I Woke Up Dead at the Mall

By: Judy Sheehan

Narrated by: Cassandra Morris

Length: 8 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

Judy Sheehan's debut young adult novel is a terrifically fun listen that also tackles some of life's - and the afterlife's - big questions.

Last night Sarah was a bridesmaid, dressed in a hideous mango chiffon. Today she wakes up dead at the Mall of America. This is where the universe sends teenagers who were murdered. In fact most malls are haunted. The living don't notice it, what with all the bright lights, sales, and free samples. The dead just pass through them while finishing up the business of their former lives.

As Sarah and her fellow dead teenagers work together to move on, she hits just a few complications: Sarah discovers an uncanny ability to haunt the living, and while she has no idea who killed her, she knows the one person she loves back on Earth is in grave (yes, grave) danger. Meanwhile, she's falling madly and badly for Nick, who died heroically saving his girlfriend. Sarah can't let these distractions put her at risk of being doomed to relive her final moments again and again. But how can she stop her killer from killing again?

©2016 Judy Sheehan (P)2016 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Beautiful Story

I thought this would be a cute fluffy story and found more. It has a message that resonated with my soul.

Great story, lovely writing

I’m an adult YA reader. I really loved this book. Fun idea and plot and very well written. I also really liked the narrator. She does guy voices without sounding weird. Many narrators of adult books have such weird male voices it takes me out of the story. Highly recommended!

Good Lighthearted Reading

What did you love best about I Woke Up Dead at the Mall?

I loved the dark humor and the escape this book offered me. I've read a few more serious books recently and ended up picking this book when I was looking to de-stress. The love story part was a tad bit annoying at times (and I'm usually a hopeless romantic), but it didn't ruin the overall story. I think the best part of this book for me was Sarah's internal thoughts and her pondering over questions.

Totally awesome!

I LOVED this book! The story was funny and sad and joyful. It was awesome all the way through!

The narrator is a favorite of mine. She always does an excellent job!

Highly recommended.

Cool concept

I like the story concept, but there were so many missed opportunities for a really good story. Who was Bertha? Where did the boys come from? What was Dad really like? What was up with Mom? Who was Nick, really???

I agree with others that this was ridiculously repetitive. It felt like the author, especially toward the end, just ran out of creativity, so the story repeated itself. I get the repetition of walking, to showcase Sarah’s misery, but sheesh. But that’s not what most bothered me. The second half of the story repeated the first. “Dad, get out!” Over and over. And over. I listened to the end (I did have to find out if Dad ever got out) but I listened at 2.5 speed. Even through the epilogue, which was jarringly abrupt and unsatisfying. The epilogue reinforces my opinion that the author ran out of ideas, and interest in her own story, halfway through.

As for the narrator, she was pretty good. Her voice fit a young girl, and her inflections were pretty good. I was never confused as to whom was speaking. Her director needed to speed her up a bit, but she doesn’t deserve the smack she’s gotten. I like her. I just think the story needs to be rewritten.

a feel good story

it takes you for all the twists and turns of the after life. it's funny, sad and infuriating all at the same time. the only downside is that the narrator deeply fails at doing accents in a male voice, but just deal it it

Amazing!

Wow! I loved this book so much! I wish there were more. The author is witty and the characters are so well written you really get all their personalities. It was funny, sad and beautiful.

The narrator was absolutely fantastic!

Thought-provoking

It gets a little creepy especially towards the end but I really liked it. I binged it in all of three days! It made me think a little too hard about life and death and appreciate what life is and can be. I would definitely recommend.

A Fun Quirky Read

Don't expect deep character development and spine tingling subplots here, but if you are in the mood for a fun and lighthearted read this won't disappoint.

Enjoyable

Excellent premise, interesting characters, worthwhile story, profound message. Well done. The dialogues are especially well-crafted.