal of Nick not as a monster, but as a troubled young man driven to extremes by relentless bullying. Brown avoids simplistic characterizations, presenting each individual with depth and complexity. From the peers who stood by, paralyzed by fear, to the adults who failed to intervene, the novel highlights the collective responsibility in addressing the issue of bullying.
"Say Something" is a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant read that challenges readers to confront their own complicity in the face of injustice. While never condoning violence, Brown fosters empathy for the characters, prompting reflection on the importance of speaking out and the potential for redemption even in the darkest of circumstances.
February 14, 2018
Je tiens tout d'abord à remercier Babelio ainsi que les Editions Albin Michel pour m'avoir permis de découvrir ce roman dans le cadre d'une Masse Critique Privilégiée. Je tiens aussi à m’excuser pour le retard de cette chronique, mais comme on dit : « Mieux vaut tard que jamais ! » Je sais que ce roman est la suite de « Hate List » que je n’ai pas encore lu, mais j’ai bien aimé ma lecture. Cependant, à travers le récit que nous avons ici dans « Say Something », on arrive parfaitement à comprendre ce qu’il s’est passé avant et comment les personnages gère l’après de cette tragédie qui les a touchés. C’est un sujet très sensible que l’auteur a traité avec beaucoup de pudeur et de force en même temps, car je me suis demandé jusqu’au bout si David allait parler de ce qu’il savait. Nous le découvrons, torturé et brisé, lui aussi, par l’acte horrible et impensable que son ami a commis. Il se sent coupable de ne pas avoir parlé pour éviter le drame et essaye de réapprendre à vivre normalement. Que vous ayez lu « Hate List » ou non, je pense que ce livre devrait vous plaire. D’ailleurs, je compte prochainement lire ce premier livre qui me tente énormément. N’hésitez pas à ouvrir ce livre ! À lire !
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