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Shaun David Hutchinson
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The Past and Other Things That Should Stay Buried Kindle Edition

by Shaun David Hutchinson (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 151 ratings
See all formats and editions
A Hypable Most Anticipated Queer YA Book of 2019
A Book Riot YA Book to Add to Your Winter TBR and Most Anticipated 2019 LGBTQ Read
A BookBub Best Teen Book Coming Out in 2019
A YALSA 2020 Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers
“A fearless and brutal look at friendships...you will laugh, rage, and mourn its loss when it’s over.” —Justina Ireland, New York Times bestselling author of Dread Nation
“Simultaneously hilarious and moving, weird and wonderful.” —Jeff Zentner, Morris Award–winning author of The Serpent King

Six Feet Under meets Pushing Daisies in this quirky, heartfelt story about two teens who are granted extra time to resolve what was left unfinished after one of them suddenly dies.

A good friend will bury your body, a best friend will dig you back up.

Dino doesn’t mind spending time with the dead. His parents own a funeral home, and death is literally the family business. He’s just not used to them talking back. Until Dino’s ex-best friend July dies suddenly—and then comes back to life. Except not exactly. Somehow July is not quite alive, and not quite dead.

As Dino and July attempt to figure out what’s happening, they must also confront why and how their friendship ended so badly, and what they have left to understand about themselves, each other, and all those grand mysteries of life.

Critically acclaimed author Shaun Hutchinson delivers another wholly unique novel blending the real and surreal while reminding all of us what it is to love someone through and around our faults.
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  1. Print length
    305 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
  5. Publication date
    February 19, 2019
  6. Reading age
    14 years and up
  7. Grade level
    9 - 12
  8. File size
    2327 KB
  9. Page Flip
    Enabled
  10. Word Wise
    Not Enabled
  11. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  12. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 8 Up—A brain aneurysm killed July Cooper, but it can't destroy her bond with Dino DeLuca. July rises from the dead at the funeral home owned by Dino's family, and though the two teens had been on the outs for the past year, they are drawn together as they attempt to conceal July's reanimation. What ensues is messy. July's body is slowly rotting, and the two trade barbed words while untangling why their friendship ended after Dino met his boyfriend, Rafi. Once again, Hutchinson defies genres. This isn't a ghost story, and July isn't a zombie, as she frequently points out. But she can't eat, she has no heartbeat, and until she's finally laid to rest, nobody else can die. This inventive take on the life-after-death narrative ponders profound truths. It's the ones who love us the most who can inflict the deepest wounds and hold us back, but even bitter fights can't extinguish some connections. Like typical adolescents, uncertain Dino and snarky July seem wise beyond their years one moment and maddeningly immature the next, and their journeys to self-discovery will resonate with readers. VERDICT A grotesque, mordantly funny, and tender look at friendship, for fans of Aaron Starmer's Spontaneous and Adam Silvera's They Both Die at the End.—Mahnaz Dar, School Library Journal

Review

"Biting, hopeful, and laugh-out-loud funny, Dino and July’s story is a heartfelt exploration of how our friendships shape us, even after they’re dead and gone."

(Francesca Zappia, ward-winning author of Eliza and Her Monsters and Made You Up )

“A fearless and brutal look at friendships and the emotional autopsies we all do when they die. Like a real relationship you will laugh, rage, and mourn its loss when it’s over. If you haven’t been reading Hutchinson, this is a brilliant place to start.” (Justina Ireland, New York Times bestselling author of DREAD NATION )

"Only Shaun David Hutchinson could take on love, family, friendship, life, and death so deftly, hilariously, poignantly, and thoughtfully. I loved every second of this book. THE PAST AND OTHER THINGS THAT SHOULD STAY BURIED somehow manages to be wholly original yet familiar, simultaneously hilarious and moving, weird and wonderful. This is a book you can’t put down even if you wanted to. Have you been looking for a zombie book that will make you laugh and cry? Look no further than this one, by one of young adult literature’s sharpest talents.” (Jeff Zentner, Morris Award-winning author of The Serpent King )

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07GNTQ1TD
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers; Reprint edition (February 19, 2019)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 19, 2019
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2327 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 305 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 151 ratings

About the author

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Shaun David Hutchinson

Shaun David Hutchinson

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Shaun David Hutchinson is the author of numerous books for young adults, including The Five Stages of Andrew Brawley, which won the Florida Book Awards’ Gold Medal in the Young Adult category and was named to the ALA’s 2015 Rainbow Book List; the anthology Violent Ends, which received a starred review from VOYA; and We Are the Ants, which received five starred reviews and was named a best book of January 2016 by Amazon.com, Kobo.com, Publishers Weekly, and iBooks. He lives in South Florida with his adorably chubby dog, and enjoys Doctor Who, comic books, and yelling at the TV. Visit him at ShaunDavidHutchinson.com.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
151 global ratings
An interesting twist on a "zombie" story
3 Stars
An interesting twist on a "zombie" story
Saturday afternoon spent at the pool, reading in the few moments I could to finish The Past and Other Things That Should Stay Buried by Shaun David Hutchinson. It took me all week to finish this one. It was a unique read, I just really struggled to get sucked into the story. I wanted more "meat" and depth. Even though they went through the feelings and aspects of July and Dino's relationship - I felt like it was surface level.I was more interested in the emails from the Past and that was barely a blip in the book.I would love more about July and Dino pre-fight or Dino and Rafi's relationship. Overall three stars ⭐⭐⭐
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Top reviews from the United States

Patrick G. Rabon
5.0 out of 5 stars A Quirky Novel of Friendship, Life (and Death), and Determining One's Own Future
Reviewed in the United States on July 12, 2019
Verified Purchase
I'm a bit torn as I really want to give this book a 4.5...it just isn't a 5 star book, but I feel it is better than 4 stars implies.

What works: I love the diversity of characters. The relationship (hesitant to use the word "friendship" here) Dino and July feels real. I think back to my high school days and college days, and there were those drama filled friendships wounded by seemingly unforgivable events that then healed. July is a bit much to take at times, but I think that's the point. The plot is interesting, and though everything (the how) isn't really explained, the story is solid enough that I can suspend disbelief for the most part. There are some funny scenes, and there really is a nudge to think about the choices people make with friendships, life, careers, family, etc. The book has some depth without being so serious.

What didn't work as well for me: I'll read more from this author, but there are minor issues that made this book a 4.5 for me. The adults in the book just accept the supernatural elements too easily (in a world where supernatural isn't the norm). And July's post-death life is interesting enough to keep me going, but at the same time, why would any force with the power to stop death stop death for just them? I can't figure out why their relationship is so special to warrant this.
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Nokkia
4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting plot
Reviewed in the United States on March 19, 2024
4 stars for me because 1) the first half of the book was dragging, but then it picks up 2) sometimes I was confused who was talking.
Otherwise, it was a good read!
Quite a few wise thoughts about life.
Some good humor.
Dino and July’s characters were portrayed well.
Pleasant writing style.
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Greg Andree
5.0 out of 5 stars A Friendship Autopsy with a Dead Ex-Best Friend : )
Reviewed in the United States on March 13, 2019
Verified Purchase
The Past and Other Things That Should Stay Buried is wild. Like, what would you do if your ex-bff died, and came back to life to hang out? It turns out that an autopsy of unresolved issues between a gay teen, his trans boyfriend, and a zombified ex-BFF can be really anxiety inducing, and fun, and funny, and hopeful.

I've always loved Shaun's books, the voice, and sense of self in them - plus I love the surrealism he plays with. But this book, and The Apocalypse Of Elena Mendoza have taken a turn. They're both so funny, and full of hope. Almost comedies. I know there are things in the world that made Shaun consciously take that turn. His books in the past have been very dark at times, not just with the horror or sff elements, but with the realism his surrealism lives inside. I love those books. But I think I love these last two even more. Idk - I hope that the HOPE in these this book (and Elena) mean that Shaun is in a place where he feels more hopeful, because this book definitely made me feel lighter. It let me breathe easier. And I love that this zombie ex-bff book is going to be in teens' hands soon.

Ugh. That was quite a ramble . . . short version: This is a beautiful, funny, and fun book. Full of hope and love.
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Hannie
3.0 out of 5 stars A Sweet Coming of Age Story Let Down By Uneven Characters
Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2019
This is my first Shaun David Hutchinson, but I have had my eye on his books for a long time.  His mixture of contemporary coming-of-age stories with a small hint of speculative science fiction sounded far too unique to pass up.  When I saw The Past and Other Things That Should Stay Buried on NetGalley, I thought the premise sounded fascinating and I was immediately intrigued.  After finishing it, I believe that there's an important story at the heart of this book, but it sometimes gets lost along the way.

The Past and Other Things That Should Stay Buried follows Dino and July.  July has recently died, but as Dino, her ex-best friend that helps out at his family's funeral home, is doing her makeup before her funeral, she comes back to life in the morgue.  Now, the two of them must work together to figure out what happened to July, as well as confront the reasons that their friendship ended.  As I said earlier, I was completely sold on the premise because I love everything zombies, and this seemed like a fun twist on the usual formula by omitting the brain-eating parts of undead lore.  Unfortunately, in execution, the story didn't quite live up to my expectations.

This is a character-driven story in every regard, as everything revolves around Dino and July.  Dino needs to work on his relationship with his boyfriend, Rafi, and July needs to come to terms with the fact that she is dead.  Dino's side of the story is impactful and I loved watching him navigate his relationship and grow throughout the story.  He is trying to come to terms with all of the changes in his life recently, and I have a lot of empathy for him.  The same cannot be said for July.

While I appreciate July's role in Dino's development throughout the book, as an actual character, I couldn't stand July.  She is loud, arrogant, and a toxic friend in every regard.  While this aspect of her personality is addressed and challenged throughout the story, it doesn't make reading from her perspective any more fun, especially as she continues to repeatedly not understand throughout the story how her words and actions can hurt others.  Reading from the perspective of an inherently unlikeable character may be fun for some readers, but I do not fall into this camp and found myself wanting to throw my laptop across the room sometimes as I was reading her chapters.

My feelings towards this book aren't entirely gloom and doom, however, as there's plenty to love here, too.  First of all, there's some wonderful diversity here.  Dino is gay, and his boyfriend, Rafi, is trans.  There are some great discussions on homophobia and offensive stereotypes throughout the book that are handled well.  In general, while Dino and July's relationship is toxic, Dino and Rafi's romance almost makes up for this and I frequently found myself smiling at their interactions.

The theme is also something to be commended, as books centering primarily around a toxic friendship are few and far between.  On the whole, the fact that July and Dino weren't a great pairing wasn't shied away from, although the book generally gave July more credit than she deserved.  There are plenty of young adult books that discuss the intricacies of friendships, but there aren't many that focus on the idea that, sometimes, friendships need to end for both parties to grow as individuals.

Overall, I can't help but feel a bit disappointed by The Past and Other Things That Should Stay Buried.  There is a lot of good here, but the end result is marred by some of the more negative aspects of the book.  There's a good central theme here and Dino's character is well done, but the central gimmick of July's death, in addition to her characterization in general, is to the detriment of the title as a whole.  If you are okay with reading from the perspective of an inherently unlikeable character, then you will probably enjoy this more than I did.  Otherwise, this isn't a bad book, but it's far from perfect.

Note: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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A (Mostly) Happy User
5.0 out of 5 stars 4.5 Stars, Rounded Up
Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2019
Verified Purchase
First, you should know that this is a slight departure from Shaun David Hutchinson's other works. There's still lots of angst and bad decision-making on the part of our complex YA characters, but the focus is moreso on the relationships and a little less on mental health this go around. Personally, I think this is a great change from the formula.

The one con is that July isn't a likable or relatable character. That made her chapters a little distracting for me, but I'm not a young adult audience member. In other words, I'm not the primary audience for this book, and that's fine. I think teenagers will find something relatable to her, and that's all the book needs to achieve. Dino is much more relatable in that he wants to leave the toxic relationship, one in which July can't let go. It makes for an interesting and entertaining dynamic.

Although this does have a form of zombie-like qualities, this is more Warm Bodies than the Walking Dead. Less about the apocalypse and more about the ability to let go of the past.
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Top reviews from other countries

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Juergen
5.0 out of 5 stars Ein Geschenk für alle Lebenden
Reviewed in Germany on February 23, 2019
Verified Purchase
Nachdem ich bereits „We are the ants“ von Shaun David Hutchinston gelesen habe, war ich gespannt, ob mich dieses Buch genauso fesseln wird. Hat es nicht. Es hat mich mehr als nur gefesselt, ich habe dieses Buch verschlungen und danach getrauert als hätte Ich meinen besten Freund verloren.
Ganz besonders die Freundschaft zwischen Dino und July war sehr authentisch und durch ihre kleine Fehler hat man ihre Freundschaft nur noch mehr zu schätzen gelernt. Die Charaktere waren vielschichtig und realistisch. Man kann sich leicht mit ihnen identifizieren, da ihre Fehler Hintergründe haben und sie dazulernen, was sie reifer und komplexer wirken lässt.

Dieses Buch bringt einen zum Nachdenken, wie es nur die echt guten Bücher hinkriegen, über die wirklichen Probleme einer Freundschaft und der ein oder andere Zweifel in Beziehungen und natürlich, wie der Titel bereits andeutet, über den Tod allgemein und die Zurückgelassenen.

Fazit: Dieses Buch wird einen nicht unbedingt durch spannende Handlung zum Weiterlesen drängen (obwohl die Handlung auch alles andere als schwach gehalten ist), aber vor allem zeigt sich die Spannung zwischen dem Gesagten und Nicht-Gesagten und drängt einen dazu, auch zwischen den Zeilen zu lesen. Ich würde es allen empfehlen, die ein etwas abstrakteres Buch lesen wollen und gerne Dinge hinterfragen.
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Casey Carlisle
4.0 out of 5 stars A brilliant juxtaposition of contemporary and fantasy.
Reviewed in Australia on December 9, 2019
Verified Purchase
Saying goodbye to your departed frenemy... who just happens to be a zombie.

‘The Past and Other Things That Should Stay Buried’ is a hilarious and heart-warming tale told in alternating perspectives of best friends turned enemies Dino and July. But, July is now dead, well... undead. Death has been put on hold while these two teens make amends with each other and some other issues they have been struggling with.

Dino’s family run a morgue, and he is currently undecided on a lot of things. His career path, his friendships, his relationship. How he can confront people. He’s kind of emo and artsy. He also has a gorgeous transgender boyfriend, Rafi, that he feels like he doesn’t deserve.

July is loud and brash, the centre of attention, and very jealous of Rafi. He’s stolen all of Dino’s attention away from her and she’s left to float around other less important friends. So how does she deal with this abandonment? With passive aggressive comments and pranks on Dino.

Now July is back from the dead – zombie style without the hunger for brains and human flesh, and with Dino as her only confidant. The both have to overcome their antagonism to figure out why people aren’t dying and what to do with July now that she’s a slowly decomposing, flatulent corpse. With witty banter, great pacing, and emotional reveals, I was hooked from the first page.

The overall plot is predictable and obvious, but the subsequent plot points in-between were not. But all that middle-story stuff leant to some great character arcs for our two leads. With themes of friendship, redemption, loss, grief, and finding your place in this world ‘The Past and Other Things That Should Stay Buried’ is a brilliant read.

I’m loving the more graphic art trend of the cover illustration – you can see something similar on another of Shaun David Hutchinson’s titles, ‘The Apocalypse of Elena Mendoza’ which I’m keen to pick up.

Overall, a strong recommendation from me. Great characters, quirky storyline, and a well-paced read.
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