I’m Not Dying with You Tonight by Gilly Segal and Kimberly Jones

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They aren’t friends. It is not easy to 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.[1]


Summary

Kimberly Jones Homeslide 2.png

I’m Not Dying with You Tonight is an examination of privilege and race in modern America. Two girls, one white, one black, both attend a Friday Night Football game when a riot breaks loose.[2]

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. [3]

Pros

This book is perfect for starting 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.[4]

I’m Not Dying With You Tonight brings racial tension and discord to the forefront and makes you take a hard look at current events and possibly even prejudices. At times it felt a little uncomfortable, but that’s the point. In the end Lena and Campbell are survive the night but are left with more questions than answers as seems to often be the case in these situations. [5]

The beautiful part of I’m Not Dying with You Tonight lies in the subtlety of what is said versus what is left unsaid and open to interpretation. Jones and Segal paint real portrayals of teens and the racial inequities they face while writing the way teens really speak. As Black Lives Matter continues to shine a much-needed light on the value of diverse reads, add this one to your reading list and to your conversations. [6]

References