The Night Tommy Swanson Died

by Jack Merridew

Tommy Swanson died the summer before my tenth birthday. He hanged himself from the monkey bars of the playground across the street. That entire summer, I had dreams about him. Sometimes, we would go to the carnival and look at one another in the funhouse mirrors. Other times, we'd ride our bicycles up and down the street until our legs were so tired, we could barely walk. All my life, I thought those dreams would be the best I'd ever have, but the summer of my fourteenth birthday, I had even better dreams. They're different now. Tommy and I don't ride bicycles anymore. Instead, we kiss. We kiss all night long, and when I wake up, I cry because Tommy Swanson is dead and he's never coming back. Why did he do it? He must've had a reason. Does anybody know? Doesn't anybody care what happened the night Tommy Swanson died?

183 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 1, 2019

Reviews

[Brett · Rating 4 out of 5]

There were some very interesting ideas in the story but I ultimately felt a little frustrated that the world wasn't built out more. Given some of the major differences in this world from ours, I was hoping to get more background by the end of the book but there was little explanation given.

That said, the differences are introduced well and with a steady pace leaving you wanting to read "just one more chapter, I promise!" The main character's voice is strong and it certainly is a vivid world the book has created. It gets a little dark at times but this is still worth the read even if its worst sin is leaving me wanting a bit more to be fleshed out.

[Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was incredibly strange. The weakest part of this book by far was the writing. It was incredibly tell-y and breezed past events way too quickly. But I enjoyed the plot immensely and some of the weirder elements were really strange. Surrealism is done very well here. I think this book could have been a lot better had it been 100 pages longer.

[James Berke · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a good book, I did enjoy the plot and the world it took place in very much but I feel like the world isn’t explained enough. A little more depth into why the world of the book is the way it is could make it so much greater.

[Hamda Hassan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to read this for a while and it’s exactly what I had in mind, I enjoyed it!

[G · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t know what to expect from this book. I randomly came across it and decided to read it. I had never heard about it from anyone and I have to say, the back cover summary is kind of deceiving. It leaves out a rather big plot point and most of the plot itself. Hunter, the main character, doesn’t really dream about Tommy that much at all, I mean he does, but that is only a small part of the story. This book is strangely creepy and dark, much more than I had expected it to be. It takes place in a strange world that is quite different, yet similar to ours. It is based in an alternative 1950s-esque world that could be our world if not for a few key differences. I do wish that the world was built out more, I am left with a lot of questions. It is extremely creative; a world where you have to go to the “Freak Tent” at thirteen otherwise you will be taken away and the color green is basically illegal, not to mention that creepy-ass, Pennywise-like clowns pretty much run everything. I wouldn’t say it necessarily has a happy ending, but it doesn’t have a sad one either; it is very bitter-sweet. This book does deal with suicide a lot, from the death of Tommy Swanson to the main character planning his own suicide. If suicide is a trigger for you, don’t read this book. If you are okay with reading about this, I highly recommend this book. It is short and extremely entertaining.

Warnings: violence, suicide/suicidal thoughts, death, abuse/assault, and language (the N-word is used a few times)

[Ozimandias · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm proud of Jack Merridew, a mere Youtuber, who pursued a dream of writing a book and getting it done. The book is slim but sometimes, that's all you need. This book needed some more space, or some cleaving of ideas to make it more streamlined. The world is familiar to anyone who is aware of classic childhood tropes - playgrounds, carnivals, laying on grass looking up at the clouds. It's skewed somewhat by some strange choices that make clear that Hunter, the protagonist, does not live in our reality, but one that is more explicitly ruthless and cruel. The message of the book doesn't need that kind of set-up, and the creation of a foreign locale seems beside the point. There are terrific bits that show how an economy of description can have great impact (the letter to Brendan anyone?), but there are other sections that seem entirely frivolous (Tommy Swanson's sister anyone?). The author's focus on Tommy Swanson actually weakens the storyline between Hunter and Brendan, which seems like the point of the book. There is a lot of explanation and a lot less description and feeling. Maybe that comes with future books and more experience. The moral of the story is nice and I liked knowing the author in a weird way through his YouTube videos. So I'm happy for him and would read his next effort without hesitation. If you don't know him and just approach this book as is, there are some interesting ideas in there, but not necessarily well-executed.

[Terrence Strong · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of how Tommy Swanson was a very good one. It had all of the normal tropes of a coming to age story with hints of mystic tropes such as ghost. Seeing it in a Suburban town with that is similar to where anyone could live but also different enough that you are allowed grapple with some of the more weird things. If you have read any of Jack's other works and liked them you won't be disappointed in this one either.

[Chey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story was very imaginative, filled many twists and turns, haunting imagery and character development that led to a love affair with a ghost and a very colorful ending. However, it's ironic that the main characters name is "Hunter" because the reader is left hunting for answers to many questions.

[Nick Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars would be more accurate
So this was definitely a very interesting read like the color green basically being erased? Clowns sort of running the town? Very interesting stuff
However calling it the night tommy died is a little misleading because its more of the haunting of tommy swanson - or its sorta like he haunts the narrative but maybe i just didn’t get it

[Aaron Reedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book

Very thought provoking book and had me on the edge of my seat the entire book. Very good book , I would highly recommend

[lcr00797 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Weird, but a good book

It was a little weird but I liked it, wished it was a bit longer like what happened after that night at the end.

[AJ Belongia · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's OK... It's a first novel. I think he needed to decide what he wanted it would be and focus instead of having so many things go on that never go anywhere.

[Rene · Rating 3 out of 5]

*2.5

[KDM · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

This book drew me in from reading the first chapter. It wasn't what I expected, but it kept me interested the entire time. He is a good writer and a good storyteller. This story has a deeper, very important meaning and I was crying by the time I finished it. Very well done.