I’m so excited to be joining in on the I’m Not Dying With You Tonight blog tour along with Raincoast Books!
Today I’ll be sharing my thoughts on the book!
The publisher kindly sent me a physical copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Lena and Campbell aren’t friends.
Lena has her killer style, her awesome boyfriend, and a plan. She knows she’s going to make it big. Campbell, on the other hand, is just trying to keep her head down and get through the year at her new school.
When both girls attend the Friday-night football game, what neither expects is for everything to descend into sudden mass chaos. Chaos born from violence and hate. Chaos that unexpectedly throws them together.
They aren’t friends. They hardly understand the other’s point of view. But none of that matters when the city is up in flames, and they only have each other to rely on if they’re going to survive the night.
I’m Not Dying With You Tonight Review
This book. This book is so incredibly timely and is one that will definitely resonate with me for a long time.
I’m Not Dying With You Tonight takes place over the course of one night following the breakout of violent acts at a high school football game. Lena, an African-American, and Campbell, a Caucasian, end up working together to find their way home.
I’m Not Dying With You Tonight is told from alternating chapters from both Lena and Campbell’s point of view. These characters are really great and really showcase the difficulties of racial profiling and tension that exists in the world. Both of these characters are really dynamic and have such differing perspectives at the start of this book. The characters slowly switch they way that they feel throughout the book because of the experiences they share.
I think the overall story shows the difficulties that people face in violent, chaotic situations in a really realistic way. I could definitely feel the fear that both Lena and Campbell experienced and I think it’s important that the authors showcased the fear felt on both sides. The world is scary and I can really feel it while reading this book.
Lena and Campbell become protective of each other and work to ensure that both are safe. They become friends in a very unlikely situation. I absolutely loved seeing that aspect of their relationship grow throughout the book. It’s something good in a book that really has a sad and frustrating tone, which is unfortunately a real issue in the world.
I think this book is a really important book to read. While it has a serious and sad tone, it’s realistic and educational. As a teacher, I think this would be a great book for older students to read and they would benefit from the experience.
I’m Not Dying With You Tonight is incredibly timely and poignant, especially in the current world climate. It’s heartbreaking and tough to read at points, but is incredibly important.
Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3.5)
Favourite Quote
She says something that gets swept away in the noise of the fight, but I can hear the tone. She’s terrified, and I am too.
About the Authors
Kimberly Jones is a former bookseller, and now she Hosts the Atlanta Chapter of the popular Well Read Black Girl book club, as well as the infamous, viral sensation the YA Truth or Dare author panel at the Decatur Book Festival. She has worked in film and television with trailblazing figures such as Tyler Perry, Whitney Houston, and 8Ball & MJG. Currently, in addition to writing YA novels, she is a director of feature films and cutting-edge diverse web series. She also regularly lectures on working and succeeding in the Atlanta film market.
Kimberly resides in Atlanta and is the proud mother of a gifted boy. She lives for synthetic wigs and nail art, as her style icons are Dolly Parton, Chaka Khan, and Diana Ross. Her forthcoming YA novel, I’m Not Dying With You Tonight, co-authored with Gilly Segal, is due out from Sourcebooks Fire
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Gilly grew up in Florida, came of age in Israel, where she served in the IDF and graduated from Hebrew University, and finally decided to call Decatur, Georgia home. By day, she’s a lawyer for an advertising agency. By night, she is a caped crusader! No, just kidding (she wishes). Her real not-actually-secret identity is writer. She’s been writing in one form or another since she wrote her first young adult novel – a Sunfire YA romance fanfic – typed out on an electric typewriter. Although she will confess it was titled Claudia, she will neither confirm nor deny that any copies still exist. Whatever you do, don’t ask her mom if it’s in those boxes still stored in the closet of her childhood room.
When Gilly’s not reading and writing, she can be found exploring Decatur with her three kids and searching bakeries the world over for the perfect French macaron. Her favorite so far is rose lychee.
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Buy I’m Not Dying With You Tonight
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