Today is your last day on Earth. Will you spend it locked in your home, trying to ward off death, or will you venture out in the world and scratch some things off your bucket list while you still have the chance? That’s the question posed in Adam Silvera’s They Both Die At the End, a novel that takes place in an alternate America where people who will face their end receive a call at midnight from a company called Death-Cast regrettably informing them that this is their last day on Earth.
Teenagers Mateo Torres and Rufus Emeterio both received a call shortly after midnight on September 5, 2017. “Hello. I’m calling from Death-Cast. I regret to inform you that sometime in the next twenty four hours you’ll be meeting an untimely death. On behalf of everyone here at Death-Cast, we are sorry to lose you. Live this day to the fullest, okay?” After receiving the call, death is not guaranteed, but it’s pretty inevitable. No one knows how Death-Cast gets their information, but one thing is clear - Mateo and Rufus are going to die today.
After receiving the news that they are now Deckers (the name given to those living their last day) both boys find themselves on the Last Friend app. Last Friend is designed for lonely Deckers - it allows them to connect with other Deckers, or non-Deckers who sympathize with their fate, on their last day. It is through this app that Mateo and Rufus come in contact. They decide to meet up and spend their last day on Earth actually “living.” They Both Die at the End follows the boys as they explore New York City with fresh eyes, say goodbyes, and make amends.
They Both Die at the End is a thought-provoking novel that begs the question, “If you could know the day that you were going to die, would you?” Regardless of the answer, readers will be heartbroken, and possibly horrified, as Mateo and Rufus receive their death calls. This is a book with no twists or turns - the spoiler is right in the title - they both die at the end. Even though readers know how it is going to end, readers will enjoy exploring New York City with Mateo and Rufus, and will hold their breath every time the boys have a close call - will this be the end for them? Above anything, They Both Die at the End serves as a reminder to readers to live each day as if it were their last.
Availability: Book Rating: **** Stars (I really liked it) Reviewer: Brooke, Public Relations Librarian
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GENRE: First Person Narratives; Multiple Perspectives; Science Fiction
THEME: 24 Hour Stories (A lot can happen in a day! These stories unfold over the course of 24 hours.)
TONE: Reflective STORYLINE: Own Voices WRITING STYLE: Engaging CHARACTER: LGBTQIA Diverse LOCATION: New York City SUBJECT: Bisexual Teenage Boys; Cuban Americans; Death; Friendship; Hispanic American Teenage Boys; Near Future; Puerto Ricans; Teenage Boy/Boy Relations; Teenage Boys
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