Part mystery, part horror novel and part human drama, this is a gritty and powerful novel that will draw its readers in and take them on a thrilling ride right through to the amazing climax.--BkCvr

Sarah Wagner can tell her brother is there before she even sees him. There is the lingering odour of earth and rain, and then he appears, standing beside her bed, as if everything was perfectly normal. Except John is dead.

Sarah is grieving -- and scared. Desperately seeking help, she turn to her best friend, Donna, an angry girl on the fringe of society, and Michael, the dark and mysterious boy in her class, and is thrust on a journey into the mystical realm of the occult. But plagued by headaches and falling int a deepening chasm of drugs and alcohol, Sarah no longer knows what is real and what isn't.

goodreads REVIEWS
Rebecca McNutt: Aug. 30, 2019 / 5 of 5 Stars / it was amazing / fiction, paranormal, young-adult, fantasy, supernatural
This book doesn't have the best reputation in the world, but honestly after reading it for myself, I'm not sure why. Yes, the ending was unexpected and I found Michael a little confusing as a character, but these things weren't necessarily bad or detrimental to me. Instead, they gave Book of Living and Dying more depth. While marketed as an occult fantasy, this is more-so a book about a spiritual journey and a girl relying on numerous vices to cope with her grief.

Jc: Aug 23, 2008 / 5 of 5 Stars / it was amazing / teen fiction / One of the shortlisted titles for the CLA Young Adult Book Award in 2006.

Red Rover: June 17, 2007 / liked it / Recommends it for: Teens
Very confusing. I read this while I was away on a trip where we were constantly busy, and didn't have much time to really try to get into it. It's very strange, but very interesting.