When I Was Death

By: Alexis Henderson

Narrated by: Khaya Fraites

A teenage girl must do Death’s bidding to uncover the secrets of her sister’s disappearance in this haunting young adult novel by the author of The Year of the Witching.

“A searing portrayal of girlhood, at once sparkling and violently dark.”—Goldy Moldavsky, New York Times bestselling author of The Mary Shelley Club

Roslyn isn’t herself anymore. It’s been a year since her sister, Adeline, died under mysterious circumstances, and Roslyn is still tormented by her absence. So when the elusive caravan of girls that Adeline spent her last summer with rolls back into town, Roslyn joins them to finally figure out what happened to her sister.

Strange, beautiful, and intriguing, the girls are closed off from the world. And as it turns out, they’re brought together by a force more sinister than Roslyn’s nightmares could’ve conjured up: Death himself.

Death has spared the girls from untimely endings, and to pay for their lives, the girls travel the country reaping souls on his behalf. Now Roslyn must decide if finding closure is worth the price of striking the same deal.

Critic reviews

Praise for When I Was Death
A Kobo Best of the Month

“Henderson’s YA debut is a gripping, horror-filled read that examines grief and the aftermath of loss. . . A hauntingly raw look at life, death, and grief.” —Kirkus Reviews

“This introspective speculative novel is an atmospheric and cathartic depiction of grief and its lasting impact.” —Booklist

“A searing portrayal of girlhood, at once sparkling and violently dark. When I Was Death is thrilling and wholly original.” —Goldy Moldavsky, New York Times bestselling author of The Mary Shelley Club

“The emotional stakes are high . . . [A] reflective and intimate look into grief and death.” —School Library Journal