Childrens

Dead Wednesday

Dead Wednesday

  • Downloads：2365
  • Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date：2021-08-29 09:51:38
  • Update Date：2025-09-06
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Jerry Spinelli
  • ISBN：0593425847
  • Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary

Worm Tarnauer has spent most of eighth grade living down to his nickname。 He prefers to be out of sight， underground。 He walked the world unseen。 He's happy to let his best friend， Eddie， lead the way and rule the day。

And this day--Dead Wednesday--is going to be awesome。 The school thinks assigning each eighth grader the name of a teenager who died in the past year and having them don black shirts and become invisible will make them contemplate their own mortality。 Yeah， sure。 The kids know that being invisible to teachers really means you can get away with anything。 It's a day to go wild！

But Worm didn't count on Becca Finch （17， car crash）。 Letting this girl into his head is about to change everything。

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Reviews

Stephanie ，

Audio- DNF 11%

Shaunna ，

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 Spinelli’s style is very unique and his stories and characters stay with me for a while - I definitely got lost in this story （in a good way）。I wished， however， that Worm had drawn a big emoji on Pooter’s driveway or similar over visiting Becca’s grave

Kelly K ，

Absolutely loved the first half of this even though it was going at a bit of a slow pace。 It was a unique concept， very unrealistic， but interesting enough to see how it would unfold。 My issue was with how it unfolded。 This felt more like a YA novel instead of children's/middle grade。 Absolutely loved the first half of this even though it was going at a bit of a slow pace。 It was a unique concept， very unrealistic， but interesting enough to see how it would unfold。 My issue was with how it unfolded。 This felt more like a YA novel instead of children's/middle grade。 。。。more

Beth Heltebridle ，

A manic pixie dream girl ghost， outdated gender constructs， and weird descriptions of tween bodies？ It’s a no from me， dawg。

Michal ，

I hated the idea of Dead Wednesday， the "holiday" upon which the book is based。 I'm sure it's from my personal experiences with these types of manipulative events that adults place on young kids， but I struggled to get through the first half of the book。 I also hated the second half of the book。 I loved Spinelli's works previously but just disliked this story。 Worm was unlikable （but relatable to us shy kiddos。。。）。 I hated that he ended up being the hero。 I hated the idea of Dead Wednesday， the "holiday" upon which the book is based。 I'm sure it's from my personal experiences with these types of manipulative events that adults place on young kids， but I struggled to get through the first half of the book。 I also hated the second half of the book。 I loved Spinelli's works previously but just disliked this story。 Worm was unlikable （but relatable to us shy kiddos。。。）。 I hated that he ended up being the hero。 。。。more

Steph ，

“She taught me it was okay to be imperfect。”I think there’s some really cool messages here。 But overall… it’s extremely depressing。 And this was marked as “middle grade” in my public library but I truly think it’s for young adults。 Mayyyyyybe upper middle grade？ But the concept alone is just… intense。

Sandy ，

This was just a bizarre book。 I really never figured out what made Worm yell at Becca。 I am not thrilled with many of the scenarios but I suppose it was okay。

Kristin ，

Delightful read/listen。 For all ages。

Rebecca ，

I couldn't get into this。 It was a bit meandering， and I never could figure out where it was heading。 Plus the concept of assigning kids what they call "wrappers"--kids who have died in preventable accidents because they were texting， drinking， etc。--and making them wear black shirts and ignoring them all day seems unproductive and tasteless。 The kids don't take it seriously （for the most part--they use it as a free-for-all day when they can do anything and not get in trouble）， and it could be h I couldn't get into this。 It was a bit meandering， and I never could figure out where it was heading。 Plus the concept of assigning kids what they call "wrappers"--kids who have died in preventable accidents because they were texting， drinking， etc。--and making them wear black shirts and ignoring them all day seems unproductive and tasteless。 The kids don't take it seriously （for the most part--they use it as a free-for-all day when they can do anything and not get in trouble）， and it could be hurtful for a reader who has lost someone in that way， to see that the kids ignore the reason and just celebrate it as a license to go crazy。 When all one kid got from his assigned "wrapper" was that she was the "hottest，" that was really disturbing。 。。。more

Julie ，

Many thanks to Libro。fm for their audiobook program for teachers and librarians。

Abbey Pasquence ，

This was uh， certainly not Stargirl。 A bit macabre and darkly funny。 Pretty philosophical and on the abstract side。 Not bad， but not what I was expecting。

Ayush ，

So， should i read it？？ Can anyone tell me what happens in this book

Diane White ，

This was an interesting book that moved at a nice pace。 The main character and that of the ghost was likable。

Allyssa Graham ，

A ghostly read， full of life lessons， reminding the reader how important it is to make the most of life and live without regrets。

Shelly Buchanan ，

I continue to appreciate Spinelli's writing in this， his latest， title。 The premise， though， as another reviewer noted is concerning - the Dead Wednesday school program。 It's a rather brutal idea for any age student， even high school。 And the emerging first love feels more YA with the 17 year-old Becca。 I'm still thinking about things。 But for now， I'm thinking that I won't be adding it to our K-8 library， despite the masterful craftsmanship of the story itself。 I continue to appreciate Spinelli's writing in this， his latest， title。 The premise， though， as another reviewer noted is concerning - the Dead Wednesday school program。 It's a rather brutal idea for any age student， even high school。 And the emerging first love feels more YA with the 17 year-old Becca。 I'm still thinking about things。 But for now， I'm thinking that I won't be adding it to our K-8 library， despite the masterful craftsmanship of the story itself。 。。。more

Donna ，

Interesting story about being your best self， appreciating what you have， grief。Eighth grader Robbie （Worm） narrates this story。 He and his classmates are looking forward to a half day of goofing off and being invisible （dead）。 What Worm doesn't count on is his assigned person， who died in a car crash， coming back and haunting him。 Becca forces Worm to come out of his shell and become a better version of himself。Upper elementary/YA - characters are relatable， 8th graders Interesting story about being your best self， appreciating what you have， grief。Eighth grader Robbie （Worm） narrates this story。 He and his classmates are looking forward to a half day of goofing off and being invisible （dead）。 What Worm doesn't count on is his assigned person， who died in a car crash， coming back and haunting him。 Becca forces Worm to come out of his shell and become a better version of himself。Upper elementary/YA - characters are relatable， 8th graders 。。。more

Sally Kruger ，

There are two reasons for Worm Tarnauer to be excited。 One is the fact that summer vacation is a mere seven days and a wake-up away。 The other is today is a half day known throughout the town as Dead Wednesday。Every year at this time the outgoing eighth graders are dismissed early。 When the day begins， each 8th grader is given the name of a teen who died the previous year。 The deaths aren't from natural causes but rather preventable accidents like texting or drinking while driving。 Each student There are two reasons for Worm Tarnauer to be excited。 One is the fact that summer vacation is a mere seven days and a wake-up away。 The other is today is a half day known throughout the town as Dead Wednesday。Every year at this time the outgoing eighth graders are dismissed early。 When the day begins， each 8th grader is given the name of a teen who died the previous year。 The deaths aren't from natural causes but rather preventable accidents like texting or drinking while driving。 Each student wears a black shirt and is treated as "dead" by everyone at school and in town。 On this special Wednesday Worm and his classmates are supposed to reflect on the unfortunate passing of unlucky teens。Worm is shy so being ignored seems perfect。 His hope is to survive the half day and then meet up with his best friend Eddie to watch an after school fight that has been predicted between a couple of the 8th grade boys。 Hearing that his mother expects him home immediately after school to help out with chores doesn't exactly thrill Worm。 He knows she's mad when he tells her no， but this day only happens once and he wants to enjoy it。Rebecca Ann Finch is the name on the card Worm is given。 It says she was 17 when she died in a car crash。 When Worm slips on the black shirt， he isn't expecting much， but that soon changes。 With the appearance of what he can only call Becca's "ghost，" Worm's day becomes anything but normal。 Is he supposed to help Becca or is she here to help him？ Worm's view of the world is about to change。Well-known author Jerry Spinelli may have just topped his popular book STARGIRL。 Readers will be immediately drawn to Worm and captivated by the deceased Becca Finch。 DEAD WEDNESDAY is the perfect book for readers about to move into the world of adolescence and all the emotional and physical changes they will face。 Worm's transition is sure to inspire courage and self-esteem。 。。。more

booksandsmiles ，

3。75

Mandy ，

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 Okay， decided to DNF and then continued to listen to the audiobook anyway （complimentary audio provided by Libro。fm）。 Audiobook in terms of voice and quality - fine， good， great。 Nothing to really note。 Story - I… did not like this。 I don’t like the characters。 I have no understanding of young male protagonists。 Why is he kissing ghosts/imagining it？ The male obsession with girls drives me crazy， idc if middle school boys are girl crazy。 Any message gets lost considering it ends with “Mean Monic Okay， decided to DNF and then continued to listen to the audiobook anyway （complimentary audio provided by Libro。fm）。 Audiobook in terms of voice and quality - fine， good， great。 Nothing to really note。 Story - I… did not like this。 I don’t like the characters。 I have no understanding of young male protagonists。 Why is he kissing ghosts/imagining it？ The male obsession with girls drives me crazy， idc if middle school boys are girl crazy。 Any message gets lost considering it ends with “Mean Monica” kissing Worm。 What。 I am horrified at the notion at a town that could continue this tradition - the principal screaming at everyone was the only thing I liked。 I can’t even wrap up my thoughts since it’s 4am and there’s so much wrong with this book。 No。 Just no to all of this。 。。。more

Nikki ，

Jerry Spinelli has done it again。 I loved watching Worm transform and embrace being bold！ If you are a fan of Stargirl， you will enjoy this book too。

Karen Arendt ，

Worm is quiet and happy to let his best friend， Eddie， have the spotlight。 But things change for Worm on Dead Wednesday。 Dead Wednesday is the day the 8th graders don black shirts， receive a card with a previous student’s name who died， and become that person for the day。 It is a day that anything goes。 The students are not seen by any school staff。 There are no assignments or class discussions。 But then Worm， sees Becca， his dead person。 Worm is about to experience life in a whole new way。 What Worm is quiet and happy to let his best friend， Eddie， have the spotlight。 But things change for Worm on Dead Wednesday。 Dead Wednesday is the day the 8th graders don black shirts， receive a card with a previous student’s name who died， and become that person for the day。 It is a day that anything goes。 The students are not seen by any school staff。 There are no assignments or class discussions。 But then Worm， sees Becca， his dead person。 Worm is about to experience life in a whole new way。 What I love about this story is that writing is poetic and melodious yet down to earth。 I also like how Worm slowly changes throughout the story。 This is the perfect coming of age story for anyone who has relegated themselves to the shadows。 。。。more

TheNextGenLibrarian ，

Dead Wednesday: when the living join the dead。😵14-year-old Worm Tarnauer is a quiet kid who likes to blend into the background。 His best friend， Eddie， is Mr。 Personality， which Worm is just fine with。 But today， both kids are excited for school because today is Dead Wednesday。 The school （and entire town， really） assigns each 8th grader the name of a teenager who died in their town in the past year。 The kids wear black shirts so everyone know they’re “dead” aka invisible and are treated as such Dead Wednesday: when the living join the dead。😵14-year-old Worm Tarnauer is a quiet kid who likes to blend into the background。 His best friend， Eddie， is Mr。 Personality， which Worm is just fine with。 But today， both kids are excited for school because today is Dead Wednesday。 The school （and entire town， really） assigns each 8th grader the name of a teenager who died in their town in the past year。 The kids wear black shirts so everyone know they’re “dead” aka invisible and are treated as such by everyone from teachers to parents to community members。 This assignment is supposed to have students facing their mortality in the hopes they will drive safer when they get to high school， but most kids use it as an excuse to goof around。 When Worm is assigned Becca Finch， a 17-year-old car crash victim， as his dead teenager， she actually shows up。 Together they spend the day discussing how she died and trying to get Worm to learn how to live。😵This MG novel by the amazing Jerry Spinelli was very macabre。 I saw a lot of Stargirl in Becca， but overall it was a dark subject matter for a middle grade book。 Honestly it would have worked better as YA because both characters were teenagers。 The idea that kids will understand death and loss by treating them like they’re invisible just didn’t connect for me。 I’m sure many will enjoy Spinelli’s writing， the themes and the subject matter。 It just missed the mark for me。 Dead Wednesday is out now。CW: death of a child 。。。more

Lisa Boyd ，

This is a great read for middle-grade kids or teens that are looking for contemporary without the typical YA drama or smoochiness。 Spinelli did well。

Carli ，

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House for the advance Kindle copy of this book。 All opinions are my own。•⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 for Spinelli’s newest， which released today。 It starts with a kind of morbid premise: on the second Wednesday in June， all eighth graders at Worm Tarnaur’s school participate in Dead Wednesday。 Designed to scare them straight before high school， each kid is assigned the name and story of a teen who died by car accident， overdoses， etc。 They don black shirts provided by the school and Thanks to Netgalley and Random House for the advance Kindle copy of this book。 All opinions are my own。•⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 for Spinelli’s newest， which released today。 It starts with a kind of morbid premise: on the second Wednesday in June， all eighth graders at Worm Tarnaur’s school participate in Dead Wednesday。 Designed to scare them straight before high school， each kid is assigned the name and story of a teen who died by car accident， overdoses， etc。 They don black shirts provided by the school and spend the day being “invisible” （dead） to those around them。 So super weird。 But when the ghost of Worm’s Wrapper （called that for their town’s twisty roads that lead to cars wrapped around trees - I TOLD YOU IT WAS MORBID） turns up and takes him through town during that day， he has no idea how much his life will change。 This one is odd， and a little abruptly ended， but will appeal to realistic fiction fans， especially those who enjoy Jordan Sonnenblick and Spinelli’s other works。 Recommended for grades 6-8。 。。。more

Jennifer Margeson ，

Jerry Spinelli never disappoints but Dead Wednesday was special！ The set up - Dead Wednesday - pulled me right in， and since I was reading it as my school year was ending， I absolutely could relate to everyone counting down the final days of school。 The characters are full and relatable， down to details like how Worm's cystic acne seemed to affect his self esteem。 I enjoyed the setting as unique （writer's compound） but also traditional （living on the edge of town）。 I thought Becca reminded me a Jerry Spinelli never disappoints but Dead Wednesday was special！ The set up - Dead Wednesday - pulled me right in， and since I was reading it as my school year was ending， I absolutely could relate to everyone counting down the final days of school。 The characters are full and relatable， down to details like how Worm's cystic acne seemed to affect his self esteem。 I enjoyed the setting as unique （writer's compound） but also traditional （living on the edge of town）。 I thought Becca reminded me a little too much of Star Girl and I did find it odd a high school girl would connect to an eighth grader so seamlessly but in the end， it is a middle grade book written perfectly for its audience。 I rated it 3。5 stars - I very much enjoyed reading #DeadWednesday - thanks to #NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to preview this sweet story。 。。。more

Suzy ，

This one was not what I was expecting。 I wasn't too sure about the characters at the beginning， but this book isn't long， so I soon found myself enthralled and reading it rather quickly。 Jerry Spinelli is such a great author and I think he has a great grasp on tweens/teens and how they view the world。 A good middle grade book。 Thanks NetGalley for this ARC！ This one was not what I was expecting。 I wasn't too sure about the characters at the beginning， but this book isn't long， so I soon found myself enthralled and reading it rather quickly。 Jerry Spinelli is such a great author and I think he has a great grasp on tweens/teens and how they view the world。 A good middle grade book。 Thanks NetGalley for this ARC！ 。。。more

Sara D ，

Jerry Spinelli has done it again。 Dead Wednesday is a book that upper middle grade students will be drawn to， will relate to， and will remember and think about long after they finish it。 This is a story about an introvert who looks forward to the one day in his middle school career that he will be truly as invisible as he wishes he could be。 But he becomes visible to the dead girl whom he is assigned to “honor”。 This is not a dark story， but one full of light and hope。 I recommend this one！Thank Jerry Spinelli has done it again。 Dead Wednesday is a book that upper middle grade students will be drawn to， will relate to， and will remember and think about long after they finish it。 This is a story about an introvert who looks forward to the one day in his middle school career that he will be truly as invisible as he wishes he could be。 But he becomes visible to the dead girl whom he is assigned to “honor”。 This is not a dark story， but one full of light and hope。 I recommend this one！Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy。 。。。more

Katheryne ，

Eighth grader， Worm， feels invisible too， in this brilliant new middle grade novel by Jerry Spinelli。 But Worm is about to discover that life is more than fun and games。 More than making it through。 More than keeping your head down and your chin up。 Spinelli has once again crafted characters that are relatable， intriguing， funny， and utterly unforgettable。 I’m still thinking about Worm and Becca - the impossible day they spent together， the choices they made， the truths they forced each other to Eighth grader， Worm， feels invisible too， in this brilliant new middle grade novel by Jerry Spinelli。 But Worm is about to discover that life is more than fun and games。 More than making it through。 More than keeping your head down and your chin up。 Spinelli has once again crafted characters that are relatable， intriguing， funny， and utterly unforgettable。 I’m still thinking about Worm and Becca - the impossible day they spent together， the choices they made， the truths they forced each other to face。 And I can’t help but wonder where they are now。 I can’t help but hope they realize the world is better for them being in it。 Because in the end we desperately need each other。 And one day together can irrevocably change the rest of our lives。 。。。more

Rachel ，

I enjoyed this book。 It was a quick read， and I think the epistolary style of the narrative helped to move the story along。 Becca Finch definitely had echoes of Stargirl， so those comparisons are extremely valid。 I liked Worm as a character， and I thought his changes from the beginning of the book to the end were believable， considering what he had experienced。 I also appreciated how， after The Day， Worm admitted that he wasn't 100% sure what had happened， but that in the end， it didn't matter b I enjoyed this book。 It was a quick read， and I think the epistolary style of the narrative helped to move the story along。 Becca Finch definitely had echoes of Stargirl， so those comparisons are extremely valid。 I liked Worm as a character， and I thought his changes from the beginning of the book to the end were believable， considering what he had experienced。 I also appreciated how， after The Day， Worm admitted that he wasn't 100% sure what had happened， but that in the end， it didn't matter because， whatever it was， had felt real to him and that was all that mattered。 For a quick novel， the characterization was good as well， and I really got a sense for who Becca and Worm were。 Another winner from Jerry Spinelli。 。。。more

michelle ，

*Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf Books for Young Readers for a digital review copy。 All opinions are my own。Dead Wednesday is the story of Worm and Becca。 The title comes from an annual town even where， for one day in June， all 8th graders are given the name of someone who died tragically along with a black shirt that marks them as “dead。” On that day， they are considered invisible by everyone in the community and are supposed to get a lesson about reckless living and their consequences。 While *Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf Books for Young Readers for a digital review copy。 All opinions are my own。Dead Wednesday is the story of Worm and Becca。 The title comes from an annual town even where， for one day in June， all 8th graders are given the name of someone who died tragically along with a black shirt that marks them as “dead。” On that day， they are considered invisible by everyone in the community and are supposed to get a lesson about reckless living and their consequences。 While this sounds like a deep and meaningful concept， it has been turned into a day of goofing off with no consequences， deep meaning completely ignored。 The kids are only in school for half of the day and play pranks on all of the younger students and teachers。 Worm has been waiting for this day for years， but it doesn’t turn out exactly as he expects。Worm is a shy kid who lives up to his name and remains an unseen entity。 He tags along with his best friend， Eddie， who is more of a popular kid， but worm seems happy in his anonymity。 He is starting to pay more attention to girls， but that’s an extra challenge when very few people actually know him。 The first time he actually mentions a girl to Eddie， his best friend decides it is time to go after this girl himself and Worm sees his chance as lost。 Enter Becca Finch， Worm’s “dead girl” who died in a car crash on Christmas day。 Dead Wednesday is supposed to be in theory only， but in pure Spinelli fashion， Becca somehow comes to actually visit Worm， boss him around a bit， and perhaps change his life。At first it appears that Becca is just trying to have some fun back in the world， but she not only has to deal with what ended her life， but she helps Worm see ways to actually have a life of his own。 Another reviewer mentioned that it is somewhat important to come into this blindly。 I tend to agree with that and so I don’t want to give away too much。 What I will say is that， like Stargirl， this is a powerful book that comes at you quietly。 Spinelli knows how to write the quirky kid and also magically writes the kid who doesn’t care if they are different but choose to embrace their individuality and soar。Like Stargirl， Dead Wednesday urges young readers to believe in themselves and to face life bravely， even if that sometimes means not quite fitting in。 This is an awesome book for a mature 5th grader to 9th grader， or a 40 something who likes reading books for kids 🙂 。。。more

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Dead Wednesday

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=Dead Wednesday&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,Dead Wednesday&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0