Suitabook

When I Was Death

Alexis Henderson

Reading: Check in before reading if recent bereavement or vivid depictions of death may feel especially difficult. During the book, pause after major deaths and discuss what Roslyn is learning about grief, responsibility and living.
Themes: Grief and recovery: Roslyn is changed by Adeline’s death and searches for an explanation while travelling with the girls. The story examines grief and the aftermath of loss, and links Roslyn’s search with a possible return to living.
Mortality and responsibility: The girls have been spared by Death and travel while killing people as his proxies; Roslyn agrees to participate in exchange for answers. The book leaves its stance open to more than one reading.
Facing loss and uncertainty: Roslyn joins the group connected with Adeline’s final summer, while the group’s circumstances become increasingly dangerous. The situation supports discussion of how uncertainty and danger shape Roslyn’s choices, without establishing a broader message about trust or relationships.
Worth knowing: Death and violence deserve attention: the girls kill as Death’s proxies, and encounters include natural deaths and a horrific car accident. Grief is persistent, and the story is described as horror-filled, with steadily building tension.