Lessons from a Dead Girl

A fantastic must read!

Laine possessed a bitter hatred for leah, wishing that Leah would die and leave her alone. She didn't understand her, or why she chose her to be her best friend all those years ago. She didn't understand the things that Leah did to her in the doll closet, or why Leah would torment her with that knowledge and the shame that Laine felt. As they grew older, she didn't understand the problems that Leah faced, or the impact that they had on her behavior. As their English teacher told them once, you only hate what you don't understand.<BR/>Now that Leah Greene has died, Laine forces herself to try to understand Leah, and the things that Leah taught her about friendship and secrets. Friends are forever, Leah told her. Permanent just like the ink that Leah used to stake her claim on Laine's hand back when they were young. Laine must now face the impact of what "forever" really means, and how it has affected her own aspects of the world.<BR/>Jo Knowles has penned a stunning book that takes an introspective look at the scars of childhood abuse at the hands of a child's peers. Laine's experiences will have a profound impact on anyone who has ever wondered about the dynamics of child sociology, and how the damaging effects of abuse resonate from the original victims. For the mature young adult.<BR/>If you liked such stories as Thirteen Reasons Why, Love Returns Through The Portal of Time, Someone Like you, Story of a girl and others like these great reads, I highly recommend 'Lessons From a Dead Girl as another must read for your library.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Great Read!!!

I read this in like 4 hours, a result of refusing to get up or go to bed. Anyways yes this may be a short read, but it was wonderful. A well paced story told by the main character Laine. In a way she reminds me of myself when I was younger. In other words, a push-over whom would do anything for their so called friends. If you like stories which are seemingly innocent with a dark twist then this is the book for you.

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Decent

Could be better. But it is realistic.

1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Amazing

Great book..... not sure if its worth the money but excellent teen read

Loved it!

I really enjoyed reading this book.

very good!!

Small, Simple read. I could not put it down, to have a friend you trusted all you life just turn on you and make you look like the crazy one. everything you trusted her with, everything you two did growing up.. she told you it was ok.... we are just playing....its our little secret

A really great read :)

This book is deffinantly recomended for high school and up. It has some sexual abuse, teen drinking, and suicide. I could not put the book down. It is one of the better books i've read. It is kind of like Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher, just instead of each chapter being a person it is a lesson that Lainey (the main character) has learned from her best friend Leah (who is dead). If you liked Thirteen Reasons Why, then you will probally like this book. And I personally think it is better than Thirteen Reasons Why. I have read this book three times already, it is just that good!

I Learned Lessons From a Dead Girl

This slim book was so compelling that I read it in on sitting. With every turn of the page, the antagonist Leah Greene, is consistently harassing, to the point of abusing, her "so called" friend forever, Laine McCarthy.

It was so easy for me to see signs of "battered woman syndrome" in Laine, wanting to be a part of Leah's "in group," up to the point of allowing herself to be abused. Leah and Laine are like night and day, and they barely seem to meet in the middle.

The title of the book gives you a clue as to the ending of the book, but still you are not ready for the ending and you keep hoping things will turn out better. The control vs. submissive games or "practice" played out by these little girls, gives the brain food for thought on how these patterns may haunt other young children and teens. This story is definitely not one of those "feel good" teen books, but it makes you look at a different side of bullying and abuse. It is not until the end of the book that we understand the reason Leah has tormented Laine.

This is the first book I have read by Knowles and I look forward to more of her work in the future.

Summer Read

Interesting enough too read

Lessons

Lessons From A Dead Girl was good cause it told the story that is never told. How the victim can become the predator and what it does to the victim. It's sad. Even though somewhere througout the book I myself hated Leah just like Laine but in the end I felt very sad for the loss of Leah even though she was the predator she also was the victim & was crying out for help in a self destructive way!

A New Favorite

This book was very interesting, it reminds you of the people that slipped away in your life but yet have that importance that they seem to always find their way back. This book is one of my new favorites I couldnt out in down and when I did The events keep replaying in my mind an I had to find out what was going to happen next.

GOOD BOOK UH SHOULD READ IT =]

I READ THIS BOOK I LOVE IT I RECOMAND THAT BOOK AT FIRST I JUST READ IT CUZ MY TEASCHER TOLD ME 2H BUT THEN I STARTED 2H READ THIS BOOK IT GOT INTRESTING SO I FINISHED IT TO TELL UH THE TRUE IS LIKE THE 1ST BOOK I READ BY MY SELF ALL ON MY OWN JUST FOR FUN ALSO BCUZ IT WAZ AN ASIGNMENT I STARTED READING THIS BOOK IN JULY 11,2009- JULY21,2009 I ENJOY THIS BOOK AND RECAMENT TO UUH TO READ THIS BOOK

0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

ehhhhhh

this book was alright. it was good in the aspect that it shed light on a very difficult subject to discuss i just thought that the characters weren't believable. especially towards the end.

Reviewed by Allison Fraclose for TeensReadToo.com

Laine hated her, and wished many times that Leah would die and leave her alone. She didn't understand Leah, or why Leah chose her to be her best friend all those years ago. She didn't understand the things that Leah did to her in the doll closet, or why Leah would torment her with that knowledge and the shame that Laine felt. As they grew older, she didn't understand the problems that Leah faced, or the impact that they had on her behavior. As their English teacher told them once, you only hate what you don't understand. <BR/><BR/>Now that Leah Greene has died, Laine forces herself to try to understand Leah, and the things that Leah taught her about friendship and secrets. Friends are forever, Leah told her. Permanent just like the ink that Leah used to stake her claim on Laine's hand back when they were young. Laine must now face the impact of what "forever" really means, and how it has affected her own aspects of the world. <BR/><BR/>Jo Knowles has penned a stunning book that takes an introspective look at the scars of childhood abuse at the hands of a child's peers. Laine's experiences will have a profound impact on anyone who has ever wondered about the dynamics of child sociology, and how the damaging effects of abuse resonate from the original victims. For the mature young adult.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Deep book.

Even though the situations in this book may seem far from what you've experienced, I think everyone can relate to Lessons from a Dead Girl. It deals with Laine who had a very controlling friend, Leah, who she was afraid to stand up to. I really loved this book. I couldn't put it down. It's suspenseful and I felt a real connection with the characters. I think everyone should read it.

A reviewer

I finished this book a month ago, and I still remember it -- from the first words 'Leah Greene is dead', to those scenes that made me want to stop reading but also urged me to keep going. I remember how things turned out, the secrets people hid from each other. This book is unforgettable. I wanted to cry for Leah and Laine, and at the same time, I wanted to pull their hair out. Mistakes are made and friendships are tested. You can't miss this gripping novel.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.