Suitabook

The Day I Killed James

Catherine Ryan Hyde

Reading: Consider checking in before and after reading because the story centres on suicide, death and severe guilt. Pause to discuss responsibility separately from blame, and leave space for the ending’s implications.
Themes: Responsibility after rejection: Theresa does not return James’s feelings; after he dies, she regards herself as responsible and punishes herself emotionally. The story appears to examine the difference between causing hurt, feeling responsible and controlling another person’s decision, but the full resolution is unclear.
Avoidance and self-repair: Theresa changes her name, appearance and circumstances to escape her past, yet continues to struggle to connect with people. The narrative presents avoidance as part of Theresa’s struggle and points towards confronting pain, but its judgement of her choices cannot be fully established.
Connection across vulnerability: A homeless, determined child enters Theresa’s life and becomes part of the process through which both characters are described as healing. The relationship is presented as important to Theresa’s movement through grief, but the child’s own perspective and circumstances are not sufficiently detailed.
Worth knowing: The book deserves advance thought if suicide, sudden death, intense guilt, smoking, homelessness or a child’s vulnerability may be difficult subjects. Its treatment and ending are not fully clear here.