@ebel LiPO batteries die a definive death if left uncharged for a long time. Something chemical and definitive IIRC. I just saw a video about replacing the battery on one of the 10th gen models. Needs a plastic tool to open it, I think it's called a spluger? And a new battery you can buy online.
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@mdione @ebel FWIW, they can sometimes be revived by leaving them on a (safe, suitable) charger for a *very long* time, on the order of days or weeks.
(On the point of replacing e-readers, I'd recommend looking at other e-ink options as well - I've been quite happy with my Pocketbook, also in terms of durability. Much better than the Kobo I had before, which didn't survive a single low drop...)
@mdione @ebel Safety sidenote: if the battery has *inflated* (in which case the shell of the device will seem to be bulging weirdly, or gaps will have formed between the parts), then don't do the long-charging thing - in that case the battery is actually dead and needs to be disposed of safely.