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

Julie Anne Peters

Jan 2010 · Sold by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

About this ebook

A significant book about one girl's struggle with suicide, from National Book Award finalist Julie Anne Peters.

Daelyn is fifteen years old, and in her mind she is a failure. She tried slitting her wrists, and she was rescued. She tried swallowing chemicals, and after burning through her esophagus enough to lose the ability to speak, she was rescued. But this time will be different.

As readers see Daelyn's touching friendship with a quirky seventeen-year-old boy develop and her newfound willingness to share all of the pain she has held inside of her, they may just see a glimmer of hope. Will Daelyn see it though?

Raw and heartfelt, this is an inside look into the mind of a teen who has lost the will to fight and the parents that will do anything they can to help her survive. Still, there are some things that even loving parents can't protect you from—yourself.

Please note that due to the sensitive nature of the material in this book, we will be providing back matter from key experts. We hope that this book will help to open a dialogue about this increasingly prevalent issue.

Ratings and reviews

This book truly cut deep. I've had a LOT of problems similar to Daelyn's. (Fearing letting someone into my life, cutting, suicidal thoughts, abuse because of my weight, etc.) Therefore, it showed me that these are not abnormal problems or thoughts to have. I felt a bit better about myself after finishing this. Even if you have no friends, even if everyone's abused and tormented you, even if everyone looks at you and grimaces, there will always be that person (in Daelyn's case, Santana) who finds you beautiful and will want to see and talk to you. Even if no one wants to be your friend, there will be that person (in Daelyn's case, Emily) who knows what you're going through/you've been through and will want to be around you. That one person you can help even though YOU need help yourself. It's also taught me that, truly, suicide isn't the answer. That no matter how "ready" you are, you'll never regret living. Though Daelyn made up her mind about suicide being her only way out, she could've lived. And yet, had she continued her life, she would have only postponed her demise. Bottom line, this is an amazing book. It (truly, for me) can save lives and show the truth. Brilliantly true and sadly real.

Normally i dont criticize books but This one I have to because Im just shocked at how horribly this ended. I mean really? On his birthday? Also it got confusong with all the ppsts and lines from that book she was reading. Did she actually go through with it though? Im confused because If she did then i hate this book.

I loved the book, but I think that the ending is horrible! Because it doesn't say if she went through with it or not. There should be at least another chapter, I want to know if she did it or not. I dont think its fair that I have to just hope that she got better!

About the author

Julie Anne Peters is the critically acclaimed author of Define "Normal," Keeping You a Secret, Pretend You Love Me, Between Mom and Jo, She Loves You, She Loves You Not..., It's Our Prom (So Deal With It), and Luna, a National Book Award finalist.