$10.99 sale price when purchased online
$19.99 list price
Target Online store #3991
About this item
Highlights
- In this searing indictment of the juvenile justice system, one teen in detention weighs what she is willing to endure for forgiveness.
- 8-12 Years
- 8.54" x 5.87" Hardcover
- 400 Pages
- Young Adult Fiction, Social Themes
Description
About the Book
Set in an alternate version of Queens, N.Y., fifteen-year-old Violetta must participate in the Trials, a series of tests meant to push her to the edge, to atone for her sister's death.Book Synopsis
In this searing indictment of the juvenile justice system, one teen in detention weighs what she is willing to endure for forgiveness. All it took was one night and one bad decision for fifteen-year-old Violetta Chen-Samuels' life to go off the rails. After driving drunk and causing the accident that kills her little sister, Violetta is incarcerated. Under the juvenile justice system, her fate lies in the hands of those she's wronged--her family. With their forgiveness, she could go home. But without it? Well . . . Denied their forgiveness, Violetta is now left with two options, neither good--remain in juvenile detention for an uncertain sentence or participate in the Trials. The Trials are no easy feat, but if she succeeds, she could regain both her freedom and what she wants most of all: her family's love. In her quest to prove her remorse, Violetta is forced to confront not only her family's grief, but her own--and the question of whether their forgiveness is more important than forgiving herself.Review Quotes
Praise for Forgive Me Not
A Los Angeles Times Book Prize Finalist
A 2023 New York Public Library Best Book for Teens
A 2024 Texas TAYSHAS Reading List Pick
Electric Lit's Top 5 Novels of 2023
Black Caucus American Library Association Best of the Best 2023 Pick
A 2024 Washington, DC Capitol Choices Selection
★ "Though the justice system in the novel is clearly fiction, the parallels with our current system--especially Baker's depiction of the unequal way justice is applied--are unmistakable. A sharp indictment, Baker makes a powerful and passionate statement about real justice embedded in a well-constructed plot populated by vivid characters." --Booklist, starred review "Jennifer Baker crafts a riveting, heartbreaking, and ultimately redemptive tale with nuanced characters that are perfectly flawed and relatable. Forgive Me Not is an astute social commentary on the juvenile justice system and a powerful reflection on who deserves second chances. A groundbreaking debut that will stay with the reader long after the story ends." --Renée Watson, #1 New York Times bestselling author, The 1619 Project: Born on the Water "Unflinching and character-driven, Forgive Me Not confronts difficult questions about identity, family, and forgiveness. A potent reminder of the personal and societal harm caused by dehumanizing systems." --Randy Ribay, National Book Award Finalist, Patron Saints of Nothing "Brilliant, bold, and deeply moving, Forgive Me Not shines a necessary and dignifying light on the young people trapped in a broken system of justice. This novel radiates with the redemptive power of love and forgiveness." --Brendan Kiely, co-author of the New York Times bestselling All American Boys and The Other Talk "Eye-opening... draws parallels to the inequality of the justice system in the United States, particularly its treatment of Black people and people of color ... An important addition to teen library collections." --School Library Journal "Baker's writing excels at showing rather than telling through vivid details." --Kirkus Reviews "Through resonant alternating perspectives, debut author Baker empathetically examines the harsh treatment of Black youth in the justice system. Affecting depictions of addiction and reform contribute to the novel's overarching interrogation of blame, guilt, and self-forgiveness." --Publishers Weekly
About the Author
Jennifer Baker is a publishing professional of twenty years, the creator and host of the Minorities in Publishing podcast, and editor of the short story anthology Everyday People: The Color of Life. She has volunteered with organizations such as We Need Diverse Books and I, Too, Arts Collective, and spoken widely on topics of inclusion, the craft of writing, podcasting, and the inner workings of the publishing industry. Her fiction, nonfiction, and criticism have appeared in various print and online publications.Dimensions (Overall): 8.54 Inches (H) x 5.87 Inches (W) x 1.3 Inches (D)
Weight: 1.09 Pounds
Suggested Age: 8-12 Years
Number of Pages: 400
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
Sub-Genre: Social Themes
Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books
Theme: Values & Virtues
Format: Hardcover
Author: Jennifer Baker
Language: English
Street Date: August 15, 2023
TCIN: 85701677
UPC: 9780593406847
Item Number (DPCI): 247-06-1821
Origin: Made in the USA or Imported
If the item details above aren’t accurate or complete, we want to know about it.
Shipping details
Estimated ship dimensions: 1.3 inches length x 5.87 inches width x 8.54 inches height
Estimated ship weight: 1.09 pounds
We regret that this item cannot be shipped to PO Boxes.
This item cannot be shipped to the following locations: American Samoa (see also separate entry under AS), Guam (see also separate entry under GU), Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico (see also separate entry under PR), United States Minor Outlying Islands, Virgin Islands, U.S., APO/FPO
Return details
This item can be returned to any Target store or Target.com.
This item must be returned within 90 days of the date it was purchased in store, shipped, delivered by a Shipt shopper, or made ready for pickup.
See the return policy for complete information.
Guests also viewed
Discover more options
$8.99 - $13.10
MSRP $8.99 - $17.99
5 out of 5 stars with 1 ratings
Related Categories
- Teen & Young Adult Books
- Best Teen & YA Books
- Suzanne Collins
- Books - Kids
- Common Sense Media Books for A...
- Trending on BookTok
3.7 out of 5 stars with 3 reviews
66% would recommend
3 recommendations
An eye-opening book
4 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
- 1 year ago
This book was definitely an eye-opening book for me. I knew about juvenile detention centers, but I never really thought about them until this book. Violetta and her friends experience in the detention center show me that not every child deserve to have 2 years of their life wasted because of a mistake they made. Telling a person that they did something wrong over and over is not very useful if the person already realizes they did something wrong. I think this book also did a good job portraying forgiveness in families. Violetta’s family had a hard decision to make about whether they should let her come home or do the trials so she could really think about the consequences of her actions. While I did really enjoy Violetta’s POVs, there were many times when her brother Vince’s POVs fell a little flat to me. I wish I got to read a little more about Violetta than Vince, but overall it was still a solid book to me.
Heartrending and thought provoking
5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
lurkykitty - 2 years ago
Forgive Me Not follows fifteen-year-old Violetta Chen-Samuel who has been incarcerated after her drunk driving led to the death of her younger sister. The book is set in an alternate reality in which young offenders are subject to one of three outcomes: forgiveness and a return home, traditional incarceration serving time in prison, or undergoing Trials to earn forgiveness. The victim or the victim's family decides on the fate of the young offender. In Violetta's case, the victim is her family. The story is also told through the point of view of Violetta's older brother Vince, who is grieving the loss of his sister, worried about Violetta, and facing his own challenges. His perspective sheds light on the flaws and hardships within Violetta's family. Forgive Me Not is a thought-provoking examination of the juvenile justice system. The "trials" were designed to improve upon a broken system, it's evident that the same biases remain: racism, sexism, class and privilege. Additional themes are explored including grief, trauma, teen drug and alcohol abuse, family dynamics, relationships and peer pressure. Forgive Me Not is absolutely heartrending as the reader has sympathy for Violetta, Vince, their parents and the other young offenders. The world building is skillfully executed, and characters are complex and well developed.
YA Social Commentary
2 out of 5 stars
Thumbs down graphic, would not recommend
ReadwithCassey - 2 years ago
Forgive Me Not takes place in a society that allows for minors to be forgiven for crimes comitted. They can be outright forgiven or go through Trials to "earn" forgiveness from the victims family. If not forgiven the offenders then go to an upstate facility to serve time and gain a permanent criminal record. I really like the premise of this story. It felt all too realistic. People tried to improve the "system" but instead made it just as convoluted as before, if not more so. It's still horrendously broken and racist and prejudiced. I wish I had gotten into this more. I feel like there were opportunities for more heartbreaking moments and chances for the characters to depthly connect. It all felt a little too surface level. I think there was so much more pain to explore and deal with. There were so many good conversation starters in this book that I didn't feel were capitalized. Honestly I really think I could have enjoyed this story if it had been almost a collection of short stories or point of views in this world so that we could have seen how different people ended up in their situations. It could have been very insightful and thought provoking.