This Is Not a Dead Girl Story

Gr 9 Up–All her life, Jules’s world has centered around two people: her cousin Remy and River, the boy she is in love with. The three are best friends and constant companions, and they remain steadfastly close even after Remy and River start dating. So when tragedy strikes their small town of Black Falls, NY—first when River dies at a high school party, and then a week later, when Remy disappears—Jules doesn’t know what to believe. All she knows is that Remy cannot also be dead. Along with River’s cousin, Sam, and Remy’s other friend group, Jules starts unraveling the clues that both teens have left behind. How many lies will she uncover before she can finally figure out what happened to both her best friends? This story unfolds deliberately, which might deter some readers, but the ones who stick around will be treated to a portrayal of a twisted small town and the dark truths and power struggles that haunt it. More than a mere suspenseful thriller, this book tackles grief, friendship, love, loss, girlhood, mental health, and abuse in a thoughtful way. The characters are nuanced and complex, and the emotions they feel and issues they encounter are gritty and realistic.