The Day I Killed James
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The Day I Killed James
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From School Library Journal
Grade 9 Up—Theresa's neighbor James has a huge, unrequited crush on her. Theresa loves Randy, who keeps breaking up with her. At a party, she uses James, with his permission, to make Randy jealous. It works: he takes her back, but James leaves the party and drives off a cliff. Convinced she is responsible for his death, Theresa runs away from home, takes on a new identity, and becomes involved in the troubled life of the young girl next door. Her involvement with this child runs deep enough to entwine their lives, and myriad difficulties ensue. When Theresa takes on her new identity, the perspective shifts (first person to third person). This is a bit gimmicky, but it does convey the teen's emotions in trying to escape herself. The author is ambitious and attempts to cover a lot of ground. Theresa has a lot on her plate just trying to deal with her own issues, but by adding abused children, Hyde complicates the protagonist's healing process immensely. Although the teen does grow and has a major turning point, it feels rather forced. The book is filled with snappy, sarcastic, sitcom dialogue and stock characters—the confused teen, the user boyfriend, the tough kid with the soft center. Still, the pacing is brisk, and the story is edgy and bold, with drinking, smoking, runaways, sexual banter, flirting, and murder. Older teens will be captivated, and the cover does a terrific job of selling the book.—Geri Diorio, The Ridgefield Library, CT
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Review
"Starkly told" and "Emotionally honest." --VOYA
"Both raw and witty." --Kliatt
"Journal entries and brief chapters keep readers engaged...the quiet, powerful admonition permeates this novel: Be careful with other people's hearts...[an] original, gripping story." --Kirkus
--This text refers to the
edition.
Chelsie Lacny Chel (Chicago, IL) | 
11/08/2008
11/08/2008
Title: The Day I Killed James
Author: Catherine Ryan Hyde
Rating: 5/5
Good:
From the cover, to the first page, all the way to the end, this book completely captivated me. The idea was fresh and new and it brings forth an interesting idea of how much blame to put on yourself when something happens to someone close to you. The main character is deep and emotional, and while she tries to push people away she really wants someone to push through the wall she's built. I love Theresa, she's a character I can relate to very easily, and she's also likable in her own way.
Bad:
I'm having a difficult time coming up with something bad about this book... It was truly amazing and wonderful, the type of book I could read again and never get tired of.
The Story Siren Kristi (Indiana) |
18/05/2008
18/05/2008
James was Theresa's neighbor. It was obvious to everyone, even to her that he was in love with her. Theresa however didn't feel that way about James, she couldn't help it, it just wasn't there. He was four years older than her and besides that she already had a boyfriend, Randy. When Randy moves onto another girl, Theresa can't help but use James's willingness to her advantage. She knows he loves her, and she knows that using him is wrong, but he insists that he wants to be used. Theresa, however, didn't foresee the events that would play out the night of the party, or she never would have asked James to be her date. Theresa broke his heart and he killed himself.
Overflowing with toxic guilt, Theresa flees her old life. She shaves her head, changes her name and moves to a new town where no one knows her. Determined that she won't let herself hurt someone again.
Unexpectedly, Theresa's salvation comes in the form of a young scraggly abused child, that lives next door to her trailer. They set out on a road trip that ultimately aids in healing them both.
I can't say enough good things about Hyde as a writer. She gets me everytime! The moral of this story is simple, be careful with other peoples hearts. The story, however, is anything but. The plot is intense, and the sporadic journal entries by Theresa add significant depth. Once again Ryan has superbly crafted a compelling tale that I soon won't forget.
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 The Encyclopedia of Death and Dying (Facts on File Library of Health and Living) Dana K. Cassell, Peter S. Winn, Robert C., Salinas |
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