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Thursday, January 6, 2022

Dead Wednesday, written by Jerry Spinelli. Alfred A. Knopf, Penguin Random House. 2021. $23.99 ages 12 and up

 


"And just as fast, brilliant turns 
to stupid. He hardly knows her, 
spectral maiden or whatever, and 
yet in some sense he can't put a 
finger on, he knows her well. And 
one of the things he knows is that, 
whether he's her assignment or not, 
not in a million years is she going to 
play that game. With Becca Finch 
there's no having it both ways. He 
enters Play It Again Sam.
"

It is no secret that I have great admiration for Jerry Spinelli and his distinguished ability to author meaningful and memorable stories. My favorites have a special place in the library, awaiting the time when my granddaughters will be old enough to read them. 

I was absolutely intrigued by the premise for this story: eighth graders in Amber Springs, Pennsylvania play an important role in their small town's ritual called Dead Wednesday. At 11:43 that day these students are released from school for a half-day. They are given a black shirt, and the name and a picture of a teen killed through reckless behavior in the year since last year's Dead Wednesday. At that point, everyone in town completely ignores them and treats them as if they are dead. His identity card reveals that he is Becca Finch for the day. 

Robbie has been eagerly awaiting his turn to be part of it, seeing it as a day to skip the afternoon at school and do whatever he wants, rather than spend time thinking about the purpose of the day itself ... a chance to think seriously about what happens when teenagers act in foolhardy ways.  

All that changes with the appearance of an unusual, and quite remarkable, girl only he can see and touch. Becca Finch seems to be as surprised as Robbie (aka Worm). All she remembers is that she lost control of her car on an icy roadway on Christmas Eve. As the two spend time together wandering through town, they make discoveries about each other - and themselves. Becca feels she is present to help Worm see how life can be, to help him stop hiding who he is from everyone else. When they must face the finality of Becca's death, Worm is happy to have known her and her story. 

As he has done so often, Mr. Spinelli creates characters to love and honor, and meaningful relationships that are forever remembered. It's funny at times, insightful, and so very good. It seems an unbelievable premise, yet it does not feel so. I could not put it down until the very last sentence, the very last word. 

I am adding it to my 'keepers' shelf! 

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