Forgive Me Not

A LOS ANGELES TIMES BOOK PRIZE FINALIST • In this searing indictment of the juvenile justice system, one fifteen-year-old girl in detention weighs what she is willing to endure for forgiveness in this poignant novel.

“Riveting, heartbreaking . . . and a powerful reflection on who deserves second chances.”—Renée Watson, Newbery Medal winning author of All the Blues in the Sky

“Eye-opening.”—School Library Journal

Violetta was drunk behind the wheel of the car when a tragic crash claimed her sister’s life. In this near-future world, her punishment will be decided by the victim’s family: Violetta’s own parents. The Chen-Samuelses can decide one of three things: to forgive their daughter and allow her to come home; sentence her to years in prison; or send her to the Trials—where Violetta could earn her family’s forgiveness by participating in a series of tests of will intended to prove that she understands the gravity of her actions. The Trials, meant to rehabilitate and prevent recidivism, are tailored to each offender’s crime. They can be cruel and can go on forever. Violetta is crushed when her older brother, Vince, delivers the news—she will be sent to the Trials. But what Violetta wants more than her freedom is her family’s forgiveness.

The decision weighs heavily on Vince, who feels he’s let his family down and could have somehow prevented the tragedy. Buckling under the weight of expectations, guilt, and loneliness, Vince quietly spirals into addiction as Violetta faces the Trials. Both Vince and Violetta must decide what it means to not only forgive one another, but themselves.

Alternating between Violetta’s and Vince’s perspectives, Forgive Me Not is an intense, insightful exploration of punishment and forgiveness that shines a stark light on the dehumanizing treatment of Black and Brown children in the criminal justice system, making a powerful argument for the abolition of prisons.

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.