"Exploring the consequences of defying death, this superbly-written story is a masterclass in the art of short fiction."
Interest Age 11+ Reading Age 6
Showcasing the bone-deep power of short stories, Tanya Landman’s The Day Death Died is a fine piece of writing. Aimed at 11+-year-olds with a reading age of six, it’s also an incredibly arresting tale - chilling, thrilling and thoroughly thought-provoking as it sees a boy drive Death from his mother’s door, with unexpected consequences.
“Jack and his mum lived by the sea. Mum was ill. Each day, she got worse. She got thin. Went to bed early. She got up later and later”. One day, Mum didn’t get up at all, and it’s then that Death knocks on their door. Not ready to lose his mother, Jack fights Death, and wins. Or so he thinks…After shrinking Death and sending him out to sea in a sealed jar, it’s not long before Jack witnesses what happens in a world without Death.
Powerfully pithy (Landman has an uncanny knack for evoking atmosphere and emotion through sparse, perfectly-chosen words), The Day Death Died seems set to spark a passion for stories in even the most reluctant of readers as it explores the notion that “Without Death, there is no Life”.
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