Playlist for the Dead

“A page-turner that combines genuine intrigue with heartbreak and desire.” —Holly Goldberg Sloan, New York Times bestselling author of Counting by 7s

Part mystery, part love story, and part coming-of-age tale in the vein of Thirteen Reasons Why, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and The Spectacular Now, Michelle Falkoff’s debut is an honest and gut-wrenching novel about loss, rage, what if feels like to outgrow a friendship that’s always defined you—and the struggle to redefine yourself.

There was a party. There was a fight. The next morning, Sam’s best friend, Hayden, was dead. And all he left Sam was a playlist of songs and a suicide note: For Sam—listen and you’ll understand.

To figure out what happened, Sam has to rely on the playlist and his own memory. But the more he listens, the more he realizes that his memory isn’t as reliable as he thought. And it might only be by taking out his earbuds and opening his eyes to the people around him that he’ll finally be able to piece together his best friend’s story. And maybe have a chance to change his own.

“An absorbing and sensitive read.” —Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“Falkoff lightens the substantial topics of grief, bullying, and suicide with Sam’s engaging investigation.” —ALA Booklist

“Realistic and well-written. The strong characters, dialogue and the use of the playlist to structure the book make this a good pick for struggling readers.”  —School Library Journal

“Falkoff treats a difficult topic with delicacy and care.” —Publishers Weekly

“Truly powerful moments.” —Kirkus Reviews

Sam thinks he knows the story. But what if the playlist reveals a version of his best friend—and himself—he never knew?

• A Heart-Wrenching Mystery: Sam has one clue to his best friend Hayden’s suicide: a playlist. But each song reveals more questions than answers about the fight that tore them apart.
• Grief and Guilt: Haunted by their last argument, Sam wrestles with his own role in the tragedy, forcing him to confront a past he may have remembered all wrong.
• An Unlikely Romance: Finding answers means trusting the mysterious Astrid, a girl who knew Hayden in ways Sam never did—and who might be the only one who understands.
• A Powerful Coming of Age Story: A novel about the friendships that define us, the secrets that break us, and the struggle to find yourself after losing the person you thought you knew best.