The Day I Killed James

by Catherine Ryan Hyde

Book Overview

IT WASN'T SUPPOSED to end up like this. But it did. When Theresa brings James to a party as her date, it's just for the night . . . and he knows that. But when everything goes horribly wrong, James... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 037584158X
• ISBN13: 9780375841583
• Release Date: May 2008
• Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf
• Length: 217 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.7" x 8.5"
• Age Range: 12 to 17 years
• Grade Range: Grades 7 to 12

Customer Reviews

The Day I Killed James

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.

Courtesy of Teens Read Too

Everyone carries around some sort of guilt or regret. Most don't carry the burden that Theresa does. James is her next-door neighbor. He's attractive, but a bit too bizarre for Theresa. And he's in love with her. He left for two years for the military and wrote her every week. She thinks she sent him maybe two letters in return. Theresa is in love with her boyfriend, Randy. They've been dating for nine months now. However, he's just told her that he wants to take another girl, Rachel, to their friend Frieda's end-of-school party. There have been on-again and off-again periods with Randy before, but this is a first. Theresa lets him go, and in retaliation, she asks James if he'd like to go to a party with her. She is up front with him that it's purely for show, but James is thrilled to have the chance for even a pretend date with Theresa. While James is off getting Theresa something cold to drink, Randy comes crawling back to Theresa, realizing he made a mistake. Theresa tries to think of James, but before she knows it, she and Randy are in a heavy makeout session. It's only after she hears James' motorcycle pull away that she starts to worry what he may think. But that's not the worst of it. James doesn't come home, and Theresa goes to the cops. Not long after telling the cops he's missing, they come knocking on her door to tell her that his motorcycle has gone over the side of a cliff. No one is to blame, but Theresa believes it's all her fault because of what James saw. Not able to handle the guilt or the remorse, she leaves home to reinvent herself. Living in a beat-up trailer, a young neighbor girl starts hanging around. Before Theresa realizes it, life is changing again, and the thought-provoking actions of an eleven-year-old slowly brings Theresa back to the living. What a powerful story. Theresa is determined to keep James' memory alive out of guilt. But Ms. Hyde weaves the story beautifully and the reader gets to see the slow healing process that Theresa, and also Cathy, her young neighbor, go through. You will surely laugh and cry with the story, but will come out much better for it on the other side. Just like Theresa did. Reviewed by: Jaglvr

Moving and Beautiful

Theresa tells James that their party date is a one-time thing. She's only using him to make her maybe-ex-boyfriend jealous. It works, but Theresa breaks James' heart in the process, and he drives his motorcycle of a cliff, dying of suicide. Theresa's entire world collapses, and she blames herself for James' death. She severs ties with her old life, and tries to reinvent herself, all in an attempt to atone for what she did to James. Slowly though, through meeting a girl very similar to herself, Theresa begins to realize that she can't keep running away forever. Once again, Catherine Ryan Hyde writes a beautiful story about learning to live with what you've done. The story was incredibly sad, because Theresa kept blaming herself for killing James, even though it wasn't entirely her fault, and even though Theresa's only eighteen-years-old, this ages and matures her. Theresa's character and journey to self-forgiveness is very realistic, and I was so relieved with the hopeful ending. The Day I Killed James is truly a heartfelt, well-written, and unforgettable story, and one I will not likely forget. The Day I Killed James is probably my favorite of Catherine Ryan Hyde's novels so far, and I most definitely recommend it. The topic of death is never an easy one to write about, and I rank this novel high among others of this topic, including Saving Zoë by Alyson Noël, Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher, and Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin. [...]

I am never disappointed.........

I would almost go so far as to recommend any of Catherine Ryan Hyde's books before I have read them. There is always "the moral to the story is" in each of her books that really touch me. Although this is a book for teenagers and young adults as are several of her books, I find it doesn't make any difference, it is still suitable for all ages. I have experienced all the emotions attributed to Annie in the story as I lost an adult son to suicide four years ago. I know guilt, it was my best friend for the first two years. I now know about depression but didn't recognize it soon enough. And forgiveness figures into all of her stories. I definitely think teenagers should read this book, it will give them insight and understanding if they ever have to deal with losing a classmate or friend to suicide. It will surely make them more conscience of what they say or do that could have a lasting effect on others. In the whole scheme of things, we are responsible for others and their wellbeing. "The Day I Kill James" will explain it very well and I believe if it is Hyde's first book you read, you will seek out all her books quickly.

The Story Siren Reviews:

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.