The Survivor Wants to Die at the End

Gr 9 Up–Silvera’s latest novel is proof that he is one of the best storytellers of the modern era. This third installment to the Death-Cast series brings Alano Rosa and Paz Dario together at the top of the Hollywood Sign. Alano is famous for being the heir to Death-Cast, the company that knows the day each person is going to die, and Paz Dario is famous for being the boy who killed his dad on the day that Death-Cast began. Alano climbs up to save Paz, who is trying to die by suicide because of the trauma he suffers from that fateful day. Alano is there to escape the control his father has over him and the public’s constant intrusion into his life. As they spend the week together, each must learn to combat their own demons, both internal and external, and realize that even if fate played a big part in their meeting, love is going to be the force that helps them survive. This trilogy as a whole taps into the meaning of life as few books do. The narrative is intense and heavy but also powerful. For readers, knowing Silvera lives with mental health issues, including some he explores in the book, will help them see they are not alone. This novel contains suicide attempts, suicidal thoughts, self-harm, and discussions of mental and physical abuse.