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msnoedo's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
palomabird1's review against another edition
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
bardo's review against another edition
4.0
It is said there are there three points of view to every situation; the way you see it, the other person and the truth. In I'm not dying with you tonight, Segal and Jones share how two people can view on night very differently. The dual perspective gives a profound view of racial perspectives. The narratives give the reader a well-rounded account of what happens to the two girls throughout the night. The authenticity in which the authors give to each character is empowering and gives a diverse voice to how situations and encounters are experienced. Yet, in some areas, the story flowed a little slow and the characters seemed to be a little stereotypic. Which made the book harder to continue.
kristalall's review against another edition
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
ihateprozac's review against another edition
4.0
SUPER tense, compelling, and very timely. I love stories that take place during a compressed period of time, and this book follows two teens over one night as they navigate a riot at a football game and a Black Lives Matter protest downtown.
This is targeted more at non-black readers than black readers. Campbell begins to identify her conscious and unconscious biases toward black people, and learns that white privilege doesn't refute the fact that her life has been hard, but that it hasn't specifically been made harder by the colour of her skin. Naive white girl learns a lot.
As a mixed-race reader I enjoyed every minute of this and found it to be a super valuable read. I've only deducted a star because I wanted a liiiiiittle more from Lena. I wanted her to learn some more overt lessons about her painful relationship with Black and that she deserves so much more from a partner.
This is targeted more at non-black readers than black readers. Campbell begins to identify her conscious and unconscious biases toward black people, and learns that white privilege doesn't refute the fact that her life has been hard, but that it hasn't specifically been made harder by the colour of her skin. Naive white girl learns a lot.
As a mixed-race reader I enjoyed every minute of this and found it to be a super valuable read. I've only deducted a star because I wanted a liiiiiittle more from Lena. I wanted her to learn some more overt lessons about her painful relationship with Black and that she deserves so much more from a partner.
kmkasiner's review against another edition
3.0
I'm Not Dying With You Tonight is about two high schoolers who get trapped together in a riot. The girls seem like polar opposites but they have to work together to survive the night. This is an action-packed, fast paced story that takes place in just one night. The writing is descriptive and I could picture the chaos of the riots, and after reading the acknowledgments, I know the authors put a lot of work into making sure it was realistic.
The benefit of having two authors is that the main characters each have a very distinct voice. I think I preferred Lena's point of view. I thought Campbell was almost a little too naive to be believable (example--using the word "jerks" instead of swearing in extremely furious moments). I wished we got a little more detail on their backgrounds, but there is a decent amount of character development for such a short book.
The book manages to pack some big issues into a short amount of time. I can see this being read in high school classrooms.
The benefit of having two authors is that the main characters each have a very distinct voice. I think I preferred Lena's point of view. I thought Campbell was almost a little too naive to be believable (example--using the word "jerks" instead of swearing in extremely furious moments). I wished we got a little more detail on their backgrounds, but there is a decent amount of character development for such a short book.
The book manages to pack some big issues into a short amount of time. I can see this being read in high school classrooms.
Spoiler
The ending was a little bit of a letdown. I wanted to know what happens to Lena and Campbell after everything, instead of leaving everything open to the reader's imagination.lovelykd's review against another edition
2.0
This story was tough to digest because it lacked believability in so many areas.
While I understand how easily a race-infused confrontation can escalate into riotous violence, the very origin of the chaos was not only avoidable but controllable. Everything seemed--and I say "seemed" because the events it set off felt outside the range of plausible given its idiocy--to hinge on a tense exchange between two teenage boys.
Said exchange happens in view of both Lena and Campbell--which is how they come together--with, apparently, no reasonable adults, or even school security, present.
By the time the school resource officers do arrive, there's a riot...then sirens ...then a gunshot ...then all hell breaks loose?
Everywhere.
In what universe does this happen without additional context?
Even if I could get beyond all of that nonsense, I could not get beyond the idiocy of Lena or the cluelessness of Campbell.
Lena continually tossed common sense and safety to the side in favor of hooking up with a boy. It didn't appear to matter that said boy was fine ditching, dismissing, and dissing her at every turn. She continued to have faith he would come through ...and I just ...no. I couldn't handle such willful stupidity in a girl who obviously had more than a little common sense.
Then there's Campbell.
Lena's desire to chase behind a boyfriend who, seemingly, didn't care about her, or her safety, for the better part of the story, was annoying; time and again she opted to call him instead of using any one of the options she had available to get out of a dangerous situation.
Then there was Campbell.
I know she's supposed to come across unversed in the ways of Black/white relations--and that's fine--but you'd have thought the girl never stepped out her front door, turned on a television, or read a news headline. She was always confused, or scared, or timid.
The one time she shows any backbone was during a situation where her safety was definitely at-risk and sitting the heck down/shutting the heck up would've not only been prudent but wise.
And yet ...whew.
It's not a stretch to say Lena and Campbell would've avoided this situation altogether had either been smart enough to dial a responsible adult or reliable emergency contact.
It had potential but the whole situation was too far-fetched to take seriously.
Thank you to Edelweiss+ and Sourcebooks Fire for the Advanced eGalley of this work. Opinion is my own and was not influenced by its receipt.
While I understand how easily a race-infused confrontation can escalate into riotous violence, the very origin of the chaos was not only avoidable but controllable. Everything seemed--and I say "seemed" because the events it set off felt outside the range of plausible given its idiocy--to hinge on a tense exchange between two teenage boys.
Said exchange happens in view of both Lena and Campbell--which is how they come together--with, apparently, no reasonable adults, or even school security, present.
By the time the school resource officers do arrive, there's a riot...then sirens ...then a gunshot ...then all hell breaks loose?
Everywhere.
In what universe does this happen without additional context?
Even if I could get beyond all of that nonsense, I could not get beyond the idiocy of Lena or the cluelessness of Campbell.
Lena continually tossed common sense and safety to the side in favor of hooking up with a boy. It didn't appear to matter that said boy was fine ditching, dismissing, and dissing her at every turn. She continued to have faith he would come through ...and I just ...no. I couldn't handle such willful stupidity in a girl who obviously had more than a little common sense.
Then there's Campbell.
Lena's desire to chase behind a boyfriend who, seemingly, didn't care about her, or her safety, for the better part of the story, was annoying; time and again she opted to call him instead of using any one of the options she had available to get out of a dangerous situation.
Then there was Campbell.
I know she's supposed to come across unversed in the ways of Black/white relations--and that's fine--but you'd have thought the girl never stepped out her front door, turned on a television, or read a news headline. She was always confused, or scared, or timid.
The one time she shows any backbone was during a situation where her safety was definitely at-risk and sitting the heck down/shutting the heck up would've not only been prudent but wise.
And yet ...whew.
It's not a stretch to say Lena and Campbell would've avoided this situation altogether had either been smart enough to dial a responsible adult or reliable emergency contact.
It had potential but the whole situation was too far-fetched to take seriously.
Thank you to Edelweiss+ and Sourcebooks Fire for the Advanced eGalley of this work. Opinion is my own and was not influenced by its receipt.
natbookreviews's review against another edition
3.0
Review of “I’m Not Dying with You Tonight”
⭐⭐⭐☆☆
“I’m Not Dying with You Tonight” by Kimberly Jones presents a compelling story about racial tension and the unlikely bond between two girls caught in the chaos of a violent race riot. While the book successfully sparks important conversations about prejudice and inequality, some aspects, like the decision-making of the main characters and certain scenarios, feel unrealistic and underdeveloped. Despite these flaws, it remains a solid three-star read, especially for younger audiences who can appreciate its timely themes and the urgent, fast-paced narrative.
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confusedteach33's review against another edition
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
An interesting exploration of racial divides that just fell a little flat for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Police brutality
Moderate: Gun violence