On the Day I Died

On the Day I Died

 (Image via juniorlibraryguide.com)

Cadence Fleming

(Trigger Warnings (book and review): Death, fire, spiders, blood, the undead, murder- Okay, -almost anything that has the potential to kill you was in here. For the love of a Smiling God, do not read if you have basically any triggers.)

Mike is driving fast to get home before he almost hits a dripping wet girl with his car. He slams on the brakes, and, knowing he's already late and the girl is clearly miserable, offers her a ride home. Except her mother says she's dead, and her real home is White Cemetery. Michael's visit there, however, leaves him trapped by the ghosts that need to tell their stories.

I read this book the first time the same year it was published. I didn't have a blog at the time, and my tastes were kind of underdeveloped back then anyway. It became my favorite book. I read again recently and came to some frightening truths about younger me (Why did I feel the need to read about all these deaths? Why was I upset when a cat was mentioned to have died, but not when the narrator died?  What was wrong with me?). It now ranks as 'decent' on my book-o-meter. Let's find out why.

This book is the ultimate exercise of writing different voices. And it succeeded. The characters were all obviously individuals. Heck, it sounded like it could have been different writers writing, even, which I mean in the best way possible.

So, another part of this book is that they died in supernatural ways. A couple, though, went from 'ooooh spppoooookkkkyyyyyyy' to 'wait what'. And the first didn't really even go under the theme of supernatural. Unless there's something I missed there, which is totally possible.

The writing style, while it varied from story to story, was consistently interesting. Or, didn't leave me skipping over paragraphs out of boredom, even in the slowest-building stories. However, the descriptions weren't usually as detailed as I wanted. There was a lot left to the imagination.

An anthology of ten short stories usually means ten different settings. Or, it's in New York. But instead On the Day I Died is set in Chicago, and does that fine. It's not the same story over and over again, it's not even really the same setting over and over again. Way to milk your surroundings. Also in a good way.

Overall, good light reading for creep addicts.

(Sorry for the patheticness of this review, and the fact I missed the 15th...)

~Corinne

Notice

Sorry about being gone so long. School's back, less reading time, the usual.

I have to drop the queue for the 1st. I just don't have time for three things a month, though hopefully I'll do better as I get back into the rhythm of things.

Also, masterpost three is in the works. So y'all know.

~Corinne

The Masterpost of Diversity p.2

Well, here we are, list number two. Hopefully, this list will be longer than the last. Once again, leads count, all else does NOT. Also once again, please tell me if I missed a trigger warning, you want to add a book, I was wrong about the diverse-ness, or if the book is actually really offensive and I need to take it off (I haven't read most of these books, sorry!).

Thank you to mrkohler for correcting me on a couple things I got wrong and adding books to the list!

Part 2 People of Color

Africa

Zebra Crossing- Meg Vandermerwe (South African)

Chausiku: The Gathering Storm- Pamela E. Cash (Anzande, tw death)

The Milk of Birds- Sylvia Whitman (Sudanese, tw death, rape)

The Chaos of Stars- Kiersten White (Egyptian)

Now Is the Time for Running- Micheal Williams (Zimbabwean, tw war, death)

Lost Girl Found- Leah Bassoff, Laura DeLuca (Sudanese, tw war, death)

Akata Witch- Nnedi Okorafor (Nigerian)

Threatened- Eliot Schrefer (Gabonese, tw death)

Asia

Spirit of a Mountain Wolf- Rosanne Hawke (Pakistani, tw slavery, death)

Island's End- Padma Venkatraman (Indian, tw disaster)

The Fire Wish- Amber Lough (Middle Eastern)

Shabanu: Daughter of the Wind- Suzanne Fisher Staples (Middle Eastern)

The Master Puppeteer- Katherine Paterson, Haru Wells (Japanese, also, might be MA, not YA)

Silver Pheonix- Cindy Pon (Chinese)

Book of a Thousand Days- Shannon Hale, James Noel Smith (Central Asian???)

A Teaspoon of Earth and Sea: A novel- Dina Nayeri (Iranian, technically MA)

The Walled City- Ryan Graudin (Chinese)

A Time to Dance- Padma Venkatraman (Indian, tw amputation, death, blood, injury)

Huntress- Malinda Lo (Chinese)

Ash- Malinda Lo (Chinese)

Shadows on the Moon- Zoe Marriott (Japanese, tw self harm)

Prophecy- Ellen Oh (Korean)

The Pearl that Broke its Shell- Nadia Hashimi (Afghan, tw drugs)

Of Metal and Wishes- Sarah Fine (Okay, Noor means Iranian, but I think it's set in east Asia? Does anyone know?)

Exquisite Captive- Heather Demetrios (Persian, I think? Tw death) 
 

Tiger Moon- Antonia Michaelis (Indian)

In the Name of God- Paula Jolin (Syrian, tw war)

When My Name was Keoko- Linda Sue Park (Korean, tw war)

Zero Defect- Aarohan Atwal (Indian)

A Single Shard- Linda Sue Park (Korean)
 

Toads and Diamonds- Heather Tomilson (Indian, tw disease)

Moon at Nine- Deborah Ellis (Iranian, tw threat of death)

Spirit's Princess- Esther M. Friesner (Japanese, tw disaster)

Stormdancer- Jay Kristoff (Japanese, tw death, injury, disaster)

Year of Impossible Goodbyes- Sook Nyul Choi (Korean, tw war)

Alpha Goddess- Amalie Howard (Indian)

Forbidden- Kimberely Griffiths Little (Mesopotamia, which would be Iran/Iraq nowadays)

Love's Prey- Meg Xuemei X (Chinese, tw abuse)

Australia

 

Does My Head Look Big in This?- Randa Abdel Fattah (Palestinian-Australian, tw slurs, bullying)

The Interrogation of Ashala Wolf- Ambelin Kwaymullina (Indigenous Australian)

Ten Things I Hate About Me- Randa Abdel-Fattah (Lebanese-Australian)

Preloved- Shirley Marr (Chinese-Australian, tw death)

 Europe

 

The Icarus Girl- Helen Oyeyemi (Nigerian-English)

Between Two Worlds- Katherine Kirkpatrick (Greenland Iniut, tw death)

I Love I Hate I Miss My Sister- Amélie Sarn (Algerian-French, tw murder)

Kiffe Kiffe Tomorrow- Faïza Guène (Moroccan-French)

Mixing It- Rosemary Hayes (Middle-Eastern-English, tw terrorism, injury)

A Spy in the House- Y.S. Lee (Asian-English, tw death)

Where I Belong- Gillian Cross (Somali-English)

From Somalia with Love- Na'ima B. Robert (Somali-English)

The Night Itself- Zoe Marriott (Japanese-English)

 North America

The Chaos- Nalo Hopkinson (Caribbean-Canadian ((tricked you, huh, thinking I'd say American. BUT NO.)))

Shadows Cast by Stars- Catherine Knutsson (First Nations of Canada, tw blood)

Skraelings: Clashes in the Arctic- Rachel Qitsualik-Tinsley, Sean Qitsualik-Tinsley (Inuit, tw murder, war)

For Today I Am a Boy- Kim Fu (Chinese-Canadian)

Throwaway Daughter- Ting-xing Ye (Chinese-Canadian, tw massacres ?)

Names on a Map- Benjamin Alire Saenz (Latino, tw war)

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe- Benjamin Alire Saenz (Latino, tw violence, death, homophobia, brief transphobic language, mentions of drug use, alcohol, injuries (there's a lot of them, okay))

Caminar- Skila Brown (Latino, tw death, war)

The Girl Who Could Silence the Wind- Meg Medina (Latino)

Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass- Meg Medina (Latino, tw bullying, assault, injury)

Under the Mesquite- Guadalupe Garcia Mccall (Latino, tw illness)

Black Hole Sun- David Macinnis Gill (Latino)

The House of the Scorpion- Nancy Farmer (Latino)

Jumped In- Patrick Flores-Scott (Latino, tw gangs)

The Book of Unknown Americans: A novel- Cristina Henriquez (Latino)

The Living- Matt De La Peña (Latino, tw disaster, death)

Marcelo in the Real World- Francisco X. Stork (Latino- also also ALSO autistic Latino)

Fated- Alyson Noel (Latina, tw death)

Flowers in the Sky- Lynn Joseph (Latina)

Mexican WhiteBoy- Matt de la Pena (Latino)

Crossing the Line- Malin Alegria (Latina)

Sanctum- Sarah Fine (Latina, tw suicide)

Death, Dickinson, and the Demented Life of Frenchie Garcia- Jenny Torres Sanchez (Latina, tw death)

Summer of the Mariposas- Guadalupe Carcia McCall (Latina, Tw death)

The Last Summer of the Death Warriors- Francisco X. Stork (Latino, tw murder, disease)

The Lost Sun- Tessa Gratton (Latino, I think? It's mentioned like, once. And I am only using it's real title because I have to. Tw alcohol, death, blood)
 
Hammer of Witches- Shana Mlawski (Latina, when will I stop loving that title? NEVER.)

Ask My Mood Ring How I Feel- Diana Lopez (Latina, tw disease)

We Were Here- Matt de la Pena (Latino)

Illegal- Bettina Restrepo (Latino)

Sofi Mendoza's Guide to Getting Lost in Mexico- Malin Algeria (Latina)

Santa Olivia- Jacqueline Carey (Latina, tw death)

What Can(t) Wait- Ashley Hope Perez (Latina)

Shelter- Patricia H. Aust (Latino, tw abuse)

Drift- M.K. Hutchins (Mayan???)

Tankborn- Karen Sandler (African American)

This Side of Home- Renee Watson (African American)

Not Otherwise Specified- Hannah Moskowitz (African American, tw eating disorders)

Orleans- Sherri L. Smith (African American)

Liar- Justine Larbalestier (African American, tw death) 

Echo- Alicia Wright Brewster (African-American, tw death)

Mare's War- Tanita S. Davis (African-American, tw war)

Kergulen- R.A. White (African-American, tw abuse)

If You Come Softly- Jacqueline Woodson (African-American)

Dust Girl- Sarah Zettel (African American)

Bad Kitty- Michele Jaffe (African American? Tw murder)

Pinned- Sharon G. Flake (African American)

Flygirl- Sherri L. Smith (African-American, tw war)

Pointe- Brandy Colbert (African-American, tw eating disorders, drugs, alcohol)

Shrink to Fit- Dona Sarkar (African-American, tw eating disorders)

Rumor Central- ReShonda Tate Billingsley (African-American)

Lies We Tell Ourselves- Robin Talley (African American, tw bullying, racism)
  
Copper Sun- Sharon M. Draper (African-American, tw slavery)

Tears of a Tiger- Sharon M. Draper (African-American, tw death, alcohol use)

The Battle of Jericho- Sharon M. Draper (African-American)

Crystal- Walter Dean Myers (African-American)

Charly's Epic Fiascos- Kelli London (African-American)

Next- Kevin Waltman (African-American)

Foul Trouble- John Feinstein (African-American)

When I Was the Greatest- Jason Reynolds (African-American, tw weapons, violence)

Call Me By My Name- John Ed Bradley (African-American, tw racism)

Kinda Like Brothers- Coe Booth (African-American)

A Wish After Midnight- Zetta Elliot (African-American, tw drugs, racism, war)

Kendra- Coe Booth (African-American)

Willow- Tonya Cherie Hegamin (African-American, tw slavery)

Rebels by Accident- Patricia Dunn (Egyptian-American, tw war)

My Most Excellent Year: A Novel of Love, Mary Poppins, and Fenway Park- Steve Kluger (Chinese-American, tw death)

Bird- Crystal Chan (Chinese-American? That's an assumption, I don't know. Tw death)

Team Human- Justine Larbalestier, Sarah Rees Brennan (Chinese-American, tw anything to with vampires)

Girl in Translation- Jean Kwok (Chinese-American)

The Painted Boy- Charles de Lint (Chinese-American, tw death)

Seeing Emily- Joyce Lee Wong (Chinese-American)

Girl Overboard- Justina Chen (Chinese-American, tw injury)

Paper Daughter- Jeanette Ingold (Chinese-American)

Crossing- Andrew Xia Fukuda (Chinese-American)

Possess- Gretchen McNeil (Chinese-American, tw death)

Mismatch- Lensey Namioka (Chinese-American)

Revenge of the Mooncake Vixen- Marilyn Chin (Chinese-American)

Chloe Leiberman (Sometimes Wong)- Carrie Rosten (Chinese-Jewish-American)

Gilded- Christina Farley (Korean-American) 
 
Stop Me If You've Heard This One Before- David Yoo (Korean-American, tw disease)

To All the Boys I've Loved Before- Jenny Han (Korean-American)

The Fold- An Na (Korean-American)
 
Since You Asked- Maurene Goo (Korean-American)

Good Enough- Paula Yoo (Korean-American)

Necessary Roughness- Marie G. Lee, Marie Myung-Ok Lee (Korean-American)

Finding My Voice- Marie G. Lee (Korean-American, tw racism)

Persimmon- Doc Pruyne (Korean-American)

Relax, I'm a Ninja- Natalie Whipple (Japanese-American)

Outside Beauty- Cynthia Kadohata  (Japanese-American)

Coral Hare: Atomic Agent (A WW2 Spy Novel) Inspired by actual historical events- Clive Lee (Japanese-American, tw war)

Orchards- Holly Thompson (Japanese-Jewish-American, tw suicide)

The Lost Girl- Sangu Mandanna (Indian-American- might just be Indian, tw death)

Shine, Coconut Moon- Neesha Meminger (Indian-American, tw terrorism, racism, anything to do with 9/11)

Born Confused- Tanuja Desai Hidier (Indian-American)

Monsoon Summer- Mitali Perkins (Indian-American)

The Not-So-Star-Spangled Life of Sunita Sen- Mitali Perkins (Indian-American)

Red Turban White Horse- Nandini Bajpai (Indian-American)

Ask Me No Questions- Marinda Budhos, Ferdidnando Scianna (Bangladeshi-American)

Nothing But the Truth (and a few white lies)- Justina Chen (Taiwanese-American)

The Emerald City- J.A. Beard (Tibetan-American)

She's So Money- Cherry Cheva (Thai-American)

Roots and Wings- Many Ly (Cambodian-American)

Sophmore Undercover- Ben Esch (Vietnamese-American, tw drugs)
 
Skunk Girl- Sheba Karim (Pakistani-American)

Boy vs. Girl- Na'ima B. Robert (Pakistani-American) 

The Art of Secrets- James Klise (Pakistani-American, tw fire)

Molly By Any Other Name- Jean Davies Okimoto (Asian-American)

Cat Girl's Day Off- Kimberly Pauley (Asian-American)
 

Guantanamo Boy- Anna Perera (Pakistani-American)

Extreme American Makeover- Mitali Perkins (Pakistani-American)

Permanent Record- Leslie Stella (Iranian-American, tw bullying)

Bestest. Ramadan. Ever- Medeia Sharif (Muslim-American)

The Tyrant's Daughter- J.C. Carleson (Middle-Eastern-American, tw death)

Nation- Terry Pratchett (South Pacific Islander, tw death, tsunami, and all that goes with it)

If I Ever Get Out of Here- Eric Gansworth (Tuscarora, tw alcohol, bullying)

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian- Sherman Alexie, art by Ellen Forney (Spokane, tw slurs, bullying, alcohol abuse, and death) 
 
More Than Good Enough- Crissa-Jean Chappell (Misccosukee)

The Gathering- Kelley Armstrong (Navajo, tw death)

How I Became a Ghost- Tim Tingle (Choctaw, tw death)

Killer of Enemies- Joseph Bruchac (Apache, tw death, weapons, violence)

Rain is Not My Indian Name- Cynthia Leitich Smith (Native American, tw death)

Hooked- Liz Fichera (Native American, tw racism, bullying)

Sorrow's Knot- Erin Bow (Native American, tw death)

Wolf Mark- Joseph Bruchac (Native American, tw alcohol, drugs)

Wildefire- Karsten Knight (Polynesian-American, tw violence)

 

South America

The Summer Prince- Alaya Dawn Johnson (Brazillian)

Origin- Jessica Khoury (Brazillian? Somewhere in the Amazon.)

Biracial/Didn't know where to put it/Multiple

So This is How it Ends- Tui T. Sutherland (Latino, Egyptian, might be others?)

Otherbound- Corinne Duyvis (I... I actually have no clue. No one tells me anything.)

Let's Get Lost- Adi Alsaid (Multiple, I think? And no, of COURSE I'm not adding this just because it mentions my home state, GEEZ. Tw death.)

Bleeding Violet- Dia Reeves (Biracial- Black and white, tw mental illness)

Romiette and Julio- Sharon M. Draper (Latino and African-American, tw gang stuff)

An Ocean Apart, A World Away- Lensey Namioka (Torn between Chinese and Chinese-American)

Drama Queens in the House- Julie Williams (Biracical- Black and white)

How To Salsa in a Sari- Dona Sarkar (African-American-Indian, Latina, tw bullying)

The Other Half of My Heart- Sundee T. Frazier (Biracial, black and white)

The Counterfeit Family Tree of Vee Crawford-Wong- L. Tam Holland (Chinese-American-White)

The Girl of His Dreams- Amir Abrams (Latino, African-American)

The Girl from the Well- Rin Chupeco (Japanese-Hawaiian, tw death)

Gadget Girl: The Art of Being Invisible- Suzanne Kamata

Jet Black and the Ninja Wind- Leaza Lowitz and Shogo Oketani (Japanese-American-white, tw death and violence)

Ink- Amanda Sun (Japanese-American-white)

No Surrender Soldier- Christine Kohler (Dual POV: Japanese and Chamorro, tw rape, murder, war, disease)

(I wish Good Enough and More Than Good Enough could be put next to each other, so it would look like they were arguing. Also, every time I have to put down something vague like "Native American" or "Asian American", someone steps on a puppy's tail.)

~Corinne

Read More at http://latinas4latinolit.org/2014/07/10-latino-books-for-teens/, Copyright © Latinas for Latino Lit (L4LL)

Guadalupe Garcia Mccall

Read More at http://latinas4latinolit.org/2014/07/10-latino-books-for-teens/, Copyright © Latinas for Latino Lit (L4LL)

Guadalupe Garcia Mccall

Read More at http://latinas4latinolit.org/2014/07/10-latino-books-for-teens/, Copyright © Latinas for Latino Lit (L4LL)