Remembering Raquel by Vivian Vande Velde November 28, 2007
Posted by karinlibrarian in young adult.Tags: death, multiple perspectives
trackback

How would you be remembered if you died unexpectedly? Readers find out just what people thought about Raquel Falcone after she was hit by a car on her way home from a animation festival at a movie theater down the street from her house.
The story is told from multiple perspectives: her best friend, her father, the people with her when she stepped off the curb in front of the car, the woman that actually hit her, and various students from school.
No one, except her best friend, really knew much about Raquel. She was shy, a little overweight, and someone that tended to be invisible. She didn’t have any true friends at school, but you wouldn’t know that after her death. Kids who never had anything nice to say about her weight, her clothes, or her overall appearance were at the funeral home on the day of the viewing crying and carrying on like they were her best friends. Kids from school started campaigns to reduce the speed limit on the street Raquel was killed on; money was collected to purchase a memorial bench for Raquel at the high school.
Through the voices of all the people that surrounded Raquel while she was alive, we hear the story of how life went on after she was gone.







































if i died and people i didnt know acted like they were my best friend just because i was dead id come back and haunt their asses
If I were in that situation as the dead girl I don’t think I’d mind sticking around watching some people I hated cry for me. I would probably laugh my head off when they did the whole “WE LOVE RAQUEL” act and started petitions and memorials. What FAKERS! But maybe for once it would be nice to see that somebody missed you and actually cared.
I may realize who really wished they had been nicer to me.
(again, if I was in her situation.)
This book was AWSOMEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I loved it. Even though i don’t read tradgic books this book was really good. This book was realistic, about a real girl. that’s why I liked it.
This book was really good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
this book was pretty good, but i wished it was a little longer.