The New York Times Bestseller!
“An absolute page turner, I’m Not Dying with You Tonight is a compelling and powerful novel that is sure to make an impact. ” —Angie Thomas, New York Times bestselling author of The Hate U Give
An NAACP Image Award Nominee, I’m Not Dying with You Tonight follows two teen girls—one black, one white—who have to confront their own assumptions about racial inequality … girls—one black, one white—who have to confront their own assumptions about racial inequality as they rely on each other to get through the violent race riot that has set their city on fire with civil unrest.
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.
This book is perfect for:
- Sparking conversations about prejudice and the racial tension that exists in America
- Parents and educators looking for multicultural and African American books for teens
- Fans of Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, and Jason Reynolds
Additional Praise for I’m Not Dying with You Tonight:
“A vital addition to the YA race relations canon.” —Nic Stone, New York Times bestselling author of Dear Martin
“An astounding achievement. This novel is an incendiary experience, one that does not shy away from difficult questions about privilege and violence. But Jones and Segal don’t hold our hands to provide us easy answers; this is a book meant to be devoured in a single sitting and discussed for years to come.” —Mark Oshiro, author of Anger is a Gift
“I’m Not Dying With You Tonight is a powerful examination of privilege, and how friends are often found in surprising places. Jones and Segal have penned a page-turning debut, as timely as it is addictive.” —David Arnold, New York Times bestselling author of Mosquitoland and Kids of Appetite
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I listened to the audiobook on Libby.
I liked the book, very much. The cover and print was eye catching and nice to read. (Size of print and font) It was a quick read but more importantly, I wanted to keep reading because I wanted to see what happened next. I even found myself speed reading, and had to stop myself from skimming fast to see what was next. To me, that is a great read. I liked that it wasn’t too in depth (many characters and long winded) but fast paced and enough subject matter that could be shared in discussions. For me, it was good to read from another perspective I am not familiar with. I do not live in a City but I do work in Philadelphia and I am a business owner and could relate to Campbells side of the story. I have never been personally involved or had any acquaintances who has been affected by any riots so it was educational for me to hear (by reading) another person’s perspective (Lena) who has been.
This was an amazing book and so important. I loved the way it showed, through alternate points of view, what it’s like in a situation like this as both a white person and a black person. Though obviously the events are scary for both girls, different aspects hit differently depending on their background and understanding of what’s happening. The authors did a marvelous job of showing this through each girl’s thoughts and behaviors.
The book also does an excellent job at showing how fast things can go from tense to riots and violence. So much can go wrong so fast, and a majority of it is because one side refuses to see things from the other side’s perspective. I think that’s the biggest point that Lena was trying to get across to Campbell.
I hope more people will start reading books like this and educating themselves through fiction. While white people will never know what it’s like to be black, we can open our minds and read stories from their point of view and by black authors and try to empathize and understand. I think it’s vital for our future.
Such an important story and such beautiful character development. Required reading.
The blurb hooked me right away and the story was intense and I enjoyed it a lot.
A all too familiar, realistic account of the lines that divide this nation and how they will force unity as a result.
I read this book in one day. It was so good! When I picked it up, I couldn’t put it down. The book goes back and forth between the viewpoints of the two characters. Which I think was a great way to do it. So you can see how each is feeling and reacting, and how each situation unfolds in their eyes. While as an adult I had a bit of a time reading Lena’s chapters with her major use of slang and the type of language that teens may be using right now, I was able to google what I needed and figure it out. I feel like this is a much needed story for today for both sides of society represented in this to read. To see first off their totally different reactions to the police showing up. Campbell feeling that now things would be safe once they showed up, that she and Lena could go to them to be safe, to how Lena froze up at the sight of cops and wouldn’t go near them. To see the looting taking place and realizing that not everyone agreed with it, but many may just look the other way. So much of the story was intense and I was on the edge of my seat the whole time wondering just what situation the two girls would find themselves in on the next block, or even the next house they reached. In the end the girls probably were able to forge a friendship even if the ending leave it ambiguous and maybe up to our imagination. A great read, one I immediately passed along to a student to read, although I will keep my copy on my own shelves, I will be sure to order several copies for my school library as well.