The Day I Killed James [Hardcover]

Catherine Ryan Hyde (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 13, 2008

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 drives his motorcycle off a cliff—and Theresa knows she’s responsible for his death.
Theresa tries to run away from the pain, becoming a new young woman with a whole new life. She meets people, of course, but she never really makes connections—she’s too scared she’ll hurt them, too. But what Theresa discovers is that you can try to run away from the pain—but you can never really run away from yourself. The only way out is through.

This compelling tale of love and loss is about broken hearts—and how to begin to repair your own.

Editorial Reviews

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 Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers; 1ST edition (May 13, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 037584158X
• ISBN-13: 978-0375841583
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.8 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,090,852 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Catherine Ryan Hyde is the author of 18 published and forthcoming books. Her newer novels are Becoming Chloe, Love in the Present Tense, The Year of My Miraculous Reappearance, Chasing Windmills, The Day I Killed James, Diary of a Witness, Jumpstart the World and the UK titles When I Found You, Second Hand Heart, and Don't Let Me Go. The US editions of Second Hand Heart and When I Found You are now available on Amazon.

Older works include the story collection Earthquake Weather, and the novels Funerals for Horses, Pay it Forward, Electric God, and Walter's Purple Heart.

Forthcoming is When You Were Older (Transworld UK, '12).

Pay It Forward was adapted into a major motion picture, chosen by the American Library Association for its Best Books for Young Adults list, and translated into more than 23 languages for distribution in over 30 countries. The paperback was released in October 2000 by Pocket Books and quickly became a national bestseller. Love in the Present Tense enjoyed bestseller status in the UK, where it broke the top ten, spent five weeks on the national bestseller list, was reviewed on a major TV book club, and shortlisted for a Best Read of the Year award at the British Book Awards. Both Becoming Chloe and Jumpstart the World were included on the ALA's Rainbow List, and Jumpstart the World was a finalist for two Lambda Literary Awards.

More than 50 of her short stories have been published in The Antioch Review, Michigan Quarterly Review, The Virginia Quarterly Review, Ploughshares, Glimmer Train and many other journals, and in the anthologies Santa Barbara Stories and California Shorts and the bestselling anthology Dog is my Co-Pilot. Her stories have been honored in the Raymond Carver Short Story Contest and the Tobias Wolff Award and nominated for Best American Short Stories, the O'Henry Award, and the Pushcart Prize. Three have been cited in Best American Short Stories.

For more information, please visit the author at www.catherineryanhyde.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Story Siren Reviews:, May 18, 2008

By 

The Story Siren "Kristi" (Indiana) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Day I Killed James (Hardcover)

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.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Day I Killed James, August 11, 2008

By 

Chelsie Lacny "Chel" (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Day I Killed James (Hardcover)

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.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sad Story of Young Love and Loss, October 16, 2008

By 

L. Evans "Books & Cooks" (Ocala, Florida United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Day I Killed James (Hardcover)

I generally don't read many books in the Young Adult genre, but I was happy to read THE DAY I KILLED JAMES by Catherine Ryan Hyde, especially after reading another of her books recently, CHASING WINDMILLS and liking it so much.

This is the story of Theresa, a senior in high school who lives with her father. Her mother took off long ago, so it's been just the two of them for awhile. They're relationship is a bit strained, mainly because her father is pretty much absent, emotionally and physically due to all the time he spends at his girlfriend's house. Theresa has a boyfriend, Randy, who she fights with, then breaks up with, then gets back together with on a somewhat regular basis, but everyone is pretty much used to the pattern. Only this time is different.

There's a party at a friend's house and Randy tells Theresa he's bringing somone else. In retaliation, Theresa invites her neighbor, James to be her date to the party. James is a few years older, good looking and is infatuated with Theresa, which does make her a little uneasy about the situation. Theresa's plan to make Randy jealous works, maybe a little too well. At the party, James walks in on the two of them 'making up' and takes off on his motorcycle. That is the last time anyone sees James.

In the months following the accident, Theresa makes decisions based on the blame she puts on herself for being responsible for what happened. First, she tries to cope through a journal she keeps at the insistence of her therapist. She chronicles her feelings and actions, although not really thinking it would do much good. Then she tries re-inventing herself and her life. Guilt does funny things to people and we all handle it very differently and she is very matter of fact at how she punishes herself for that guilt.

During her time of self-punishment she meets Cathy, an 11 year old girl who has a tragic story of her own and the two form an odd sort of bond. As much as Theresa tries to separate herself from people, she is pulled into helping this young girl. The result is that in trying to help Cathy, Theresa is able to face her own demons and deal with the fall-out of her own choices with the help of someone unexpected.

THE DAY I KILLED JAMES is an interesting read that moves quickly and makes you want to keep turning to the next page. Parts of the book are her actual journal entries which make it very real and insightful to her feelings. The writing is direct and at times a bit raw, which makes it all the more convincing. I did find it difficult to accept the circumstances surrounding Cathy, the young girl Theresa befriends. Probably because my childhood was drastically different than hers and I didn't want to believe situations like that exist. But my feelings about it didn't take away from the story at all.

I feel that THE DAY I KILLED JAMES is a realistic account of what could happen in young lives if they are oblivious to others around them. Maybe not exactly the same way the story played out, but certainly there are lessons that could be learned. Theresa's story could play an important role in teaching young adults about being aware of choices and consequences. Although tragic, this could be a learning experience for young readers.