This book may be short, but it definitely packs a punch. I think the beauty in this story comes from the focus on one singular night, nothing before and nothing after. It really lets the events of the night speak for themselves and allows the reader to absorb the impact of the tragedies and prejudices that are occurring in the world around us. In the focus on one single day between two characters who did not really know each other before, it has a similar impact to that of The Breakfast Club in that it allows the audience to create their own versions of what happened after the end; whether the characters remain friends or not, how much the events of the story have affected their lives, and how they are fundamentally changed moving forward. I’m not sure if I have ever read a book with this kind of plot structure, and I have to say that it is extremely impactful. 

     The dual narration from this book is exceptional and I don’t think the story would have been nearly as good without it. I am normally not a fan of multiple narrators, but to see an event with such prejudice and social impact associated with it told from the dual perspective of two people who are on such complete opposite sides of the injustice is fascinating and really causes the reader to check their own privilege and bias. One thing that I found particularly interesting about the narrators is the family dynamics of their respective situations. Neither of them has a perfect family, but they are the same in the love that they are surrounded with. The authors have done their best to not give one character or another an obvious advantage in their financial situations, family life or academics, which is why the way they are treated by various people throughout the story is so poignant and distinct. The narrators themselves are interesting to read about in and of themselves, regardless of their situation, and I think that is what makes this story truly fantastic.

     The emotional impact of this story is just as important as any other element of the book. The authors really reveal the heartbreaking truth of the attitudes in the world today and it is absolutely heartbreaking to see. What I think is really well done though is that it is not overly dramatized or exaggerated, and is just told as a fact of the world today, which makes it that much more impactful. 

     The fast pace of this book allows the reader to stay engaged in the story and makes it feel more real, as there is really no time for either the reader or the characters to process one thing that happened before moving on to the next hurdle or challenge. It keeps the reader engaged and focused on the story so as not to miss anything. Along these lines, another element that I really respect about the story is how it is told in the moment and does not take a lot of time on flashbacks to explain anything about these girls. The minimum amount of plot is told from the past, but it mostly focuses on the present events, which I think is another key element that the authors incorporated to keep the reader engaged. Even the extremely abrupt ending adds to this and, as I mentioned before, really emphasizes the events of the one night and lets them speak for themselves, which is really great. 

     I think now more than ever it is extremely important to read books like this to keep ourselves educated and to keep ourselves humble in our own privilege. Whether reading fiction or nonfiction, these books are essential to expanding our perspective and diminishing our biases. This book is just a start for me in my learning, and even though this book was very short, it has had a huge impact. 5/5 stars to I’m Not Dying With You Tonight by Kimberly Jones and Gilly Segal.