Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

By the Time You Read This, I'll Be Dead

3.83 of 5 stars 3.83 · rating details · 7,533 ratings · 928 reviews

Daelyn Rice is broken beyond repair, and after a string of botched suicide attempts, she’s determined to get her death right. She starts visiting a website for “completers”— www. through-the-light.com.

While she’s on the site, Daelyn blogs about her life, uncovering a history of bullying that goes back to kindergarten. When she’s not on the Web, Daelyn’s at her private sch

...more

Hardcover, 200 pages

Published January 5th 2010 by Disney-Hyperion

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Best Teen Books About Real Problems

43rd out of 1,146 books — 5,765 voters

YA Novels of 2010

58th out of 611 books — 2,644 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 3,000)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Sep 29, 2010 Caris rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010, young-adult

THE FUTURE LIBRARIAN SUPER REVIEW: PART 1

Caris: I finished it.

karen: did you cry?

Caris: I got angry. That last page was a load of bullshit.

karen: so damn much of it was bullshit. but hey - at least there were a lot of tips on how to kill yourself properly! take notes, teens!

Caris: Those tips were something else. They seemed the closest thing to propaganda in the book (other than that goddamned last page). How can so many ways to die be at the top of the pain scale? It's like she was telling you...more

41 likes · like · see review

Sep 30, 2010 karen rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: and-so-this-is-grad-school, why-yes-i-ya

STOP!!!

this is the second part of a conversation about this book!! i got caris' sloppy seconds! to read the first part, please click here!

Caris: Maybe it was just your personality. Perhaps you're just not the type of dude who gets bullied. You know, badassery and whatnot.

I certainly cave on this point. The book was unbelievable. Both the website and Santana were only there to keep the girl from killing herself. Of course, all books do this. It seems that the bar is just set lower for teen ficti...more

42 likes · like · see review

Feb 03, 2010 Liberty rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: all parents

Teen suicide. Not an easy subject to think or talk about. This book tells the story of Daelyn. She's 15 and determined to die this time. Yes, you read correctly...she's tried to kill herself before and failed. This time she knows it will work. A victim of bullies, she can't face life anymore. She thinks everyone will be happier without her. One day after school she meets Santana and things start to look a little different, but is it too late?

As a mother of a child who was bullied and talked abou...more

11 likes · like · see review

May 02, 2011 Jaime Arkin rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: stand-alone-books, ya

this book instantly intrigued me when i saw the title and description. it a tough read ... heavy and sometimes hard to stomach but completely worth it.

daelyn is hard to grasp as a character i felt sorry for her but i was also mad. she was giving up and i wanted her to fight for her life and happiness. her relationship with her parents made me want to pull my hair out... but i had hope towards the end but then .... no resolution. i imagine im supposed to determine in my own mind what really happ...more

4 likes · like · see review

Oct 11, 2011 Heather rated it 4 of 5 stars

Daelyn has been demeaned, bullied, tortured and almost raped through her years in school. For some reason, the teachers and principals always believe the other students, making her feel further bullied. Daelyn was overweight most of her life and that was the main fodder for the bullies, but not all. She tried to make her parents listen, but they just passed it off as kids being kids. Her mom went on diets with her saying it would be "fun" and her father would sneak food to her at night. She was...more Daelyn has been demeaned, bullied, tortured and almost raped through her years in school. For some reason, the teachers and principals always believe the other students, making her feel further bullied. Daelyn was overweight most of her life and that was the main fodder for the bullies, but not all. She tried to make her parents listen, but they just passed it off as kids being kids. Her mom went on diets with her saying it would be "fun" and her father would sneak food to her at night. She was sent to fat camp where they were tortured with emotional abuse and physical exercise beyond their limits. She final went home when a boy died. But that was before. She has made a few attempts to take her life and failed. The last attempt, pouring bleach and ammonia down her throat only resulted in a burned stomach lining and collapsed esophagus. She has to wear a heavy neck brace, can't talk, and all her food has to be pureed. She doesn't realize that she's become a frail, skinny, looking girl. And that she's pretty.

Daelyn flies under the radar. It's what keeps her safe and how she plans to slip from this world without anyone knowing her plans. Her father monitors her computer so she can't get on suicide websites. But she finds one that he can't trace and there she begins her countdown. Twenty four days. But a boy begins sitting on the bench with her while she waits for her parents to get her from school and he worms himself into her life without her permission. Next thing she knows she's staying at his house because she can't be trusted to stay at home alone and her parents both have meetings when there's a half day of school. Despite the fact that Daelyn can't talk, Santana talks a lot asking lots of questions. She writes some answers down. Others she ignores. Then she finds out something about Santana that seems to make her think. She doesn't stop her countdown, but one day in chorus (she did it as a joke) a mean girl elbows her and a teacher moves her to a different section. In a way, he sticks up for her. And she ends up standing by the overweight girl. And she's nice to the girl and the girl starts chatting to her and sits with her in another class. Daelyn even writes a joke about the mean girl to the overweight girl and they laugh in chorus. But she's not supposed to be making friends. She's supposed to be letting go of everything.

Daelyn is not a pitiful character. The neck thing gets to me, but that's a personal thing. She's strong in her decision to end her life. She isn't blaming anyone. She blames herself. She doesn't believe in God because he was never there for her before. And she really thinks her parents will be better off without her. She doesn't take her medicine that was seeming to work. She really is strongly convinced that suicide is the answer. The website is not one that talks you into doing it. It ask questions that make you think about your choices. It makes you wait those twenty four days. It asks if you've thought of this and that. Have you decided how, where. Have you decided who will find you etc. But asks deeper questions like who will become you after you're gone. Daelyn keys in no one, but can't help but think of the overweight girl in chorus. Tougher questions come.

The author does a great job of portraying a girl in the depths of depression. There is no feeling. An absolute absence of any emotion. Inside is dead. That's how Daelyn is for most of the book until Santana starts to stir feelings in her. She's a sympathetic character. She doesn't whine about her life. Maybe because she can't feel. She just lays it out in flashbacks in black and white. She doesn't even seem to hate the people that were so cruel to her. She can't feel even that emotion. But Santana is hard to ignore. He's loud with bleached blond hair and colored tips and he seems to appear out of nowhere. And like I said, he talks a lot.

I can't say I enjoyed this book because I don't enjoy reading about suicide. But this was a very well written book on bullying, its effects on the victims and suicide. It addressed a very tough subject with integrity. People that attempt suicide aren't doing it for attention. They're doing it to say, "Hey, I NEED HELP!" They should be treated with respect and kindness and understanding. Not like a freak, a criminal, or a burden. They should get help because the next time probably won't be an attempt.

Now there is no clear ending to the novel. The author lets you decide for yourself what you think Daelyn did on the last day. I know what she did and I have my proof to back it up. But some others might see it differently. But be it bullying or suicide this novel is a great lesson on both.

(less)

7 likes · like · see review

Sep 03, 2011 Tay [is yumalishious] rated it 4 of 5 stars

I thought that it was a good book to show how drasticly people react to things like being called names and being made fun of. I feel like the people in this book actually exist. Although I really liked this book, there was a reason for me giving it four stars. She gave up. She was a hard character to get at the beginning because I haven't had to deal with characters before, but by the end of the book I viewed her as a heroine and... she died. She. Just. Gave. Up. I really liked her character and...more I thought that it was a good book to show how drasticly people react to things like being called names and being made fun of. I feel like the people in this book actually exist. Although I really liked this book, there was a reason for me giving it four stars. She gave up. She was a hard character to get at the beginning because I haven't had to deal with characters before, but by the end of the book I viewed her as a heroine and... she died. She. Just. Gave. Up. I really liked her character and wish that in the end she didn't die.

Every book that I've read has had some sort of happy ending. Ever since I was little, "Oh, she got her prince!' or "The evil witch died and the people in the kingdom lived happily ever after!" In real life "happily ever after" is so hard to achieve that I don't think it has happened to anyone. Although when adults read those "magic" stories to you they made you think that everything was going to be all right when in the back of their mind they know isn't true. That's why those five and six year old girls think that by the time that they turn sixteen they will be married to a handsome prince and live in a pink castle.

This book was my first realization into what can happen to people that are your best friends, or just some random person you pass in the hall on your way to class. The way that she died and the information in the back of the book really opened my eyes to what can happen. I told my mom what this book was about and she shooshed me because the topic that it's on is- too- too, I don't even know. I am thoroughly surprised that they kept it on the summer reading list.

Recently, a boy that I knew attempted to commit suicide and ended up getting put in a medically induced coma. A week and a half later he died and the teachers couldn't even talk to us about it. I think that they think if they talk about it, then we will do it, that's not true. Although I don't understand why this boy would go suicidal because his family was so kind and nice, he still tried. I know that this isn't really a review of the book, but it goes along with the message that the author was trying to send to its readers.

This book was an eye-opener and I suggest it to anyone and everyone.

Just want to say something to the parents of that boy.
I can't even imagine the pain that you went through, and you're still going through. The pain of losing one child at seventeen months is enough to even attempt to handle, but to lose your fourteen year old too is just too much to bare. I just want you to know that I feel so bad and the memory of him will go on forever because he was so kind and helpful to everyone. He cared enough to set up a toy drive at Christmas because he didn't want anyone to go without a present.
Fly high. Always missed, never forgotten.
(less)

7 likes · like · see review

Nov 30, 2012 Jennifer Wardrip marked it as to-read

Shelves: trt-posted-reviews, fiction, teen, library-bloomington, booklending-wait-list

Reviewed by Karin Librarian for TeensReadToo.com

Daelyn has suffered major psychological damage from years of being bullied. The torment and embarrassment she received because of her weight started her downhill slide into despair. She has lost her desire to live and failed at several attempts to end her life. Her latest failure has left her unable to talk and on 24-hour suicide watch. Her parents barely trust her to go to school.

Daelyn is biding her time. She only has 23 days until her Date of De...more

1 like · like · see review

Feb 09, 2010 Libro Joven rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book was hard, but at the same time it was so enthralling. Reading so openly about bullying and a parasuicidal kid made my stomach into a knot, but I couldn't keep my eyes off the book until I was finished with it. It is short, but at the same time, it feels so long. Not because it's boring, but because the topics it talked about felt so... important, maybe? I'm not sure what's the right word for it. I'm not sure there's a right word for it.

If you enjoyed "Willow", by Julia Hoban, this is d...more

8 likes · like · see review

Nov 10, 2011 Xi rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 12th-grade-books

This book caught my attention: teen suicide, a story showing how a high school girl struggles to survive in a lonely world. This book is a special one. I almost always see books with the ending, “happily ever after” or “the evil guy died, and all the misunderstanding is clear”. This book is none of that. If you wish to read a book with ending like this, this book is not for you. In the surface level this book seems dull and the character seems dull just in general, but on a deeper level, I get t...more

like · see review

Apr 23, 2013 Pinkie Pie rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: library

I really, really, hated this book. I've said here on the blog before that I love "issues" books. I can't get enough of troubled girls from books like Smack by Melvin Burgess, Willow by Julia Hoban, or 13 Reasons Why. Even most of the paranormal books I love are rife with troubled kids. But I found By The Time You Read This I'll be Dead to be boring, a struggle to get through, with characters that are just insufferable.

The better parts of books that focus on bullying, are the passages where the...more I really, really, hated this book. I've said here on the blog before that I love "issues" books. I can't get enough of troubled girls from books like Smack by Melvin Burgess, Willow by Julia Hoban, or 13 Reasons Why. Even most of the paranormal books I love are rife with troubled kids. But I found By The Time You Read This I'll be Dead to be boring, a struggle to get through, with characters that are just insufferable.

The better parts of books that focus on bullying, are the passages where the kids are overcoming whatever obstacles they're facing. You really do root for the MC's but at the same time, in realistic fiction at least, you want the struggle to be, well, realistic. Right away, I knew Daelyn would make it. I knew she would never kill herself, and because I all ready knew the how's and why's of the story, I didn't care. At all.

Daelyn's character was awful to read about anyway. She was negative for no reason. At least, I couldn't figure out what those reasons were. I guess she was bullied for being overweight when she was younger, but now she's not anymore, so obviously it isn't body issues. And I also found it very difficult to believe that she was severely bullied every where she went. New school: bullied. New school again: bullied. Camp: bullied. New school: bullied. I am serious. Then one day someone reaches out to her, and she shuts that person out anyway, acting a bit snobbish and a whole lot full of herself.

No wonder no one wanted to be her friend.

I understand that when reading fiction there is a certain suspension of disbelief that has to be employed. But I really just didn't believe in Daelyn's suicidal thoughts, or the idea that she tried several, several times to off herself, or the idea that if she was that hell-bent on doing it, she would listen to some random website telling her to wait. None of it made sense. The only real reason Peters created that website was so Daelyn would wait: without the stupid forum, she would have tried it again within days, rather than weeks. Peters needed a time frame for Daelyn and Santana to connect and so she threw in a poor plot device. Bleh.

I see nothing of worth in this book. I mean, it was all very cliche, with no real plot, unbelievable characters and on top of it, dull writing. All I really got from this book was instruction on how to efficiently kill myself. There are detailed outlines of each way one can kill oneself, with pain thresholds and effectiveness to boot. I do have to hand it to Peters for her originality on one point, though: Daelyn can't talk because she burned her esophagus drinking ammonia. Awesome.

Overall, I am really glad I didn't spend money on this book. I toyed with the idea of buying it for months before just checking out of my local library. If you really want to read this, I would do the same. I honestly can't advise anyone to spend money on By the Time You Read this I'll be Dead.(less)

1 like · like · see review

Apr 04, 2013 Dana Sitar rated it 4 of 5 stars

Proponents of the novel appreciate Peters' poignant way of addressing the complex topics of bullying and suicide. Critics find it disturbing and morbid, wondering at the details offered for various methods of suicide and the romanticism of the whole thing.

The entire topic is complex, and I can't quite decide which camp I fall into. As a writer, I can't deny its literary merit. The story is deeply moving and troubling. That it continues to be the topic of debate concerning teens and bullying and...more Proponents of the novel appreciate Peters' poignant way of addressing the complex topics of bullying and suicide. Critics find it disturbing and morbid, wondering at the details offered for various methods of suicide and the romanticism of the whole thing.

The entire topic is complex, and I can't quite decide which camp I fall into. As a writer, I can't deny its literary merit. The story is deeply moving and troubling. That it continues to be the topic of debate concerning teens and bullying and suicide speaks to the powerful way in which it addressed the issues. As a writer on end-of-life issues, I commend the author for sparking the conversation about suicide (or "bullycide", a term coined for suicide provoked by bullying).

As a reader, I had trouble getting through this story. I could overlook what some thought to be "morbid", because simply discussing pain, suicide, or death is not morbid. It's real and honest. What's difficult to accept is the unreliable narrator. Peters does such a fantastic job of conveying the misguided, cynical, torn mind of a troubled teenager that I, the reader, found myself at odds: I wanted to argue the flaws in the girl's twisted view of the world at the same time I pitied her for all the pain it caused her.

Often in a story about suicide or death, a ray of hope runs through the entire narrative, and we are rooting for the main character to "snap out of" her gloom and see the brighter side to life. I desperately wanted to root for Daelyn, because the pain of a girl so beaten by life is difficult to witness. But Peters makes this difficult to do, regularly reminding us of Daelyn's commitment to her plan as the chapters count down the days to her "date of determination".

How can we have hope for a character who has no hope for herself?

This, I think, is what lands this book square in the spotlight of controversy over the sick lit genre for teens. Daelyn's experience is not sugar-coated. There's no Everything's gonna be alright message to go out on. The reader, in fact, is left wondering whether Daelyn committed the final act or not. This is no PSA. Peters honestly portrays the messiness and uncertainty of the issues -- and that will always leave some feeling just a bit uncomfortable.

I'll certainly call this a recommended read for anyone, as it opens the door for a wider conversation on death, depression, suicide, and teen bullying. The issues can't be swept under the rug or viewed through rose-colored glasses. They are dark, painful, and gritty -- and they are a reality in many lives. A great read for teens and adults alike, though I recommend reading for teenagers be accompanied by an open discussion with adults (parents, teachers, librarians) about the issues introduced in the novel. A discussion guide and list of resources follows the story to help you along.

-from my review at SevenPonds (less)

1 like · like · see review

Mar 31, 2013 Morgan Taylor rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book is written by a woman of the name Julie Anne Peters. This book is about a teenage girl that once tried to commit suicide. She is under suicide watch by her parents, but sometimes they trust her with little things. She can be in her room by herself, but she can’t eat food without it being blended. Personally I have a lot of freedom because my mom trusts me. When I started to read this book helped me realize that one decision can change someone's entire life.
At this moment I am not quit...more This book is written by a woman of the name Julie Anne Peters. This book is about a teenage girl that once tried to commit suicide. She is under suicide watch by her parents, but sometimes they trust her with little things. She can be in her room by herself, but she can’t eat food without it being blended. Personally I have a lot of freedom because my mom trusts me. When I started to read this book helped me realize that one decision can change someone's entire life.
At this moment I am not quit finished the book yet, but what I am reading looks promising. There is talk about this one boy in the book, I am hoping that something will happen between the two of them. I just think that is would be silly to talk about this boy in the first few pages of this book and not have him be an important part at all. There is already drama in this book with the girl thinking about killing herself again. As well as why she does not like the life that she is living at the moment. Adding a romance in the book to contrast with the conflict of killing herself would make the book that much better.
Many people can relate to this book because there are problems that people think of and deal with every day. One of the biggest is lack of confidence and being self conscious. In the book the girl has a flashback to tell the reader why she does not trust her father. “ ‘ In case you haven’t noticed your daughter is... overweight.’ People’s snickers and snorts drifted up to me. Dad did not say ‘No she is not.’ Because he knew I was and he made me humiliate myself in public.” I could relate to this because I have been seen for my weight many times in my life. I am sure many others can relate to this one way or another. That is partially why this book is great because people everywhere have been embarrassed, humiliated or felt insecure before. Not many books catch my eye, in fact I don’t even like reading at all. As i started to read this book, I realized that I liked it. This book was interesting, it had the perfect amount of drama and made me think about the value of life. Not only am I excited to find out what happens next in the book, I can’t wait until I finish it.(less)

like · see review

Mar 23, 2013 Sarah3 rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book was very entertaining. it is about a 15 year old girl who has dealt with bullying and stress her whole life. She is sick of living. She has attempted suicide before and failed, and now she is determined to get it right. She joins a website that encourages suicide and gives plenty of graphic ways-to-go. She meets a new boy at school, and gradually becomes friends with him. After a while, she starts second guessing her suicidal plans. Is it worth it? Could she have more to offer? Will sh...more

like · see review

Feb 02, 2013 Nick rated it 3 of 5 stars

SPOILERS BELOW. I'm on a tablet and don't have the "hide spoilers" option, so read with caution.

This is a powerful story. Daelyn is a character who has truly hit rock bottom, and the reader watches her very realistically shut down. Also realistically, life throws Daelyn a few curve balls at the "worst" possible time. One of these curve balls is Santana, who has some Manic Pixie Dream Boy elements, but I found the dynamic between them interesting. He has no boundaries of his own, and she has many...more SPOILERS BELOW. I'm on a tablet and don't have the "hide spoilers" option, so read with caution.

This is a powerful story. Daelyn is a character who has truly hit rock bottom, and the reader watches her very realistically shut down. Also realistically, life throws Daelyn a few curve balls at the "worst" possible time. One of these curve balls is Santana, who has some Manic Pixie Dream Boy elements, but I found the dynamic between them interesting. He has no boundaries of his own, and she has many; he lives in a slightly oblivious be-yourself, homeschooled bubble and she is trapped in high school hell; he is an open book and she has shut down; she desperately wants to die and he desperately wants to live. Moreover, for all that he seems oblivious to her inhibitions, I get the impression that Santana is intuitive enough to pick up that Daelyn's in crisis modee and that's what moves him to start talking to her. He keeps demanding that she talk to him, and part of that is his own carpe-diem loneliness, but he also seems to want to push her to open up about her own personal tragedies.

Plus, I think it's cool that Santana isn't the only force at odds with Daelyn's determination to end her life. For all of her anger toward her parents, she knows she loves them and has compassion for them, and she also meets Emily, whom she connects with right away, so Santana doesn't become the magical love interest on a white horse who makes it all better. (If it even does get better. The answer isn't clear, which drove me crazy but I liked the ending anyway. And the romance element isn't clear either; even if Daelyn does live, her feelings toward Santana might not necessarily end up romantic, and even if they do, she has a lot of healing to do before she's ready for that.)

I thought the suicide website was very interesting. Sure, there's a gray area regarding freedom of speech and free will, but despite the ways in which the site encourages a suicidal user (such a listing methods and their efficacy and offering pro tips), I got the message that a site like that might actually help some suicidal people decide to live. The forums offer a chance to vent--posting there is the only time Daelyn really has a voice--and they also offer users a chance to put things in perspective, such as when Daelyn gets frustrated with how hopeless and inverted some of the other users seem. And "DOD" stands for "date of determination," not "date of death," and when users reach that day they are given the opportunity to delete their accounts. At first, I found myself wondering how many of those DODs resulted in fake internet deaths, but by the end of the book I realized it doesn't really matter. The site insists on choosing a date of at least 23 days in the future for a reason, and it probably proves therapeutic for many users. Whether Daelyn turns out to be one of them is unknown.(less)

like · see review

Jan 11, 2013 Lucia Juliet Silva rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Suicide people

Shelves: favorites, reading-challenges-2013, chicabuena-chicomalo, escuela-preparatoria, para-llorar, realidad-romantica, ya, favoritos-del-2013

Bueno, ahi vamos. Primero que nada, este es un libro heavy. Heavy, heavy. EL unico libro que he leido de suicidio (sin contar FILOS y Abzurdah) es 13 reasons why y es completamente diferente. Es un libro especial, duro y sin vida (ni enseñanzas de esta). Un libro que alguien como yo no deberia leer, porque me sumerje en alguien que he sido y siempre estoy al borde de volver a ser.

La chica de este libro Daeryn (creo) quiere morir en veintipicos de días, una cuenta atrás que le da una pagina web l...more Bueno, ahi vamos. Primero que nada, este es un libro heavy. Heavy, heavy. EL unico libro que he leido de suicidio (sin contar FILOS y Abzurdah) es 13 reasons why y es completamente diferente. Es un libro especial, duro y sin vida (ni enseñanzas de esta). Un libro que alguien como yo no deberia leer, porque me sumerje en alguien que he sido y siempre estoy al borde de volver a ser.

La chica de este libro Daeryn (creo) quiere morir en veintipicos de días, una cuenta atrás que le da una pagina web llamada 'atravesdelaluz'. Pero un chico sumamente extraño comienza a sentarse con ella a la salida del colegio y, bueno, las cosas cambian.

Fue un libro rapido, lo lei en una sola noche y NO me quise ir a dormir hasta saber que sucedia. Me senti mal por ella, por todo lo que paso y vivio. Al principio me molestaba que no hablara ni quisiera mirar a las personas, con tantos chicos autistas y madres sufriendo por ellos... pero luego comprendi que no podia y que no QUERIA observar a laspersonas para no querer a las personas. ALgo que si bien estaba muy mal, me llamó muchisimo la atención. Sobretodo porque da a entender que esta chica quiere morir, no le interesa otra cosa.

El libro no es romantico pero si inteligente y doloroso. Dialogos agradables y un personaje masculino que rema y rema para conseguir a la chica. Cada pagina dolio, en cada pagina senti las lagrimas detras de los ojos... un libro increible.

Se lo recomiendo a cualquiera y ojala que con esta review mas gente lo lea (o lo ponga en su lista de libros por leer, que vi que algunos ya lo han hecho').

SPOILEERS ON. EL final. EL final. ME DIO MUCHO ODIO. Que paso? Que sucedio? Un final abierto? QUE CRUEL ES ESO? EN mi opinion, o como yo quiero, es que vivió. Que consiguió vivir. Leyendo reviews me he dado cuenta que muy pocos saben que pasa, supongo que la escritora le dio un final para nosotros. No es como en Before I Fall, que termino MAL directamente, sino que nos dio un final para crear. AUN asi, el titulo del libro me hace pensar que en realidad no llegó muy lejos. La imaginación lo dira. SPOILERS OFF.(less)

like · see review

Jan 11, 2013 Rachel rated it 5 of 5 stars

Julie Anne Peters has really out done herself with this story. Even though it was non fiction, it was so realistic that I thought it was a biography. The character, Daelyn Rice has gone through some on the worst experiences someone could face.
Daelyn has been bullied when she was little. She was toured because of her weight and had been taken advantage of. She hated herself for so long that she has became mute. She never spoke to anyone. She tried not to feel any emotions so it would be easy to d...more

like · see review

Oct 31, 2012 Lauren Hollister rated it 4 of 5 stars

I give the book, By The Time You Read This, I’ll Be Dead by Julie Anne Peters, a four star rating. Lately, I have gotten out of touch with my normal reading habits. So while I was hanging out with my BFF Katie, we went over to Barnes and Noble. Normally I would buy a new manga when I got inside, but I thought, “I need to read more.” So I asked Katie to give me some good suggestions for books I should read. I bought 3 new ones, which included this book.
The basic plot of this story goes like this...more I give the book, By The Time You Read This, I’ll Be Dead by Julie Anne Peters, a four star rating. Lately, I have gotten out of touch with my normal reading habits. So while I was hanging out with my BFF Katie, we went over to Barnes and Noble. Normally I would buy a new manga when I got inside, but I thought, “I need to read more.” So I asked Katie to give me some good suggestions for books I should read. I bought 3 new ones, which included this book.
The basic plot of this story goes like this: the main character, Daelyn was bullied a lot when she was younger and has some major mental scares. She is suicidal. She’s tried all sorts of different ways to do it, but has always been found before she could escape the horrible life she’s living. While browsing on the Internet, she finds a site called Through the Light. On this site, there contains everything Daelyn needs to leave her body and die peacefully. Throughout the book, you get more and more background material to explain why Daelyn hates her life so much and you get to meet a couple of characters who interact with Daelyn who just want to be close to her. If you want to know more and want to know what becomes of Daelyn, I highly suggest you read this book. It is a really good and well written story. The author did her research when it came to the different methods and choices for death.
This story, if you haven’t already figured it out from what I said above, is a man vs. self sort of story. Most of what happens is Daelyn struggling through her bad memories internally.
The writing style is one of the things I like best about this book. The author makes the whole story revolve around what Daelyn thinks and what she does and makes it a first-person sort of story. You get to hear everything Daelyn thinks and the things she wants to say, but doesn’t say and I really enjoy that aspect. For me, it keeps me interested and wanting to read more.
I seriously recommend that if you haven’t read this book, that you go out and do so because it is quite frankly, an awesome story and a really interesting book to read.(less)

like · see review

Oct 30, 2012 Sierra rated it 5 of 5 stars

(See this post on my tumblr Here)

Daelyn Rice is tired. She’s tired of trying to off herself and failing. She’s tired of always being made fun of and called the fat girl. And finally she’s gonna go out with a bang and stay out. It even gets easier when she finds a website that helps you let out your emotions, and lets you choose the date in which you plan to die, along with ways to do it, and detailed descriptions on it.

And then she meets mystery boy, and he keeps showing up, wanting a friendsh...more

like · see review

Oct 17, 2012 Katherine rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: teen-parenting-book-club

I read this for the Teen Parenting Program Book Discussion Group.

It is very strange.

I did feel bad for her but she is really being a bummer.

I guess I just wish she could see the good things in life. And I say this coming from a background of being a very depressed teen myself who didn't see the light until after college. But she definitely had some horrible experiences that I can see why she would be acting that way. I guess I just wish I could help her, or that someone had helped her before s...more

2 likes · like · see review

Aug 19, 2012 Samantha Elizabeth rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I think that some of the reviews on here are a little biased, seeing as some of you reading this book don't understand that type of pain Daelyn was in before she offed herself. I read this book a while ago when I was still in high school, and it was so beautifully painful for me. I was the new girl who underwent bullying along with personal tragedies my sophomore year. I ended up in an institution for having suicidal tendencies and characteristics. And yes, at one point, I planned out my death....more

2 likes · like · see review

Apr 12, 2012 Giselle rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: advisory-2011-2012-bookshelf

By the Time You Read This, I'll be Dead by Julie anne Peters is a novel about a girl named Daelyn who has attempted suicide several times after being bullied because of her weight and sexually abused by a boy she trusted. after her recent suicide attempt, she now has to wear a neck brace and is mute. She meets a boy named Santana who shows a great interest in her and tries to become her friend. Because Daelyn doesn't trust people very much, she usually shuts him out, but soon they become closer....more

2 likes · like · see review

Apr 01, 2012 Sarahjj rated it 5 of 5 stars

By the Time You Read This, I'll Be Dead is a beautifully written book. The book is about fifteen-year-old Daelyn who joins a website that gives her twenty-three days to live. The books recounts the next twenty-three days before she is supposed to commit suicide where she meets a dorky boy named Santana and gets rid of all of her things.

The characters of this book are impeccable. Daelyn herself is perfectly done; she's the most believable character I've probably ever read. Her personality, I thin...more

like · see review

Mar 13, 2012 Margaret Rose rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book tells the sad story of Daelyn, who was bullied and traumatized by others when she was overweight, so much so, that she has tried to take her own life twice and is planning her third and final attempt. The reader is left with sympathy for her, as well as disgust and, perhaps, anger with her tormentors, who treated her reprehensibly and pushed her to the desperation she finds herself in at the time the story takes place.

This is a topic that readers should not shy away from, that should...more This book tells the sad story of Daelyn, who was bullied and traumatized by others when she was overweight, so much so, that she has tried to take her own life twice and is planning her third and final attempt. The reader is left with sympathy for her, as well as disgust and, perhaps, anger with her tormentors, who treated her reprehensibly and pushed her to the desperation she finds herself in at the time the story takes place.

This is a topic that readers should not shy away from, that should not be covered up or avoided, but is a topic that should be read about, discussed and analyzed. Teens and adults alike would benefit from considering the consequences of our actions towards other people, and we should be faced with the reality that, if treated as horribly as the unfortunate girl in this story was, then yes, a sensitive teen might consider life to not be worth enduring. Suicide is a very real issue, and no amount of ignoring it will dissuade a teen who is already contemplating it from making an attempt on their own life. Most teens need only their own imagination to decide how they will take their own life, but if they are looking for information it can certainly be found online. Even with heavy parental controls, Daelyn was able to access the website "Through the Light" and look up details on suicide methods. This book should not be kept from teens in a misguided attempt to safeguard them from this issue, but should be read and used as an example for both parents and teens.

First, parents should be aware that when it may seem that everything is fine with their child, there may be things that the child is not telling them. Daelyn's parents had no idea that the pain she was experiencing was so deep, and frequently told her to 'just deal with it' or 'let it roll off her back' when something went wrong. They should have taken a step back and realized there must have been something very, very wrong to drive her to attempt suicide TWICE, and perhaps then they could have helped her. While they probably genuinely cared and worried about her, they seemed to be too wrapped up in their own busy lives to notice her suffering or to really try to help her. Sending her away to fat camp, although her parents hoped it would help her get in shape, turned out to do much more harm than good, and quite possibly pushed her to the brink.

Second, teens reading this book will hopefully take away the very important message that even teasing or joking about another person, especially a young child, can have very serious repercussions, whether they realize it or not. A kind gesture, even though Daelyn may have been offered one a little too late, can make a world of difference to someone who is lost and in pain. Having a little fun at another person's expense is not worth it if it drives them to something as drastic as suicide, and hopefully teens will understand this after reading this book and will choose to reach out to someone in some small way instead of teasing or tormenting others.

Finally, parents and teachers who might read this book should take away the realization that children can clearly be cruel to one another, and it is quite possible that no one around will realize what is happening until it is too late. Even in religious schools, which Daelyn has also attended, the other students do not hesitate to harass her, and the teachers do not seem to notice, or if they do, they do not make much effort to confront or resolve the problem. Parents should try to teach their children kindness to others and, better yet, set an appropriate example for them to follow. Behavior such as was exhibited towards Daelyn should never be allowed to persist, and if it had been dealt with, perhaps she would never have attempted to commit suicide in the first place.

In the end, the reader is left to ponder whether or not Daelyn does take her own life. Santana has befriended her, and he sees something in her worth his time and interest. She finds this hard to believe, but he continues to try to convince her of his genuine desire to be her friend (or something more, if she will let him). It is clear that the walls she has built around herself are beginning to crumble, and she is warming up to him, but whether or not they have done so enough to convince her to go on living remains a mystery. However, determining whether or not Daelyn commits suicide in the end is not the goal the author wishes the reader to reach or the reason the author wrote this book. This is not simply a sad story with a happy or tragic ending. If we were given a happy ending, the reader might smile, satisfied, and put the book down, dismissing the aforementioned issues which must be considered. If we were presented with Daelyn's ultimate suicide, the reader might either shy away from recommending this book to others because of its tragic conclusion (as many might do, even now). Given a tragic ending, the reader might also think that this was the most logical ending, that Daelyn was going to commit suicide all along, that she was too far gone, and that there was nothing that could have been done to stop her. This distracts the reader from the very real possibility that there WAS something that could have been done, and it may be that she was NOT too far gone. It is never too late to try to help someone. Leaving the ending ambiguous was the ideal conclusion to this story, since it forces the reader to think much more about the aspects of the story that lead us to its conclusion, rather than the conclusion itself.

Daelyn is shown to be a bright girl, who is funny in a sarcastic kind of way (probably as a result of all she has been through), intuitive, and sensitive. Santana sees these qualities in her when others do not, or perhaps others simply chose to focus on her physical appearance instead of her character. Hopefully this book will encourage readers to see beyond people's physical flaws, recognize their valuable qualities, and offer kindness and compassion, or at the very least, civility, while refraining from teasing or abusing them. This book will at least make readers more aware of the possible circumstances surrounding suicide, and will hopefully encourage them to reach out to someone if they themselves are suffering or voice their concerns if they suspect another person is being abused or treated poorly in any way. No one should ever suffer as Daelyn did, and this book does a wonderful job of illuminating this very pertinent issue.
(less)

1 like · like · see review

Mar 11, 2012 Aik Chien 인첸 rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

So much suffering, so much pain... a suicidal girl who failed to kill herself ends up wearing a neck brace and not being able to talk. One day, she comes across a website called Through The Light, a virtual gathering place for people who wants to end their lives because of various reasons. She signs up as a member, and she schedules herself to die 23 days later, on the day of determination. And so, she starts to plan her death. Morbid, I know, but it's sad too.

Daelyn Rice has been bullied since...more So much suffering, so much pain... a suicidal girl who failed to kill herself ends up wearing a neck brace and not being able to talk. One day, she comes across a website called Through The Light, a virtual gathering place for people who wants to end their lives because of various reasons. She signs up as a member, and she schedules herself to die 23 days later, on the day of determination. And so, she starts to plan her death. Morbid, I know, but it's sad too.

Daelyn Rice has been bullied since kindergarten, and she's too afraid to confess the truth to anyone, her parents included. She's suffered from endless verbal and physical torments, and her inability to fight back makes her hates herself even more. It really angers me to see how some people can be so mean and cruel. They are monsters in disguise of humans who feed on others' fear and helplessness.

Daelyn's mother, Kim is basically ignorant about her daughter's conditions, as she is always busy with her work. She always assumes that Daelyn is shy and timid, and never see how broken her daughter is after going to and returning from the hellhole which is school itself. She's blinded by her assumptions, and that nearly causes her daughter's life.

If I were a mother, and someone were to bully or terrorize my child, I would report this incident to the school administration and demand an appropriate punishment for the bullies. Heck, I will also threaten the school that if they do not take action on this matter, I will lodge an official police report. Yes, I'm that badass. But as a mother, I will do anything to protect my child.

Daelyn's only friend is Santana, a geeky boy who sits at the bench - which she assumes to be her bench after school everyday. Santana tries to engage her in a conversation, but she remains mute. Santana, in his desperation, eventually brings his pet rat Herve to see Daelyn, but she only freaks out at the sight of his rat. But as days pass, she realizes that Santana is not a bad person after all. Soon, they become non-friends - not exactly friends, but something which borders the term. Later, Daelyn discovers that Santana has a secret on his own, and she is shocked to learn how Santana can still live the way he does.

Daelyn's encounter is pitiful, but I feel that she should be braver - looking for an easy way out through suicide is never the option as your tormentors will not feel a shred of guilt even if you die. It's your parents who will hurt, it's your family who will mourn your death, its your mother who will cry her heart out at losing a child who was once a part of herself.

By the Time You Read This, I'll Be Dead is a harrowing and heartbreaking story. The title speaks for itself. However, I think there are times when we have to learn to face the truth with courage, no matter how hard and painful it may be.(less)

like · see review

Mar 08, 2012 Imelda Mena rated it 3 of 5 stars

The book "By The Time You Read This, I'll Be Dead" tells the story of a girl named Daelyn who has been bullied her whole life and wants to commit suicide. Since Daelyn was overweight growing up it made it easier for her peers to bully and exclude her. Seeing this as a challenge to making friends and fitting in at school Daelyn could not handle anymore and felt the need to kill herself. After several attempts of committing suicide and not succeeding Daelyn joined a website called "Through the Li...more

like · see review

Mar 02, 2012 Connie rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle

This book ticked me off more than any I've read since My Sister's Keeper. Just like Picoult's book, this novel slapped me in the face at the end and negated whatever positive experience I might have gained from it.

By the Time You Read This ... could have been a good book. It was fast-moving and compulsively readable. Then I got to the end and literally said out loud, "What the hell?" Without giving too much away, I'll say this: Cliffhangers can be effective literary devices when done well. Menta...more

4 likes · like · see review

Jan 02, 2012 Sara rated it 5 of 5 stars

I read this book about a year or two ago. I was wandering through the shelves of Costco, killing time before my parents had finished with their shopping. Sometimes I find myself lucky while going through Costco's book selection. As I meandered by, the face of this girl just jumped at me. I paused and carefully picked it up. The image was just, heart wrenching. The girl on the cover looked so alone, and the black and white with the adding of the red petals just made the image more powerful. Final...more

2 likes · like · see review

Dec 15, 2011 Colleen rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I was intrigued by this book because I loved Luna. But after starting the first chapter I had to ask myself "Why am i reading this?" I decided to check out reviews here on good reads and they were mixed. What I mostly got was that everyone hated the ending which intrigued me more and so I continued. The book is painful. Horribly, horribly, excruciatingly painful as a girl makes plans for her final suicide attempt. This is not why I did not like the book. I did not like the book because ultimatel...more

1 like · like · see review

Nov 13, 2011 Diana rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 12th-advisory

By the Time You Read This, I'll Be Dead
By Julie Anne Peters
200 pgs
ISBN 1423116186

Daelyn Rice is a girl who everyone nowadays would call, Emo. As she has attempted many times to commit suicide, she finally decided that these attempts were useless. The only way to die is to do it right, which led her to a website that she blogs about her life. She would write about herself, and this is how readers would learn more about her and her past. Always being alone, she would either be on the internet blo...more

like · see review

Aug 30, 2011 Aly rated it 4 of 5 stars

I liked this. I think it gave a whole new perspective on suicide. I think Daelyn's take on life was more comical and sarcastic than anything, but when she did have her moments of seriousness, they balanced out everything. And Santana was just plain... awesome. I was going to say adorable, but that doesn't quite fit. I just loved him. His devotion to making sure Daelyn had at list one person that didn't treat her like some social outcast was admirable. He was funny and sweet and I would love to h...more

like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 99 100 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

topics	posts	views	last activity
what do you think happens i the ending? does she kill herself or have dinner with santana	12	86	Jan 17, 2013 05:05am
help????	22	207	Jan 02, 2013 12:49pm
Book suggestions?	4	15	Sep 14, 2012 12:15pm
Now available for purchase and enjoyment	1	22	Jan 02, 2010 11:43am

combine
Other Editions (7)

More editions...

Genres

Young Adult

295 users

Realistic Fiction

75 users

Contemporary

57 users

Young Adult > Teen

36 users

Romance

30 users

Mental Health > Mental Illness

23 users

Death

21 users

Sociology > Abuse

12 users

Health > Mental Health

12 users

Young Adult > Coming Of Age

11 users

See top shelves...

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About Julie Anne Peters

Julie Anne Peters was born in Jamestown, New York. When she was five, her family moved to the Denver suburbs in Colorado. Her parents divorced when she was in high school. She has three siblings: a brother, John, and two younger sisters, Jeanne and Susan.

Her books for young adults include Define "Normal" (2000), Keeping You a Secret (2003), Luna (2004), Far from Xanadu (2005), Between Mom and Jo (...more

More about Julie Anne Peters...

Books by Julie Anne Peters

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About By the Time You R...

2 trivia questions

More quizzes & trivia...

Quotes from By the Time You Read T...

“No one ever found out what was happening inside me. How the pain was eating me away. No one ever came to my rescue, or stood up for me.” — 108 people liked it

“I hear you. I just don't believe a word you say.” — 75 people liked it

More quotes…

title link	preview: By the Time You Read This, I'll Be Dead
avg rating	preview: By the Time You Read This, I'll Be Dead Goodreads rating: 3.83 (7533 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6609549-by-the-time-you-read-this-i-ll-be-dead?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1360568895l/6609549.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6609549-by-the-time-you-read-this-i-ll-be-dead?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]By the Time You Read This, I'll Be Dead by Julie Anne Peters[/url]

By the Time You Read This, I'll Be Dead

Friend Reviews

Community Reviews

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website