I Woke Up Dead at the Mall by Judy Sheehan

When Sarah wakes up dead at the Mall of America, she learns that not only was she murdered, her killer is still on the loose. I WOKE UP DEAD AT THE MALL is a terrifically fun & voicey YA novel that tackles some of life’s – and the afterlife’s – biggest questions. 
When you’re sixteen, you have your whole life ahead of you. Unless you’re Sarah. Not to give anything away, but . . . she’s dead. Murdered, in fact. Sarah’s murder is shocking because she couldn’t be any more average. No enemies. No risky behavior. She’s just the girl on the sidelines.

It looks like her afterlife, on the other hand, will be pretty exciting. Sarah has woken up dead at the Mall of America—where the universe sends teens who are murdered—and with the help of her death coach, she must learn to move on or she could meet a fate totally worse than death: becoming a mall walker.

As she tries to finish her unfinished business alongside her fellow dead teens, Sarah falls hard for a cute boy named Nick. And she discovers an uncanny ability to haunt the living. While she has no idea who killed her, or why, someone she loves is in grave danger. Sarah can’t lose focus or she’ll be doomed to relive her final moments again and again forever. But can she live with herself if she doesn’t make her death matter? 

Goodreads Summary

I couldn't imagine dying at 16...much less being killed, but that's exactly what happens to Sarah.  When she first arrives at her afterlife, she is surprised to find herself in a mall.  The Mall of America not only holds nearly everything someone could ever need or want, but it also is home to ghosts!  She has an assigned death coach who is supposed to help her work through her anger and sadness at being murdered.  A fate worse than death would be to end up as a mindless mall walker.  As Sarah weaves her way through her new afterlife she works out the mystery of her murder and discovers that someone she loves may be in danger.

Sarah's character was nice enough.  I didn't totally connect with her, but I could imagine being friends with her in real life.  I thought the author's idea of an afterlife centering around the Mall of America was comedic and innovative.  I've wondered a lot about what, if anything, happens after and I never thought of a mall!  Sarah's small romance with Nick added a cute dimension to the plot and another aspect to her decision-making process.  I completely understand her wanting to feel like her life meant something and I loved how the author tied up this desire neatly with a bow on top at the end of the book.  This novel would be a fun read for young adult/teen readers.

4 Stars


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