The First to Die at the End

Gr 8 Up–Silvera returns with this heartbreaking prequel to They Both Die at the End that’s an exploration of grief as it happens. Death-Cast, an organization that can predict when someone is going to die, is moments away from making its public debut. Attendees at parties around the globe are anxiously awaiting the first round of calls to go out at midnight. The party in Times Square is crowded and where Orion and Valentino meet for the first time. Valentino is there to experience what could be a historic event or the biggest prank. He just relocated to New York City that night to start his career as a model. His twin sister will be joining him the following day. Orion is there with his best friend, Dalma, and has joined Death-Cast, against his family’s wishes, to give him peace of mind while living with a serious heart condition. As the calls go out, one boy receives one while the other doesn’t. Already feeling such a strong, instant connection to each other, Orion and Valentino don’t know what’s in store for the other’s future, but they do know that they want to spend this final day together. While this book features different characters than the first, it carries similar feelings and can stand alone; Easter eggs to They Both Die at the End are planted throughout. This is subtle exposure to science fiction for readers who aren’t ready to be fully immersed in the genre.