Sarah Darer Littman

Some Kind of Hate Sarah Darer Littman

In a stunning story set against the rise of white nationalism comes an unflinching exploration of the destruction of hate, the power of fear, and the impossible hope of redemption.



Declan Taylor is furious at the world. After winning State as a freshman starting pitcher, he accidentally jacks up his throwing arm. Despite painful surgery and brutal physical therapy, he might never pitch again. And instead of spending the summer with his friends, Declan is forced to get a job at the grocery store to help his family out. On top of that, his best friend, Jake Lehrer, keeps flirting with Declan's crush and seems to be always ditching him to hang out with the team or his friends from temple.



So Declan ends up playing a lot of Imperialist Empires online and making new friends. It's there he realizes he's been playing with Finn, a kid from his class. Finn is the first person in a long time who might be just as angry as Declan--he gets it. As the two start hanging out more, Finn also introduces Declan to others who understand what it's like when the world is working against you, no matter how much you try. How white kids like them are being denied opportunities because others are manipulating the system. And the more time Declan spends with Finn, the more he sees what they're saying is true. So when his new friends decide it's time to fight back, Declan is right there with them. Even if it means going after Jake and his family. And each new battle for the cause makes Declan feel in control of his rage, channeling it into changing his future. But when things turn deadly, Declan is going to have to decide just how far he'll go and what he's willing to sacrifice.