Duncan, Lois. I Know What You Did Last Summer.
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; 2010 (originally published in 1973),
ISBN: 031609899X.
Reader’s Annotation
After a hit-and-run accident kills a boy, Julie and three friends agree to never to tell anyone about it. But a year later, Julie gets a note that simply reads, “I know what you did last summer.”
Plot Summary
Julie, a high school senior, has so much going for her. And then one day she receives a note, hand written in block letters, that simply read, “I know what you did last summer.” In an instant, Julie’s safe little world crumbles, and memories of the previous summer come flooding back to her. She and three friends, Barry, Helen, and Ray, were driving home after a night of partying. It’s a rainy night, and suddenly Barry’s car struck a boy on a bicycle. Scared of the police, Barry convinces the others not to stop, and instead get to a phone at a gas station and call the police to report the accident. The four make a pact to never tell anyone about what happened. So how could anyone know now? Then more frightening things happen as each one is contacted, and they still don’t know who is stalking them. What can they do—what will this threatening avenger do?
Critical Evaluation
If you’ve seen the movie, don’t expect a slasher story to match. Duncan’s book is much more about character, and relationships, and especially about consequences. The story is told mostly from Julie’s point of view. Barry, who could be described as the hottest guy in school, drives the car on that rainy night a year ago when he, Helen, Ray and Julie were come home after partying. When the car strikes a boy on his bicycle, there’s an argument about stopping to help the boy, but Barry convinces the others that it would be better to call it in anonymously, and avoid dealing with the police. They make the call, and then make a pact to never discuss what happened with anyone. That was the end of it—or so they thought. Duncan’s careful crafting of her story, builds the suspense steadily as the story progresses, until you’re holding your breath near the end.
Information about the Author
Lois Duncan is an award-winning author of more than 45 books—from children’s picture books, to adult novels, but she is best known for her mystery and suspense novels for young adults. Duncan taught in the journalism department at the University of New Mexico, and also wrote more than 300 articles for magazines such as Redbook, Good Housekeeping, Reader’s Digest, and Seventeen. For more information, go to: http://loisduncan.arquettes.com/index.htm
Genre
Horror
Mystery
Suspense
Curriculum Tie-ins
None
Booktalk Ideas
1. What would you have done if you had been in the car with Barry?
2. Were you surprised to find out who the killer was? Why or why not?
Reading level/Interest age
Young Adult
Challenge Issues/Challenge Response Ideas
Violence
- Present the library’s selection policy
- Be familiar with similar works in the collection
- Refer to an interview Duncan about censorship and her work: http://www.absolutewrite.com/specialty_writing/lois_duncan.htm
Why I included this work
I read a review that said it was great suspense novel—not like the movie.
Duncan received the Margaret A. Edwards Award for a Distinguished Body of Work for Young Adults, from the Young Adult Services Committee of the American Library Association and the School Library Journal-- l992.
Great Quote from the Book:
"Aloud she said, ‘Why not you, Ray? You were involved in this as much as the rest of us. Why is it that Bud never tried to do anything to you?” His armed tightened around her. ‘He knew the worst thing for me was a world without you.'"
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