Back to top

A timely take on privilege and violence

Cover of Big Library Read
Big Library Read

Overdrive has announced the newest addition to its Big Library Read program with the young adult novel I’m Not Dying With You Tonight by debut authors Kimberly Jones and Gilly Segal. High school students Lena and Campbell aren’t friends. African American Lena has a plan for the future, a fine boyfriend and a sure sense of herself. Campbell, who is white, just wants to make it through her first year at a new school without incident. That all changes when a violent, racial incident throws a normally peaceful Friday night football game into chaos. As the riot grows, Lena and Campbell, total strangers at the beginning of the night, have to learn to rely on each other in order to make it home safely. While they find their way through riots, roadblocks and dangerous confrontations, both girls try to come to an understanding of each other, in spite of their different backgrounds and experiences. Author Angie Thomas (The Hate U Give) calls I’m Not Dying With You Tonight a ‘compelling and powerful novel that is sure to make an impact’ and School Library Journal calls it ‘relevant and discussion-worthy.’ Overdrive will be offering unlimited access to both ebook and downloadable audio versions of the book beginning November 4 through November 18. And like previous Big Library Reads, there will be a lot of opportunities to explore more online through discussions, interviews and additional material. Check it out!

Nov 1, 2019