Dead Wednesday is a unique premise for a middle grade novel, and Spinelli managed to write a thought-provoking coming of age novel. However, for a middle grade novel, this book lacks a certain pizazz. The cerebral nature of this book can really make it a chore to get through which will turn off a lot of middle grade readers. However, the characters are relatable and the premise is sure to draw some readers in.

I've read several Juvenile and Young Adult Fiction books by Jerry Spinelli: Star Girl, Mania McGee, The Wardens Daughter all of which I loved and would recommend. Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy this latest book. I could not understand why he would write a book that glorified students that have passed away. Dead Wednesday is when the 8th grade students wear black t-shirts to represent students their age that have passed on. On Dead Wednesday the current students are treated as if they are dead and everyone ignores them providing an opportunity for then to act up and not get into trouble.

I found the morbid plot drawing to me and my younger self would also have agreed! The description of the book and the cover had me sold. It was exactly as promised and did not provide anything too out of what I expected. The reason I did not give it a higher rating was the world building. It had a lot more potential to sink me in but (at least for me) it didn’t. The children using terms like “yo” that I would have used as an 00s kid made it hard to believe that they were current day children. However if it had been set in that time period than it would have been spot on! It also flipped flopped between the “adults” ignoring them and not. The not ignoring had attempted to be justified but it happened all too often. Wasn’t really for me but will definitely be for someone else! Teenage rom fans will enjoy!

I’ve been reading Jerry Spinelli’s books for decades. I liked the concept of this one. Robbie, an eight grader known as Worm because he likes to be under the radar at all times, is psyched for the annual town event that happens near the end of each school year. In an effort to both honor victims and educate others, the town proclaims Dead Wednesday a day when 8th graders are given a black shirt and a card with facts about a deceased person. Each victim died as a result of something preventable such as DUI or texting and driving. The community is told to completely ignore the student for the day.
Many students look forward to this day as a day to go crazy without fear of punishment, but others treat it as the somber event intended. Worm is given the name Rebecca Finch and is shocked when he is visited by her ghost. This interaction gives him a new perspective and changes not only how he views himself, but makes him more insightful to what’s going on around him. It is also a healing journey for Rebecca who died a senseless death and can’t forgive herself. I’d hand this off to a student who struggling to find their place.

Oh Jerry Spinelli, this is the writing I love from you [we will just ignore Love, Stargirl and never speak of it again] and am so glad to be reading again. I love when you write books that make you think, make you feel, make you laugh and of course, make you cry [and in this case, it doesn't matter HOW old you are when reading this. If you don't feel something when reading this, you might want to check your pulse], and finally, give you hope. All which seems a lot for a 224 page children's-middle grade book. Y'all, that is just how good Jerry Spinelli is.

My only problem is how to write a review about this amazing book. You see, this is one of those rare books that you absolutely need to come into blind [I even went and read other reviews to try and get ideas of how to write this one and was dismayed to see so many that give away the whole darn book. NOT OKAY PEOPLE] and there is just no way to review this in a way that doesn't give everything away, and trust me - you absolutely DO NOT WANT TO KNOW ANYTHING going into this. It needs to be seen with no knowledge of what it is all about. The magic is better that way. The feelings come more organically that way. And the hope is so much purer. Reading about Worm and his days before AND after Dead Wednesday is truly best that way. You will not be sorry. I promise. Just go and find time to read this [I believe that this should be a *must read* on everyone's lists - kids and parent's and aunties and uncles all], preferably with others so when you are all done, you've all wiped your tears away, you can sit and TALK about all that you just read and how it affects you and what it means to you. It is a way to have conversations about uncomfortable things that always need talking about, but rarely are. This book, is perfect for all that.

Thank you to NetGalley, Jerry Spinelli, and Random House Children's/Knopf Books for Young Readers for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

As one who loves all things Spinelli, I must say I was somewhat ambivalent with this one. The story line is reminiscent of Shirley Jackson, with a complete town going along with what, from an outsider's view, seems like an incredibly risky annual event. It does require a level of "suspension of belief" to allow for the premise to appear normal-ish.

I give it 4 stars, rounded up from a 3.76.

Worm’s worst nightmare is any scenario in which he is the center of attention. He is happy to sit on the sidelines and let his best friend attract all the attention and if that means he isn’t an active participant in his own life, it’s a small price to pay for going unnoticed. That makes Dead Wednesday the perfect day for Worm. On Dead Wednesday, each eighth grader receives a card with the name of a teen who died a preventable death during the previous year. The eighth graders are treated as if they are also dead, ignored by everyone, giving them plenty of time to reflect on the importance of making good choices and appreciating the gift of being alive. But things don’t go as planned for Worm. As expected, his teachers ignore him but Becca, the dead teen from his card, shows up and does the opposite. Becca is convinced she is on a mission to help Worm move past his fears and insecurities so that he can begin to enjoy his life. But after a day spent together, it becomes unclear who is meant to help whom. Regardless, meeting Becca changes Worm in ways he could never have expected.

The characters of Worm and Becca were brilliantly written. Their insecurities, fears, & feelings of guilt, as well as their kindness and empathy made them feel authentic and relatable. I feel Spinelli’s genius lies in his ability to create relatable characters that naturally grow as their stories progress. I always feel a connection to his characters that is rare and they inspire me to look at myself and others in a more tolerant light. And like his other books, this one has a meaningful message that kids and adults alike can appreciate. I love this book for many of the same reasons that I love his book Eggs, which I read years ago but still think about today. I am so happy to have another Spinelli gem to recommend to middle grade readers.

I loved this book. Jerry Spinelli is already one of my favorite authors but he blew me away with this book. Newbery 2022?

I know that everyone really seems to like this one, but I just cannot get past how the parents, or worse yet, 8th grade siblings, of teens who died because they made poor choices would feel about this yearly event where students at a school take on the identity of a deceased teen, and then the town proceeds to ignore them so that they can reflect and make better choices. How devastating! Doesn't help that as I was reading this, I found out that one of my younger daughter's classmates had died of a drug overdose at the age of 23.

Really trying not to let my personal opinion influence me on this one, but this also felt more like a Young Adult book even though Worm in in 8th grade. The pace was slow, and it was very introspective. I think I would have trouble finding readers in my library, where the most frequent complaint is "nothing HAPPENED".

Will probably not purchase this unless I get requests from teachers for it.

Spinelli knows middle-schoolers so well. This book has a number of coming-of-age themes that are ideal for guided reading discussion. Dead Wednesday tries to address the adolescent feelings of invincibility as they embark on high school years. This short read is well-written and truly authentic.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the e-ARC of this novel.

A fan of Jerry Spinelli, I had high hopes for this book, but it never got off the ground for me. I struggled through the beginning, and never fell in love with Becca. This book came up as a middle grade novel, but is really probably better suited for high school aged students (the main character is in 8th grade, and is visited by a 17 year old ghost of sorts).

This book was what I expected from a Jerry Spinelli book. It was thoughtful and endearing and held a deep message. I loved the characters of Becca and Worm and how they learned from each other. My only fear is that middle school students would not get the deeper meaning of this book on their own. I think it is a GREAT book club/classroom read so that discussion can occur to help kids better understand what the book is truly about. Overall, I would give it 4 our of 5 stars.

What happens when all 8th graders are given the name of a dead teen, asked to wear a black shirt and are ignored by the town? Will it teach the appropriate lesson about drinking, drugs and responsibility? What happens if Worm's dead girl turns out to be a ghost only he can see?

It turns out this is a framework for Worm's emotional growth and general maturity, which makes sense because ghosts aren't real. Or maybe they are? Unclear here. The writing is third person omniscient, although that for me set me a little too far outside of Worm for my taste. I wanted it all to feel a bit more visceral, the way Worm feels when he is with Becca. But overall, an interesting premise and a nice book about emotional growth in a boy just on the cusp of adolescence and feeling it.

Worm, who is as shy as the sun is hot, is on the cusp of summer vacation. Just a few more sleeps until the 8th grade, and middle school, will be in his review mirror. But first the 8th graders all participate in Dead Wednesday. On this day each student is given the name, photograph and information of a teen who has died in a car accident. It is meant to make the students aware and cautious but they view it as a day to do whatever they want in school and not get in trouble for it! The day is more contemplative than they imagine but Worm has a very unique experience which changes him is ways he didn't think were possible.
Spinelli does an excellent job of reflecting the insecurities of most teens in his characters. They are likable and flawed. The story moves along at a quick enough pace to keep the reader engaged but still manages to build rich characters in Worm and Becca. I like that the story manages to be sad, sort of heart wrenching actually, and uplifting. All in all a very good book that I would recommend to my middle school students.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I usually love Jerry Spinelli but this book was just ... strange. It wasn’t terrible, but also not my favorite.

Everyone LOVES Jerry Spinelli, right?!?! I was so excited to get an advanced copy of Dead Wednesday! The premise itself is unique: once a year, for just a day, eighth graders are assigned a name of a child that has passed away due to an accident of some sort. They are invisible (or "dead") for that day, so no living person talks to them or pays them any attention. Only a half day of school and then freedom! For the main character, a boy who goes by the name Worm, it's a day he has been looking forward to for years. That is, until he is joined by a new friend, the ghost of his assigned "Deader," Becca Finch. Why is she here? Is she supposed to help Worm? Is he supposed to help her in some way? Just how is this day going to end?

You will love this book. It is funny, sweet, a bit creepy, and heartfelt. Is it weird to say that you might fall in love with Becca Finch even though she's dead? Well, tough. You'll love her and the lesson in this story!

This book started slow for me, but I enjoyed it in the end. Unique story from a great author. I think it would work great as an audiobook or read aloud.

Truly a book that should be rated closer to a perfect 5. Spinelli’s most recent work is poignant and potentially life-changing, much like Maniac Magee and Wringer. In Dead Wednesday, Robbie aka Worm, is looking forward to what most 8th graders view as a blow off school day. Established as way to encourage an entire grade level to consider the dire consequences of actions such as texting while driving, DWI, and other avoidable causes of death, students are given the name and brief bio of a deceased teen, must wear a black shirt, and are ignored by all in an effort to send the message of “this could be you.” I anticipated that Worm’s life would be impacted by the experience, but how Spinelli creates change in an awkward, shy teen’s life is far different that most readers will expect. Likely audience for this book is 6th-9th grade, but thoughtful readers in younger grades may also come away with a feeling that they matter and have a voice that is worth using. Content is free of profanity, violence (except for a gentle recounting of one girl’s death behind the wheel), and sexual content. Full disclosure—There are a few relatively mild kisses between male-female characters and one sentence that states that girls hold their books up against their breasts which would definitely send some of my more immature 5th graders to into gales of embarrassed laughter. Highly recommended for libraries with readers of Joan Bauer, Rebecca Stead, Jordan Sonnenblick or Gary Schmidt.

Dead Wednesday is a tradition the whole town gets behind in an attempt to help 8th graders avoid potentially fatal decisions as they head into their high school years. Each 8th grader is assigned the name of a local teen who passed away due to avoidable reasons (mostly accidents involving risky behavior). Students were black t-shirts and are ignored by others for the day to encourage quiet reflection. However, for most 8th graders being ignored by adults is more of an invitation to act out than to turn inward.

Worm approaches the day expecting to celebrate his freedom in the comfort of his best friend's shadow. That is until Becca Finch, the dead teen whose name he was assigned, takes over his day, determined to show him how not to miss truly living another minute of his life. During their day together, Worm begins to realize how much the world has to offer, and maybe, just maybe, how much he has to offer the world.

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!