In 27 Days

by Alison Gervais

Overview

“If you knew you had to do the right thing, but that something bad may happen to you because of it, would you do it anyway?” This hard-hitting, emotional, YA story of pain and love; right and wrong; and life and death is a masterful mix of suspense, romance, the paranormal, and the though-provoking questions we all ask surrounding the difficult subject of suicide.

Hadley Jamison is shocked when she hears that her classmate, Archer Morales, has committed suicide. She didn’t know the quiet, reserved guy very well, but that doesn’t stop her from feeling there was something she could have done to help him.

Hoping to find some sense of closure, Hadley attends Archer’s funeral. There, she is approached by a man who calls himself Death and offers her a deal. If Hadley accepts, she will be sent back twenty-seven days in time to prevent Archer from killing himself. But when Hadley agrees to Death’s terms and goes back to right the past, she quickly learns her mission is harder than she ever could have known.

Time ticks away as Hadley looks for ways to not only talk to Archer but to know him on a deeper level. But just as she and Archer connect, a series of dangerous accidents starts pushing them apart. Hadley must decide whether she is ready to risk everything—including her life—to keep Archer alive.

In 27 Days:

• Written by award-winning Wattpad sensation Alison Gervais
• Over 25 million reads on Wattpad
• Achieved a #1 ranking in the Adventure category, and has won the hearts of millions of readers around the world
• A story of redemption, first love, and the strength it takes to change the future
• Addresses tough but true topics and problems facing readers ages 13 and up, such as suicide and family issues

A twist on Groundhog's Day meets Death, this paranormal tale [In 27 Days] will have readers turning the pages to see if Hadley stops Archer from making a tragic mistake.” —YA Books Central

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780310759010
Publisher:	Blink
Publication date:	07/24/2018
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	352
Sales rank:	33,292
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.30(h) x 1.00(d)
Age Range:	13 - 18 Years

About the Author

Alison Gervais began writing at the age of five and gained recognition by posting her work on Wattpad in 2011. She graduated from Colorado State University - Pueblo with a degree in English and published her first novel, In 27 Days, in 2017. Alison currently resides on the East coast with her husband, their daughter, two cats, and one very mischievous German Shepherd.

Editorial Reviews

After reading only a few chapters of this gripping story, it’s clear why this novel was originally a Wattpad sensation! Compelling characters and several creative plot twists make this tale truly unputdownable. Readers will embrace Hadley and Archer (as well as Archer’s family) and their unusual yet endearing friendship. Tucked away between the wry humor and vivid NYC setting is a powerful look at grief and at the difference that even one person can make in another’s life. Hadley Jamison knows Archer Morales as an aloof loner, but she also remembers him as the guy who made her blush in freshman English. She is stunned when she learns Archer committed suicide, and she attends his funeral, wishing there was more she could have done. At the funeral, a man introduces himself as Death and offers Hadley a strange deal: If she goes back in time 27 days, she has the chance to stop Archer from taking his own life. She accepts but has no idea how much her own life will change in the process.

Romantic Times

When Hadley Jamison finds out a fellow classmate, Archer Morales, committed suicide, she can't help but feel she could have stopped him. Then at the funeral she runs into Death who has a proposition for her. She has 27 days to stop Archer from killing himself. Hadley goes back in time and is determined to stop Archer. Problem is he wants nothing to do with her and pushes her away. Hadley must decide to put everything on the line if she has any hope of saving Archer but she has to hurry as time is ticking down. What worked: This is an addictive, fast-paced read where Death makes a proposition for Hadley to go back in time to stop a classmate from killing himself. I got swept up in the drama as Hadley goes out of her way to befriend Archer. Hadley is one of those stereotypical 'rich' NYC girls while Archer's family owes a coffee house. They're different in so many ways, yet also alike. While Hadley's parents are rich successful business people, she's often left alone in their apartment. Her quest to save Archer pushes her to step outside her comfort zone. The strength of this story has to be how Hadley goes out of her way to get to Archer. There's a lot behind his standoffish behavior. As Hadley gets closer, secrets come out about what might have behind Archer's deadly decision. I liked Hadley's determination and spunk even when Archer goes out of his way to let her know he's not interested. Another huge plus has to be how the author breaks down the stereotypes behind what a suicidal person looks and acts like. Archer has a large loving family but also a terrible secret. Hadley refuses to ignore his rudeness at first as she tries hard to reach out to him. A twist on Groundhog's Day meets Death, this paranormal tale will have readers turning the pages to see if Hadley stops Archer from making a tragic mistake.

YA Books Central

06/01/2017
Gr 7 Up—Sixteen-year-old Hadley Jamison is strangely troubled by the suicide of one of her classmates. Though she knew Archer only from sitting next to him in English class two years earlier, she wonders whether she could have done anything to keep the quiet, surly boy from killing himself. After Archer's funeral, a man known as Death approaches Hadley and offers her the opportunity to go back in time 27 days to save Archer. Hadley accepts, and over the next several weeks, she forces her company on Archer, convincing him to tutor her in geometry and working at his family's coffee shop. She becomes close with his family, soon spending all her free time with them, in stark contrast to her usual routine of evenings alone in her Upper East Side apartment. Slowly, Hadley learns the truth about what led Archer to commit suicide. Her stubborn refusal to leave him alone seems noble in the context of a lifesaving mission but in reality would be disturbing. Repeated violations of personal boundaries should not be romanticized. The message that one teenager should take on total responsibility for preventing another's suicide is also troubling. VERDICT Fast-paced and filled with romance, this would likely appeal to some reluctant readers. However, the immature writing style, the clumsy and heavy-handed delivery, a tone that is too light for the subject matter, and unhealthy messages for teenagers should make librarians pause before adding this to their collections.—Liz Overberg, Zionsville Community High School, IN

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