Why Did She Have to Die?

by Lurlene McDaniel

Book Overview

For thirteen years, Elly has been in Kathy's shadow, always second best. Even so, the two of them understand each other as only sisters can. Jealousy, anger, and resentment give way to guilt when... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0874060710
• ISBN13: 9780874060713
• Release Date: December 1986
• Publisher: Pages Publishing Group
• Length: 128 Pages
• Weight: 0.20 lbs.
• Age Range: 10 to 13 years
• Grade Range: Grades 5 to 8

Customer Reviews

uh...hello!

Lurlene McDaniel is GREAT author. I've been reading her books since for 7 years now. I love her books.

Best Book Ever

Why Did She Have To Die is an outstanding book. The book teaches that it's not the end of the world if some one close to us dies, its not the end of the world. An example is when Elly finds out her sister died, she was mad because her parents lied to her. Elly's parents had the funeral while she was still in a coma, after the car accident. Elly Thought that she was going to be sad forever, but not everything was bad. This is a great book for people that have lost someone close to them to read

NannerGinny's book review on Why Did She Have to Die?

Why Did She Have To Die- Lurlene McDaniel This is probably the most realistic book I've read so far by McDaniel. She is a fantastic author with stories dealing with different sorts of tragedies. This book is filled with realistic emotions people face in these situations. Elly Rowan is a plain, cute girl but her sister, Kathy, is a lot to mount up to. Kathy Rowan is your idea of perfect if there were such a thing. Elly was and is still jealous of her sister's "perfection." Elly's sister Kathy dies in a car crash, leaving Elly as an only daughter. She has a best friend and a crush. Will these people draw closer due to sympathy or will they remain true friends? Read this book and see how Elly deals with her sister before and after her death everyday. After reading this I found myself having more respect for my siblings instead of jealousy. I can't imagine losing 1 of my 3 sisters or my only brother. I know I would struggle a lot if one of them died. This book is an eye-opener! Natalie Nye

A Beautiful & Sensitive Story

Kathy Rowan, a bright 14-year-old is held up as the sterling example of what a daughter and sister should be. Her sister Elly, one year younger resents this and the way their peers flock to Kathy. A bright, popular boy named Russ Canton takes an interest in Kathy as most of the local boys do. Since he is older and has a car, he is not one the girls' father would approve. Kathy, a school leader takes an active role in planning the spring dance and tricks Elly into participating. As they leave the meeting, Russ offers them a ride home. He does not pay attention to his driving and barely misses a child on her bike and crashes the car, killing Kathy. Russ emerges unharmed; Elly is in a coma for a week and has a severely broken leg. Once discharged from the hospital, she limps back into life and even more reluctantly into school. Her anger at Kathy and her popularity and death escalate; she vandalizes a bathroom by smearing makeup all over the place; she trips a boy who slighted Kathy and is hostile to the one boy who makes overtures to her. Family counseling and a chance to discuss Kathy's death and make decisions about dispensing her personal effects as well as making friends with the boy who extended the olive branch to her help empower Elly to cope with her loss.

A Book that you Can't Turn Away From

My Mom first introduced me to this book while going through some boxes in our attic! My sister and I had just gotton into an argument, and thats when she handed me this book, and said simply, "Read This!" I took the book to my room, and immediatly opened to the first page, and began to read! It was amazing how similar their lifes were to my sisters, and mine! I laughed at the funny times, and cried like a baby when her sister died! It made me think about what I would do if I ever lost MY sister! I went straight to my sister, and apologized! My only regret is that I didnt read this book sooner! :c)