Super Short Summary

In Skippy Dies by Paul Murray, the death of Daniel "Skippy" Juster at the prestigious Seabrook College sets off a series of tragicomic events that deeply affect students and teachers, including his friends Ruprecht, who is obsessed with parallel universes, and Carl, a bully whose life spirals downward. The novel explores the complexities of adolescence, institutional critique, and collective grief amidst hidden abuses at the Catholic boarding school. The source material includes depictions of drug abuse and addiction, sexual abuse and violence, racist language and violence against Asian people, mental illness, self-harm, death by suicide, and anti-gay language and attitudes.