Surviving Sam

by Karen Rivers

Surviving Sam is Pagan Riddler's story. It begins three years after her twin brother, Sam, dies in an avalanche that roars down the mountain they are climbing together. Now Pagan is in her final year of high school and struggling to come out from under the shadow of Sam's death. She has seen a string of doctors to repair her body and fix her deep depression, but she still wakes up every morning longing for Sam to be alive. Soon life becomes complicated again: her parents might be splitting up, her friends are keeping big secrets from her, and as graduation looms she needs to decide what to do with the rest of her life. Then comes the most difficult blow of all: Sam's body is found at last, and Pagan must accept that her brother is really and truly dead.

Genres: Young Adult, Mental Health

205 pages, Library Binding

First published March 1, 2002

About the author

Karen Rivers is too thrown by the "Date of Death" drop down that has appeared below her name in the editing section of this page to actually write anything about her life. When she recovers, this box will be filled with imperative biographical information and may include SECRETS and probably also a few LIES. Now she is going to sit back and anxiously track that "Date of Death" box in case a date suddenly appears, foretelling her imminent doom.

Reviews

[Sam Gould · Rating 3 out of 5]

Physical book

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could give this book a thousand stars I would. I read this book when I was sixteen years old (13 years ago!), two years after my brother died suddenly. At the time I felt alone, scared and confused. I related to this book more than I could relate to peers. It was sad, tragic, painful and raw; just like my grief as a 16 year old girl.

I revisit this book every now and again and find the pieces that I underlined and highlighted as a high school junior. How incredible is it that a teenager can relate so much to a book? I haven't read it in a few years. I look forward to rereading this book through the eyes of a social worker/grief counselor. Thank you Ms. Rivers for creating a character that felt like a friend during the most difficult time of my life.

[Amanda Lillie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this in highschool in a book club my schools library had and if you read all 8 books you got to pick and keep your favourite this was the one I chose. It is the type of book that immediately captivates you and you can't put it down.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

very sad book

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book back in highschool and I remember that I really enjoyed reading it, I do not remember the story line exactly so I will most likely be reading it again.