Being Dead

by Vivian Vande Velde

Book Overview

A sixteen-year-old will give anything to be with her true love--even though he died two hundred years ago. . . . A sopping-wet little dead girl stalks a teen who had nothing to do with her death--honest . . . A heartless man dances with his wife--after she's passed away.

From the hilarious to the horrific, master storyteller Vivian Vande Velde explores the world of the dead--and the undead--in this surprisingly moving collection of...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0152049126
• ISBN13: 9780152049126
• Release Date: September 2003
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
• Length: 203 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 4.5" x 7.1"
• Age Range: 11 to 15 years
• Grade Range: Grades 6 to 10

Customer Reviews

"Being Dead"

Lauren-Challengers If you are wondering what book to get I suggest you get the book called Being Dead. It's a wonderful book to read, but I am going to tell you now that it is a very scary book. It has 7 different stories, I think in my opinion that the first story is the best you'll have to agree with me on that one. So if you absolutely don't like a scary book, then this isn't a book for you, but if you do then this is a book for you. This book is about a family that moved from Buffalo to the country. They have a very big house. There starting to get all moved in and the phone rings. The older daughter Brenda answers it. she said "Hello" and there is no answer, so she said "Hello" again and there was still no answer. so she thought to herself ok this is the last time and if still no one answers then I am going to hang up. So she said "Hello" and right as she was going to hang up she heard a bell ringing like on a little kid's bike. This time she said "Is any one there?" and then she hears a sound like a little girl. The little girl said "Help me! Help!!!!!!!" Brenda said "Are you alone?" this time she heard the bell again and she was getting all fretted out. Then her dad and brother walk in. Her brother Danny said "Dad that isn't fair here were working our butts off and she's already on the phone!!!!!!!" Dad said" Honey she's just playing around because the phone doesn't even work yet they aren't going to be hooked up till Monday." Then a couple seconds later Brenda went out to her backyard to see there pond and to see if there are any fish. When she gets back there she sees a hand go down. She said to herself oh my gosh there is some one drowning in our pond so I have to go in and save it. So she went in and she noticed that the water was only an inch deep. She then rolled up her sleeve and stuck her hand in to see if there really was any one there. A couple seconds later she pulled out hair and got out immediately and ran back to her house. Then after they had dinner brushed their teeth they went to bed. They're so tried from working so hard getting all of there stuff moved in. Then about an hour later Brenda felt something kicking her bed like there was a person in the water (because she had a water bed). So she got out and ran to her mom and dads bedroom immediately. Told them what had just happened? They got up and went to her room and felt all around. "Honey there is nothing here?" said her mom. Her parents tucked her in bed and kissed her good night. Right when they exited out of her room Brenda yelled "MOM DAD I FELL IT AGAIN COME QIUCK!!!!!!!!!!" her parents turned around and said "Honey do you want to sleep on the couch tonight while me and your father empty out the be? "Okay" said Brenda. That next morning her parents and brother left to go to get some groceries. They left a note so Brenda could see it. Brenda finally woe up at about 10:00 am and she went downstairs to get some breakfast. Then when she sat down s

Nice Book

The book "Being Dead" has seven stories that are scary. One of the stories that i like is Drop by Drop. Drop by Drop is about a girl name Brenda who moves to a new town with her parents. The same day that she moved in she goes to the pond in back of her house. Then all of a sudden she sees a hand in the pond and she just jumps in to see if anyone was drowning. But when she jumps in there was nobody in the pond cause it was only 1 1/2 in. long. Brenda kept seeing the goes until she found out that seh killed a gril when she was driving to her friends house. Then it goes on. i recommend that you read this book becuase it's a good book to read at night and you'll never put it down when you start to read it. That's if you like scary stories.

Definitely creepy

These stories were definitely interesting, though I think that my favorite would have to be "Drop by Drop". That one's one of the best ghost stories I've every read, mainly because it gets away from the norm so much; for one thing the ghost isn't a centuries-old ghost, it's a really new one. Plus, the ending will REALLY freak you out. It is SO creepy. "October Chill" is pretty good, too- it's about a girl that has cancer that befriends a ghost. I think that everyone should read this book, and if you're a fan of ghost stories, it's a definite must.

AN AWESOME HORROR STORY

this book is awesome. it full of seven chilly stories about ghost. vivian is a great and amazing authoess. Each stories has a twist but i t hink Drop by Drop was a pretty twisted story.....the ending will scare everything out of you. each story is different with different meaning. they all are just as spooky as the one before. I loved each one, the good thing is there's a small story in between the big ones so you dont get bored or tired. It keeps you very interested. each story is really good. there great stories to tell at sleepovers and to all your friends on a dark spooky night, lol. Everyone should read this book, its amazing.

Read it in one sitting...IF you dare!

Vivian Vande Velde writes with such a sure grasp of teen dialogue, teen humor and teen life one is convinced that she must be a perpetual teenager herself. The seven stories in this volume are by turns spine-chilling, rib-tickling and heart tugging. Some of them all at once. Each story gives us a protagonist with a haunting problem, a sense of grim humor and (with the exception of the sweet but predictable "October Chill") a surprising resolution. Included here is a tale of near perfection...thrills, chills, mystery and even a little comedy..."Drop by Drop" will make you laugh even while it's scaring you out of a year's growth. The protagonist, Brenda, struggles to make friends in a new town--and to wonder WHY she, of her entire family, is haunted by the spirit of an angry little girl. Brenda is so funny about her misery, and so typical of the parentally put-upon teenager that we can't help but be sympathetic to her problem. But as the story (it's a long one--64 pages that fly by) unfolds, clues and ominous hints to the nature of the vicious little ghost are also revealed...and they spell disaster for Brenda. In fact, this story is not terrifying because of the ghost but because of the disaster her revelation will mean for Brenda and her family. I sat in breathless wonder when I finished this tale. It is the best of a wonderful lot and should be read to all teens of a certain age.... Of the other tales, "Dancing With Marjorie's Ghost" is a great tale for campfire tellings...the final lines will chill you, "For Love of Him" offers a darker view of romance beyond the grave and "Shadow Brother" will disturb anyone who has an older brother and a father who just don't get along. "The Ghost" is a short, funny piece that certainly owes much to a certain popular film of a few seasons ago. The title story features one of the wildest ways to die and humorously examines the lengths one will go to to provide for one's family. In all, a delightfully chilly bit of mist and mirrors, perfect for the young reader who loves ghost stories and wants something fresh, thoughtful and funny.