Ways to Die Right

 Ways to Die Right is about normal teenagers having normal interactions while trying to stay true to themselves and their feelings. 

Joel's mum is diagnosed with cancer - again - sending him into a spiral. He is already feeling the burden of caring for Holly's grave; how could he possibly care for his mum's grave as well? Then, he is confronted by his arch-nemesis, Trent, and his buddies in Joel's most sacred place - the local cemetery. While Joel is striving to understand how family members can 'forget' their loved one by abandoning their grave, Trent wants everyone to know that graves are an important part of our human community. When Joel is given the opportunity, he champions green burials in a science presentation. The public opposition from Trent is almost more than he can take. Joel is forced to fight for himself and his beliefs, while trying to hide his biggest secret. New and old friends support him in his quest to protect the environment and find peace and his parents see his struggles and make changes to support him.

In Ways to Die Right, the author wants to highlight how deeply teens feel about things affecting them, like death, the environment, and peers they perceive as a threat. Teenagers will be able to identify with interactions happening in everyday life at school, when conflict arises, and with family. Ways to Die Right is for all teenages who want to read about real people struggling with real issues they will be able to identify with. It will especially appeal to teens who love shorter, easy to read stories, but who want to read about teenagers just like them.

Reading age of 10 +, Interest age 14+

About the Author

Catriona McKeown has written three contemporary Young Adult novels: The Boy in the Hoodie (winner, Caleb Unpublished Manuscript Award 2017), Memphis Grace (Winner, AFT Award 2020) and Good Luck & Other Lies (releasing 2025). Catriona is a school teacher working with students with additional needs.