Parents' Guide to

I'm Not Dying With You Tonight

By Barbara Saunders, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Girls forge friendship amid night of rioting in deep novel.

Book Gilly Segal , Kimberly Jones Friendship 2019
I'm Not Dying With You Tonight Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

See all
age 13+

Based on 4 parent reviews

BitanyaKurtzlovesbandofbrother
BitanyaKurtzlovesbandofbrother Adult
February 9, 2022
age 14+

omg lit the best book ever

awesome

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
Too much swearing
MSLib12
MSLib12 Adult
September 17, 2020
age 13+

Quick read, very good!

I remember seeing this on a trip to Barnes and Noble once and the cover caught my eye, I ended up buying it almost a year later because it was on sale. I have no regrets. I think that YA Fiction based on true events is an incredible way to learn about social justice. Seeing the authors go back and forth with their differing viewpoints really opens your eyes to how different things can be. As a white, cis female I will never experience some things that others unfortunately do, and this book is a great step into the shoes of others. There are some aggressive parts in the book, multiple riots break out, and a local homeless man comes after the characters, but I don't think that any of it is too mature for middle school aged children. There are so many messages for kids to pick up on in this that it's crazy. Friendship, courage, perseverance just to name a few.

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
See all 4 parent reviews

What's the Story?

When I'M NOT DYING WITH YOU TONIGHT begins, Lena and Campbell are gearing up for their home football game at McPherson High School, which is predominantly black, against Jonesville High School, which is predominately white. Campbell is a white high school senior from Haverford, Pennsylvania. Her mother had to take a job in Venezuela, so Campbell moved to Atlanta, Georgia, to live with her father, who owns a modest hardware store in an unglamorous section of town. Lena grew up in Atlanta, in a mostly black neighborhood. Her family is well-off compared with many of her friends' families. Lena's infatuation with an older guy, an aspiring musician who works in a tattoo parlor, causes conflict between her and her grandfather. After the game, fights break out at the school, with things escalating to the point that someone gets shot and the police come onto the scene. The two girls escape the campus but find themselves in the middle of a protest that's quickly turning into rioting and looting. They're forced to rely on each other and navigate their differences to survive the night.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (4 ):
Kids say (3 ):

This is a wonderfully sensitive portrayal of the intense relationships that can develop between teen girls. Debut authors Gilly Segal and Kimberly Jones made the masterful choice to make I'm Not Dying With You Tonight first and foremost a deep story about the evolution of a friendship. The plot and setting cover racial misunderstandings, divorce, financial problems, and the rollercoaster of teen romance. However, the heart of the book is the way two strong girls bring out the best in each other when the world crashes down around them, and boyfriends, parents, teachers, and the police can't, won't, or just don't help.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the meaning of friendship in I'm Not Dying With You Tonight. Lena and Campbell come to admire each other, despite their differences. What are the key turning points in their relationship? How does their friendship compare with those among Marcus and his group, and Black and his group.

  • Lena and Campbell alternate chapters to tell the story. How did that influence how you understood the story? Which one of them do you think was the leader, and why?

  • What do you think of the behavior of the police throughout the novel and how the authors depict the officers?

Book Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended book lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate