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Lessons from a Dead Girl | 
 enlarge | Author: Jo Knowles
Publisher: Candlewick
Category: Book
List Price: $16.99
Buy New: $9.88
You Save: $7.11 (42%)
New (25) Used (8) Collectible (1) from $9.88
Avg. Customer Rating:  13 reviews
Sales Rank: 200300
Media: Hardcover
Reading Level: Young Adult
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 224
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 7.8 x 5.5 x 0.9
ISBN: 0763632791
EAN: 9780763632793
ASIN: 0763632791
Publication Date: October 9, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand new item. Over 3.5 million customers served. Order now. Selling online since 1995. Order with confidence. Code: B20081006210455T
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Product Description
An unflinching story of a troubled friendship — and one girl’s struggle to come to terms with secrets and shame and find her own power to heal.
Leah Greene is dead. For Laine, knowing what really happened and the awful feeling that she is, in some way, responsible set her on a journey of painful self-discovery. Yes, she wished for this. She hated Leah that much. Hated her for all the times in the closet, when Leah made her do those things. They were just practicing, Leah said. But why did Leah choose her? Was she special, or just easy to control? And why didn’t Laine make it stop sooner? In the aftermath of the tragedy, Laine is left to explore the devastating lessons Leah taught her, find some meaning in them, and decide whether she can forgive Leah and, ultimately, herself.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 8 more reviews...
 Hidden agenda? September 26, 2008
1 out of 14 found this review helpful
REVIEW FOR LESSONS FROM A DEAD GIRL
I came across Lessons from a Dead Girl by Jo Knowles accidentally. One of my 6th grade students excitedly showed me her recent library checkout. The title alone sparked my interest, but when I read the jacket cover, I became extremely disturbed about the so-called "Lessons" involved in this book. According to the jacket, the two main female characters, Leah and Laine, were "just practicing . . . for when they got older and got married." Feeling that the plot of this book might be too mature for a 6th grader, I decided to read it myself. Being a children's author also, I understand that the writer is wanting to expose the complex psychological implications of children who abuse other children (especially sexually and emotionally), but as a teacher, writer and parent myself, I am shocked at the method this writer has used to portray that lesbianism and homosexuality are the norm, "F--king" is an everyday word, and three high school friends staying overnight and sharing the same bed at their parentless house is just commonplace for adolescents.
What is so disturbing about this novel is the mindset of the 6th grade victim, unpopular Laine, who finds herself in a closet playing husband and wife with Leah, a beautiful 6th grader who had been left unsupervised with her dad's college roommate and became a sexually abused victim herself. From Laine's viewpoint, "I close them [eyes] and feel her move closer to me. Her breath is warm on my face. When she puts her hands on my knees, her electricity goes right through me. I get a tingly feeling low in my stomach. She slides her hands slowly up my thighs . . . Then she kisses me . . . She moans. I'm too scared to move. But I'm excited too . . . A strange, prickly warmth spreads through my body. I sit perfectly still and let her kiss me. I let her hands pull me toward her until my chest presses up against hers and our hearts pound against each other. I keep my eyes closed tight and let her do what she wants" (13). One of the prevailing comments throughout the novel is that Laine liked it, thus beginining her journey of the sexual relationship.
Laine feels Leah's magic and lets her lead her into the closet where she rubs her hands over her body, and Laine's stomach tightens at her touch (18). By the 8th grade, Laine seems to be fighting the love/hate relationship with Leah. "I try not to let it feel good, but it does. It feels good and horrible at the same time. Every part of my body feels alive" (42).
When high school comes around, the language has escalated to include things like "sh-t" and "f--king" (94) and an introduction to the female soccer coach, Ms. Carrie Winters who is "openly gay and has a partner" (102). When Laine, the victim, finally finds true friendship, she is surprised to learn that her male friend, the gin drinker and party king, is gay. (What a surprise!) "The light is off when I get there, but when I flick it on, someone yells, `Cut the sh-t!' I shut it off again . . . `F--k sake!' a familiar voice says . . . It's Web. I turn to leave, but I can't help looking to see who he's with. Web looks away, burying his face into the person's neck. It's the guy who gave us the raspberry stuff" (152).
By the end of the novel, alcohol, drugs and sexual abuse supposedly drive Leah to her death, while Laine accepts her sexually abused past, homosexual best friend Web, and a father (who was barely mentioned in the book) who has surprised her by having pornographic magazines hidden in his closet. All is well, and now Laine can move on.
Throughout the book, homosexuality, obscene behavior and language and lack of parenting are presented as everyday commonalities, situations that are clearly too mature for 11 and 12-year-old children. Interestingly enough, this rising new author, Jo Knowles, has won the 2005 PEN New England Children's Book Discovery Award. Hum . . . If the author truly wanted to present childhood sexual abuse as her agenda, why would she pull in a lesbian soccer coach and a best friend who is a homosexual, not to mention a father who secretly looks at pornography and talks about it in front of his group of mixed friends? Yes, truly a push for sexual differences was certainly part of her agenda.
 such a sad book and yet so beautiful at the same time.. August 25, 2008
this book is about a girl names lainey who has sexually abused by her best friend, leah, when they were younger. leah controlled lainey's life and ruined everything that was good in her life. even after they grew up and drifted apart, leah still controlled lainey and made sure she never forgot what she did.
this book is so heartbreaking and a tear jerker as well. this book was written so perfectly that you can feel the emotions of the character.
i think that anyone who has had a friend that treated them badly, can relate to this book. its an easy read and very worthwhile. i recommend it to everyone.
 Lessons from a Dead Girl by Jo Knowles July 4, 2008
Lessons from a Dead Girl is a suspenseful story that kept me on edge the whole time. I never felt relaxed even after the last page was turned, and the book was tucked away on my shelf. It shows how kids that are abused at a young age can turn around and abuse other kids. The main character, Laine, has to go through her life wondering if she's as messed up as she feels. All because her best friend, Leah, abused her at a young age and continued to do so through-out high school. This isn't a happy read at all. Although there are some glimpses of Laine having moments where I thought she would pull through; these moments are usually ruined by the Leah.
This is a very emotional story that sucks you in and doesn't let you go. My heart ached for Laine's situation. I also felt anger towards Leah, even though her story is just as heart breaking as Laines. This is a great read, and I can't wait to see what Jo Knowles turns out next.
Literary Page-turner June 11, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Having read the first chapter of LESSONS FROM A DEAD GIRL before it was published as one of the panel of judges of the PEN New England Discovery Contest (which the book won!), I knew it was well-written. What I didn't expect when I sat down to read the entire novel in its published form was that it would be a page-turner. I started reading and couldn't stop.
Jo Knowles has done the near impossible: written a novel with a gripping, fast-paced storyline, well-developed characters, important themes, and finally a surprising, yet satisfying ending.
I look forward to reading Jo's next novel. She is a writer to watch!
Powerful and heart wrenching May 21, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
This is a beautifully written book. At first I was hit by pure emotion, but then I couldn't stop thinking about Laine's story. Sure to be thought-provoking, this is a great choice for any discussion group, but especially for teens.
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