Duncan - I Know What You Did Last Summer

There are a lot of smart authors, and a lot of authors who write reasonably well. Lois Duncan is smart, writes darn good books and is one of the most entertaining authors in America .

Walter Dean Myers, Printz awardwinning author of Monster and Dope Sick

She knows what you did last summer. She knows how to find that secret evil in her characters hearts, evil that she turns into throat-clutching suspense in book after book. Does anyone write scarier books than Lois Duncan? I dont think so.

R. L. Stine, author of the Goosebumps and Fear Street series

I couldnt be more pleased that Lois Duncans books will now reach a new generation of readers.

Judy Blume, author of Forever and Tiger Eyes

Lois Duncan has always been one of my biggest inspirations. I gobbled up her novels, reading them again and again and scaring myself over and over. Shes a master of suspense, so prepare to be dazzled and spooked!

Sara Shepard, author of the Pretty Little Liars series

Lois Duncans books kept me up many a late night reading under the covers with a flashlight!

Wendy Mass, author of A Mango-Shaped Space , Leap Day and Heaven Looks a Lot Like the Mall

Lois Duncan is the patron saint of all things awesome.

Jenny Han, author of The Summer I Turned Pretty series

Duncan is one of the smartest, funniest and most terrifying writers arounda writer that a generation of girls LOVED to tatters, while learning to never read her books without another friend to scream with handy.

Lizzie Skurnick, author of Shelf Discovery: The Teen Classics We Never Stopped Reading

Haunting and suspenseful Duncans writing captures everything fun about reading!

Suzanne Young, author of The Naughty List series and A Need So Beautiful

In middle school and high school, I loved Lois Duncans novels. I still do. I particularly remember Killing Mr. Griffin , which took my breath away. I couldnt quite believe a writer could do that. I feel extremely grateful to Lois Duncan for taking unprecedented risks, challenging preconceptions and changing the young adult field forever.

Erica S. Perl, author of Vintage Veronica

Killing Mr. Griffin taught me a lot about writing. Thrilling stuff. It was one of the most requested and enjoyed books I taught with my students. I think its influenced most of my writing since.

Gail Giles, author of Right Behind You and Dark Song

If ever a writers work should be brought before each new generation of young readers, it is that of Lois Duncan.The grace with which she has led her lifea life that included a tragedy that would have brought most of us to our kneesis reflected in her writing, particularly in I Know What You Did Last Summer. Her stories, like Lois herself, are ageless.

Chris Crutcher, author of Angry Management , Deadline and Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes

Lois Duncans thrillers have a timeless quality about them. They are good stories, very well told, that also happen to illuminate both the heroic and dark parts of growing up.

Marc Talbert, author of Dead Birds Singing , A Sunburned Prayer and Heart of a Jaguar

With slowly growing horror she stared at the letter, at the one black sentence that peered up at her from the smudged paper.

For Ginger Palmer

The note was there, lying beside her plate when she came down to breakfast. Later, when she thought back, Julie would remember it. Small. Plain. Her name and address hand-lettered in stark black print across the front of the envelope.

At the time, however, she had eyes only for the other letter, long and white and official. Hurriedly, she picked this up and paused, glancing across the table at her mother, who had just come in from the kitchen.

Its here, Julie said.

Well, arent you going to open it? Mrs. James set the coffeepot down on its hot plate. Youve been waiting for this long enough. I would think youd have had it open before you even sat down.

I guess Im scared, Julie admitted. She slipped her forefinger under the corner of the flap. Okay. Here goes.

Running her finger the length of the envelope, she drew out the folded sheet of stationery and smoothed it flat on the table.

Dear Ms. James, she read aloud. I am pleased to inform you that you have been accepted

Oh, honey! Her mother gave a little gasp of delight. How wonderful!

Accepted! Julie repeated. Mom, can you believe it? Im accepted! Im going to Smith!

Mrs. James came around the table and gave her daughter a warm hug.

Im so proud of you, Julie, and your dad certainly would be too. If only he could have lived to have known about it, butoh, theres no sense in looking backward. Her eyes were suspiciously bright. Maybe he does know. I like to think so. And if not, Im proud enough for the both of us.

I cant believe it, Julie said. I honestly cant. When I took those tests, I felt as though I was missing so many questions. I guess I knew more than I thought I did.

Its your senior year thats made this possible, her mother said. Ive never seen such a change in anybody as in you this past year. The way youve buckled down and studiedyouve been a completely different person. And, Ill admit this now, its worried me a little.

Worried you? Julie exclaimed in surprise. I thought you always dreamed of my going to the same college you did. Last year you were on me all the time about being out too much and never cracking a book and spending half my life at cheerleading practice.

I know. Its just that I never expected you to do such an about-face. I can almost pinpoint the day it happened. It was just about the time you broke up with Ray.

Mom, Ive told you Julie tried to keep her voice light despite the sudden shock of cold that hit her stomach. Ray and I didnt exactly break up. We just decided we were seeing too much of each other and wed slow it down for a while. Then he left home and took off for the coast, and that took care of that.

But to give up dating so completely

I havent, Julie said impatiently. I still go out some. In fact, Buds coming over tonight. Thats a date.

Yes, theres Bud. But thats only been recently, and its not the same. Hes older, more serious about everything. Of course, Im happy and proud that youve put in enough work to get accepted by a good East Coast college, but I wish youd been able to balance it better. Somehow I have the feeling that youve missed a lot of the fun of your senior year.

Well, you cant have it all, Julie said. Her voice sounded high and sharp, even to her own ears. The cold feeling in her stomach was spreading higher, up where it touched her heart. She shoved back her chair and got up. Im going up to my room. Ive got to find my history notes.

But you havent eaten, Mrs. James exclaimed, gesturing toward the plate of scrambled eggs and toast, still untouched on the table.

Im sorry, Julie said. I-I guess Im too excited.

She could feel her mothers worried gaze upon her as she left the table. Even after she was out of eyesight, the worry stayed with her as she climbed the stairs and went down the hall to her room.

Mom knows too much, she thought. She has this funny way of knowing more than you ever tell her . Ive never seen such a change in anybody, her mother had said. I can almost pinpoint the day

But you cant, Julie told her silently. Not really. And you shouldnt try. Please, Mom, you shouldnt ever try .