Devin Rhodes Is Dead

by Jennifer Wolf Kam

Devin Rhodes is dead. It's my fault.

High school freshman Cass is conflicted about her love/hate relationship with her best friend, Devin, and struggles to handle Devin's sudden death. How did Devin’s body end up at the bottom of Woodacre Ravine? Was Cass really responsible? Is Devin reaching out to her from beyond the grave? Tension mounts as Cass fights to stay a step ahead of the police—and Devin's mother—unable to face the real truth. 

Told in alternating "Before" and "After" chapters, this engrossing ghostly coming-of-age tale will draw you in and keep you turning pages until the dramatic conclusion.

Genres: Young Adult, Paranormal, Realistic Fiction, Mystery, Fiction

240 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

Jennifer Wolf Kam began writing stories as soon as she could hold a crayon. Today she holds an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. Her novel, DEVIN RHODES IS DEAD, winner of the NAESP Children’s Book Award, was published by Charlesbridge, and nominated to VOYA Magazine’s Top Shelf for Middle School Fiction. Jennifer’s debut picture book, UNTIL THE BLUEBERRIES GROW, will be published by PJ Publishing and will join the PJ Library family of books.

Jennifer is a five-time finalist for the Katherine Paterson Prize for Young Adult and Children’s Writing, and winner of the Writers’ League of Texas Manuscript Contest for Middle Grade Fiction. Her supernatural short stories have appeared in the journal, Hunger Mountain. She lives in New York with her family, a rescue kitty named KitKat, and a love of history and chocolate.

Reviews

[Titis Wardhana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Devin dan Cass sudah bersahabat sejak lama. Awalnya mereka berempat dengan Lizzy dan Gina, tapi Devin berantem dengan mereka berdua dan memutuskan persahabatan. Devin di sini tipe cewek cheerleader dengan rambut pirang dan mata biru, body oke, suka bahaya, lumayan kaya, sering dilirik cowok. Sedangkan Cass di sini digambarkan agak gemuk dan jago main gitar. Keduanya saat ini duduk di kelas 9.

Devin ditemukan di jurang dalam kondisi menyedihkan. Cass merasa bersalah karena menganggap dirinyalah yang membunuh Devin, sehingga Cass memendam rapat-rapat apa yang terjadi malam itu setelah Devin dan Cass jalan bareng. Ditambah lagi, Cass merasa kalau hantu Devin menghantuinya karena ingin balas dendam.

Tiap bab ditulis bergantian before dan after. Before sebelum Devin tewas, dan After setelah Devin ditemukan. Ada kisah hantu2annya tapi ga banyak. Di sini overall menceritakan persahabatan antara remaja dan hubungannya dengan lawan jenis. Devin yang suka menggoda cowok2 yang jauh di atasnya dan suka menantang bahaya, sementara Cass yang kalem sering mengingatkan Devin, tapi pada akhirnya dengan sedikit sikap manisnya, Devin bisa membuat Cass luluh dan menuruti keinginannya. Dan pengaruh cowok juga besar, di mana Cass yang pada awalnya selalu nurut sama Devin dan selalu setuju, tapi setelah ada cowok yang menyukainya, dia bisa berani mengungkapkan pendapatnya pada Devin. Meskipun persahabatan Cass dan Devin ini kayak berat sebelah, tapi Cass tetap merasa bersalah dan tersiksa akibat kematian Devin.

Untuk misterinya, ternyata cukup sederhana, baik pembunuh dan motifnya. Overall, light reading...

[Sarah Tomp · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book does so many things so very well! It's part ghost story, part mystery, part coming of age story; but through and through, it is completely a friendship story.

The structure of the novel is brilliant and effective. It's told in alternating shifts in time - before and after Devin's death - which allows readers to gain insight and understanding, while simultaneously sinking more deeply into the mystery of what exactly happened on the night of Devin's death. The more we know, the more we have questions.

Cass, the main character, is struggling in both narrative arcs. In the scenes before Devin's death we see how their friendship is shifting and uneven. Their friendship is complex and complicated. Cass has always been a loyal friend to Devin, but now she's getting tired of playing Devin's games with the unfair rules. But then, once Devin dies, Cass is wracked with grief - and guilt.

The mystery is solid, with both clues and diversions to keep readers intrigued and guessing. The ghostly elements are deftly woven in, with just the right amount of eerie unsettling events and sensations to allow readers their own interpretation of the paranormal possibilities and explanations.

[Sally Kruger]

When your best friend suddenly dies under suspicious circumstances, the guilt can be overwhelming. Cass believes she may possess the secret to the death of her best friend Devin. The problem is there is no one she can talk to about it.

Devin's grieving mother would love to talk about it with Cass, but how can you admit to a dead girl's mother that you may have had something to do with her precious daughter's death.

Cass's own mother is trying to convince Cass to get on with her life. Yes, she should feel badly about Devin's death, but the best way to cope is to get back out there and create some new friendships.

Marcus seems to want to help Cass, but he is part of the reason she feels guilty about what happened. If she hadn't been marveling about the fact that a boy actually liked her, she might have paid more attention to Devin in her time of need.

Author Jennifer Wolf Kam presents Cass's story in alternating chapters set Before and After Devin's death. Cass's view of the events surrounding the loss of her best friend illustrate both the positive and negative power involved in friendship. Coming to terms with death and learning to be comfortable about moving on is not an easy task.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

When fifteen-year-old Devon Rhodes is found dead in a ravine near town, her best friend Cass Kirschner ruminates upon the role she played in her death. The author keeps readers guessing by alternating Before and After chapters and throwing in plenty of possible suspects. It's pretty clear that Cass is guilty of something, but what exactly? Young teen readers will race to the book's conclusion to find out what led to Devon's demise. One of the things I particularly enjoyed was the description of how bad a friend Devon was in real life. Clearly, she was selfish, self-absorbed, and thoughtless when it came to Cass. As she watches Devon take more risks and leaves behind former friends, Cass can't help but wish she were free from this one-sided friendship. While the ending is a bit abrupt, the book will keep readers enaged as they try to figure out where to place the blame.

[LitPick Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

In "Devin Rhodes Is Dead," Devin Rhodes has died and now they are trying to find out what happened to Devin that led to her death. She was found at the bottom of a ravine. Her best friend, Cass, is troubled by their final moments together. Cass feels guilty for betraying Devin on the night she died and now she’s starting to feel haunted by something or… someone. Is it Devin?
Opinion:

I thought the beginning of the book started out slow. However, once I got into the middle of the book where they started researching Devin's death and the events of the night she died, it became more interesting for me. I found the book quite touching; I felt the ending was amazing. I would recommend this book for anyone who likes mysteries and creepy books. I think it's an outstanding book other than the beginning.
Reviewed by a LitPick student book reviewer Age 15

[Laura Phelps · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am mystified as to why this got the Children's Book of the Year Award, given by the National Association of Elementary School Principals, as the subject matter is decidedly for readers older than elementary school. That said, I loved this book. Cass clearly feels guilty about her best friend’s death - more than guilty - and we slowly learn about what happened the night of the death through a series of flashbacks. Jennifer Wolf Kam captures early teen friendship so well, and the torment that Cass feels is palpable. This is a page turner and the ending, while not a complete shocker, will surprise many readers.

[Erin Moulton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a fantastic book! The story opens with Cass, a girl who has just lost her best friend, Devin Rhodes, in a tragic and mysterious accident. The story unravels in a series of Before and After chapters. The reader navigates through the story learning about the events leading up to the night Devin died and also seeing glimpses of how Cass is coping now, trying to come to terms with the loss of her friend. Cass is conflicted, guilt-ridden and questioning. Why was Devin at the bottom of the ravine? How did she get there that night? And why does Cass feel like she had a hand in Devin's death?

A mystery, a story of friendship and, in parts, an absolute thrill ride. Check it out!!!

[Sasha Reist · Rating 4 out of 5]

Devin Rhodes is Dead is a thrilling and engaging novel about the all-so-sudden death of beautiful,15-year-old Devin Rhodes. Haunted by ghosts , Cass Kirschner, Devin's chubby sidekick, is sadden however extremely embarrassed and guilty about her best friend's demise, for she feels responsible for that night. Told from Cass's perspective, the story jumps back and forth between before and after Devin's murder, as well as leaves clues as to what really happened that night. This book is a very quick and delighting, but spine-tingling read that captures your brain and heart and stirs in a little mystery.

[Minerva AW · Rating 5 out of 5]

Devin Rhodes Is Dead is a well-crafted young adult book that looks at friendship and loss through a supernatural lens. The strong voice and deft characterization make it easy for the reader to identify with the characters and their conflicts. The suspense builds steadily and the unique format of "before" and "after" narrative makes the book that much more compelling. I enjoyed the book thoroughly and can't wait to read more from this author.

[Joanne Roach-Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once i started reading this book I could not put it down.
I love the way Jennifer Wolf Kam weaves the past and the present in alternating before and after chapters.

As the past and present start to catch up to each other the excitement builds tremendously!
I so enjoyed the way Kam knit these scenes together into the exciting and surprising conclusion.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Suspenseful. Never saw the end coming. Great read for middle school or older girl. And those best friend pendants...wish I'd done that.

[Debi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one is part friendship story, part ghost story, and part teen-angst realism. A quick read that middle grades will enjoy!

[Stacey F. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Devin Rhodes Is Dead is one of those rare novels that completely pulls you in from the very first line. The author delivers a gripping and emotionally layered story that blends mystery, friendship, guilt and grief in a way that feels both suspenseful and incredibly human.
The alternating “Before” and “After” chapters are masterful—they build tension with every page, slowly revealing the complicated, love-and-hurt dynamic between Cass and Devin. Cass’s voice is raw, honest and painfully relatable. You feel her fear, her confusion and her longing for the truth.
This book is far more than a mystery; it’s a powerful look at the intensity of teenage friendships, the things we don’t say out loud and the weight of carrying secrets. This is a story that’s eerie, compelling and deeply moving. A standout read that I would recommend to both teens and adults who love psychological suspense with heart.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Cass' best friend Devin dies suddenly under mysterious circumstances, Cass' guilt over their last interaction eats away at her. In alternating scenes from before and after Devin's death, Cass uncovers the truth about that terrible night. I've read novels with multiple narrators but I can't think of many others that use this before and after format with a single narrator. The subtle foreshadowing and sprinkling of clues builds suspense as the reader wonders what really happened and what role Cass may have played. I remember how complicated and fraught teenage friendships can be, and this novel does a beautiful job of capturing that experience.

[April Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found myself very annoyed with the protagonist in the beginning of the book; it took me awhile to warm up to her. I thoroughly enjoyed the format of switching back and forth between timelines.

[Jodie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing YA book! This author really grabbed my attention.
Thank you!

[Beverly Marmor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book! My kids read this book a few years ago. I just picked it up and loved it!!!

[Vanessa Newman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how this book exemplifies the power of friendship even in a time of grief.

[Beth Glasesr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Both my teen and I were obsessed with this book! Couldn't put it down

[Dawn Moews · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book to be interesting, and I think that it might be a popular one with middle grade and lower high school aged readers. It combines mystery and a degree of paranormal activities. I do think the format alternating chapters by before Devin's death and after her death may confuse some readers and frustrate them a little. However, other readers may find this format actually increases the dramatic tension.

It is certainly an interesting story for those who don't have a strongly positive self image and/or friendships based on equal consideration for one another.

[Jessica]

Decent YA mystery from a small press, with ghosts, an unreliable narrator, and an interesting take on best friendship. There's also some stuff going on here with the narrator's size and how this impacts her relationship with her best friend, her parents, and a love interest (who is more interested in her than she is him) but I can't remember if it's handled well or not. If hunting out good/bad examples of the way fat protagonists are depicted in YA is your jam, though, you might want to check out this under the radar read.

[B.P.]

This book is horrible

[Olivia Riegler · Rating 5 out of 5]

my absolute all time favorite book i read it every other month

[Gina Clabo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very good..it shows how best friends stick together no matter what..a ghost story and friendship that is rough sometimes but in the end happy too. Recommend to all ages, easy fun read..Enjoyed Gina Clabo