Teen Tuesday and Audiobook Review: The First to Die at the End by Adam Silvera

Image: HarperCollins Publishers

The First to Die at the End by Adam Silvera. Unabridged e-audiobook, ~10 hrs., 28 min. Read by Jason Geneo, Anthony Keyvan and Kyla Garcia. Quill Tree Books/ HarperAudio/ HarperCollins Publishers, October, 2022. 9780063240834. (Review of e-audio borrowed from public library.)

Happy penultimate Tuesday of my school year! Teen Tuesday features The First to Die at the End by Adam Silvera. I love Mr. Silvera's books, but rarely book talk them generally at my middle school because they are better suited for a high school audience. I particularly enjoyed his 2017, They Both Die at the End. Over the years, a fair number of eighth grade readers discovered it, which made me happy. The First to Die at the End is a prequel to They Both Die at the End and it's brilliant.

Death-Cast is about to launch and the world is divided over the "service" it will provide. The founder has discovered a way to predict the day someone will die and subscribers receive a call around midnight so that "deckers," as they have been named, can live their best life for their remaining hours. Two boys meet at a launch party in Times Square. Orion has a heart ailment and is waiting for a transplant. Valentino has just moved to New York to pursue a modelling career. He recently came out to his parents and they are not accepting. His twin sister, Scarlet is due to arrive the following day. Sparks fly between Orion and Valentino in the moments leading up to midnight when the first calls will be placed. Wouldn't you know it, one of them receives the very first call, which was placed by the founder himself.

This heartbreaking novel, while mainly centered on the first-person narration of the boys, occasionally shifts to third-person points-of-view of supporting characters and takes place in twenty-four hours. While it is not necessary to read first, fans of They Both Die at the End will be tickled to discover Easter eggs sprinkled throughout the prequel. The plot is fast-paced and absolutely riveting and the budding romance is just so sweet. Just when I thought I had figured out how the plot would play out, there was a twist that called into questions all of my assumptions.

It's a good thing I read this one with my ears. Reading through tears would've been difficult. The narrators were all new to me and each did a terrific job with pacing and voices. 

This book belongs in all libraries serving teens. Highly recommended. Happy reading. Happy Pride month.

Waiting on Wednesday: The First to Die at the End by Adam Silvera

Image: HarperCollins Publishers

The First to Die at the End by Adam Silvera. 560 p. Quill Tree Books/ HarperCollins Publishers, October 4, 2022.  9780063240803.

Waiting on Wednesday features The First to Die at the End by Adam Silvera. TMS' many fans of Mr. Silvera's third book, They Both Die at the End, published in 2017, will be thrilled to learn about this PREquel, which is releasing on October 4. 

Publisher synopsis:

It’s the night before Death-Cast goes live, and there’s one question on everyone’s mind: Can Death-Cast actually predict when someone will die, or is it just an elaborate hoax?

Orion Pagan has waited years for someone to tell him that he’s going to die. He has a serious heart condition, and he signed up for Death-Cast so he could know what’s coming.

Valentino Prince is restarting his life in New York. He has a long and promising future ahead and he only registered for Death-Cast after his twin sister nearly died in a car accident.

Orion and Valentino cross paths in Times Square and immediately feel a deep connection. But when the first round of End Day calls goes out, their lives are changed forever—one of them receives a call, and the other doesn’t. Though neither boy is certain how the day will end, they know they want to spend it together…even if that means their goodbye will be heartbreaking.

Told with acclaimed author Adam Silvera’s signature bittersweet touch, this story celebrates the lasting impact that people have on each other and proves that life is always worth living to the fullest.

Middle Grade Monday Student Guest Post: The Rise of the School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani

Image: HarperCollins Publishers

The Rise of the School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani. 368 p. HarperCollins Publishers, May, 2022. 9780063161524.

Today, we will enjoy a final guest post by graduating eighth grader, LIa.

Happy second-to-last Middle Grade Monday! If you read these posts, then by now, you should know that I am a loyal fan of the School for Good and Evil series by Soman Chainani. You might remember that a few months ago, I wrote a post about its upcoming prequel, Rise of the School for Good and Evil. Well, it was finally released! As expected, I read it and it completely blew my mind. Here is a quick summary of RSGE:
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Two School Masters have taken an oath. One Good, one Evil. Two brothers have sworn to guard the Storian, forever sealing a bond of love. A balance in the Endless Woods.

That is, until a new student arrives at the School for Good and Evil. A student whose soul cannot be deciphered. So, a wager is made on the boy’s true purpose. To serve Good or to serve Evil. However, soon enough, a harmless wager between the School Masters turns into the spark that triggers an imbalance in the Endless Woods. The Storian’s judgment is questioned, a pirate believes he is fit to attend the School, and a strange student is claiming to be a seer… Throughout this tale, love, trust, and everything in between are put at stake, and a lifetime of brotherhood now stands in fear- especially in the face of the unknown.
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Fans of the School for Good and Evil series are guaranteed to leave this prequel in shock. Rest assured, you will never think of SGE the same way you did before. Personally, my mind is still attempting to fully comprehend the events of Rise, and I have a feeling the next book leave me the same way this one did.

Thank you Lia! Best of luck in high school!

Teen Tuesday: A Thief Among the Trees: an Ember in the Ashes Graphic Novel by Sabaa Tahir

A Thief Among the Trees by Sabaa Tahir and Nicole Andelfinger. Illustrated by Sonia Liao. 144 p. Archaia, July, 2020. 9781684155248. (Review of finished copy borrowed from public library.)

Happy Tuesday! Only two more school day Tuesdays after today! The last day of school is two weeks from today! I am so ready to end this school year. Teen Tuesday features A Thief Among the Trees by Sabaa Tahir. If Ms. Tahir's name rings a bell, it's because I recently finished her Ember in the Ashes series. It was then that I discovered this graphic novel prequel to the events in the series. This first book in a planned three-book adaptation tells the story of Helene and Elias as Fivers during their training at Blackcliff Academy. They and their best friend, Tavi, are a team that is competing with other teams of Fivers to land on an isolated island in order to steal a rare poison.

Knowledge of the series is not necessary to enjoy this suspenseful adventure, but fans will enjoy this peek into the formative years of Elias and Helene. The full-color art leans toward the dark and murky and similarities between characters sometimes causes confusion. I'd be interested in reading the next installments.

Teen Tuesday and Audiobook Review: Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas

Image: HarperCollins Publishers

Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas. Unabridged e-audiobook, ~ 8 hours, 17 minutes. Read by Dion Graham. Balzer + Bray/ HarperCollins Publishers, January, 2021. 9780063043817. (Review of e-audiobook downloaded from the public library.)

Teen Tuesday features Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas. This is Ms. Thomas' third novel and is a prequel to her New York Times bestselling debut, The Hate U Give. Fans of THUG, will be thrilled to meet seventeen-year-old Maverick Carter. 

When Maverick is told he's a father as a result of a one-night stand, he cannot believe it. No sooner did the paternity test results come back identifying Mav as the father of Iesha's son, then Mav found himself the sole care taker of him. He has been dealing drugs in order to help his mother make ends meet, but stops at the behest of his cousin, Dre. This adds tension to his already fraught relationship with King. Iesha is King's on-again-off-again girlfriend and presumed he was Iesha's son's father. 

He takes his responsibility seriously and has the support of his mother. He's offered an after-school job working at Mr. Wyatt's grocery story, but the pay is peanuts compared to what he was earning slinging and babies are expensive! Keeping up with schoolwork is really hard as well, what with the baby keeping him up at night. And, he has to come clean with Lisa. They were broken up at the time of the one-night stand, but she dumps him anyway and he'd do anything to get her back.

Like Ms. Thomas' previous novels, her characters brim with personality and her Garden City setting is vivid. Families struggle and are often beset with tragedy, but they offer support and unconditional love. Mav's father has been in prison for most of his childhood, but he still calls regularly to check in and is there to listen. Mav's voice is compelling. He may not be book smart, but he is intelligent, wryly observant, fiercely loyal and wants to do right.

Concrete Rose was narrated by Dion Graham, one of my favorite narrators. He utterly embodies Maverick and his performance is well-paced and nuanced. Read it with your eyes. Read it with your ears. Maverick's story is gripping.

Waiting on Wednesday: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

Image: Scholastic

The Battle of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins. Scholastic Inc., March 20, 2020. 9781338635171.

Waiting on Wednesday features The Battle of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins. Scholastic caused a bit of a stir in the children's lit world when they announced that Suzanne Collins has penned a prequel to her phenomenally best selling Hunger Games trilogy.

Publisher synopsis: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes will revisit the world of Panem sixty-four years before the events of The Hunger Games, starting on the morning of the reaping of the Tenth Hunger Games.

On returning to the world of The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins said, “With this book, I wanted to explore the state of nature, who we are, and what we perceive is required for our survival. The reconstruction period ten years after the war, commonly referred to as the Dark Days—as the country of Panem struggles back to its feet—provides fertile ground for characters to grapple with these questions and thereby define their views of humanity.”

Picture Book Review: A Piglet Named Mercy by Kate DiCamillo

A Piglet Named Mercy by Kate DiCamillo. unpgd. Illustrated by Chris Van Dusen. Candlewick Press, April 2, 2019. 9780763677534. (Review of finished copy courtesy of publisher.)

One of the things I miss most about being a K-8 librarian is regularly reading aloud to a group of younger children. The Mercy Watson books were always an automatic purchase and my students would wiggle with anticipation when they learned there was a new one. Instant attention. They loved seeing the familiar details like the piece of toast that depicted the page number at the bottom. Truthfully, I never wondered how Mercy ever became part of the Watson family. She just was. Silly me.

Becoming reacquainted with Mr. & Mrs. Watson and their neighbors, the Lincoln sisters was an absolute delight. Kate DiCamillo's simple, understated storytelling entrances. Chris Van Dusen's retro illustrations are pure fifties suburban utopia. Chubby, rosy-cheeked Mrs. Watson wondering about being ordinary while vacuuming her perfect little home. Mr. Watson washing his perfect pink car and trimming his perfect green hedges. One night a truckload of pigs rumbles down the street, hits a pothole and out bumps a tiny piglet. She makes her way to the Watson's porch where they find her while retrieving the morning paper. Too heart-meltingly delicious! Of course, Mr. Watson is eating a piece of...hot, buttered toast! Of course, the Lincoln sisters are aware of the new arrival. Of course, Eugenia Lincoln does not approve. Of course, Baby Lincoln (oh what a delightful name!) saves the day by bringing warm milk in a bottle!

I mentioned earlier this week in another review that a great series cocoons readers in the comfort of the familiar while introducing new words or concepts. Baby Mercy with her piggy snout, double-chin and pleading eyes entrance the childless, ordinary Watsons immediately. It is love at first sight for them and anyone who reads this lovely story of the creation of family and unconditional love. 

Teen Tuesday: Tempests and Slaughter by Tamora Pierce

Tempests and Slaughter by Tamora Pierce. Chronicles of Numair #1. Unabridged audiobook on 13 compact discs. ~15 hours. Read by Ari Meyers. Listening Library, February, 2018.  9780553552379. (Review of finished audiobook borrowed from the public library.)

Teen Tuesday features Tempests and Slaughter by Tamora Pierce. Faithful TMS Readers may recall that I featured a Pierce novel on #tbt two weeks ago. Pierce returns to the world she built there with a prequel in Tempests and Slaughter, which begins a new series called The Numair Chronicles. 

Arram Draper is the youngest student at Carthak's Imperial University. In him lies the potential to become the most powerful mage of all time. He has a knack for attracting trouble as well as the attention of the gods. The book clocks in at 480 pages and the audio spans 15 hours. It may seem daunting, but Arram's personality and adventures will enthrall readers. Pages or hours will fly.

I must admit that I wasn't a huge fan of the narrator. Nor of Arram's continued self-doubt and and self-deprecation. It felt a bit twee and was reinforced by the narration. The story grew on me and I am eager for the next installment, which I will most likely read with my eyes.

Teen Tuesday and Audiobook Review: La Belle Sauvage by Philip Pullman

La Belle Sauvage by Philip Pullman. The Book of Dust Volume One. Unabridged recording on 11 compact discs. 13 hours, 8 minutes. Read by Michael Sheen. Random House/ Listening Library, October, 2017. 9780525522997. (Recording borrowed from public library, hard cover purchased.)

Teen Tuesday features La Belle Sauvage by Philip Pullman. This is book one in a series called, The Book of Dust and it is a prequel to Pullman's earlier trilogy, His Dark Materials. While it is not necessary to read the earlier trilogy to enjoy this prequel, Ms. Kahn recommends that you do. The worldbuilding in this alternate universe is vivid and spectacular. The story hits the ground running and the tension and suspense ratchets up and stays up leaving the reader breathless. La Belle Sauvage also features one of the most frightening villains in YA literature. While His Dark Materials can be read by most students at TMS, La Belle Sauvage is better for students in grades 7 & 8.

This is the story of Lyra Belacqua's early childhood; but the hero of the story is eleven-year-old Malcolm Polstead. He is the bright, observant and personable son of innkeepers. Though he goes to school and enjoys it, he sees an end to his education soon to most likely work with his parents at the inn, The Trout. He enjoys visiting the sisters who run the nearby priory and his curiosity is piqued by the newest resident, the infant, Lyra. He is totally enchanted by her bright-eyed cheerful manner and her daemon, Pantalaimon.

Malcolm is also intrigued by an artifact left behind by a patron, who later is found dead. He investigates and stumbles upon a spy network where he becomes an informant. The danger and suspense ratchet up pretty quickly. George Bonneville, one of the most terrifying villains I have come across in children's literature, abuses his hyena daemon. The idea of abusing one's own daemon is as shocking as it is painful. There is quite a bit of violence as well as a rape in this story, making it more suitable to a teen audience. 

While I believe the book can be enjoyed by readers who haven't read His Dark Materials, I think the enjoyment of the prequel is heightened with knowing what its to come. To me, it's like watching the Star Wars episodes in a row starting at episode one. Fine, but not as originally written. But then, I still order my Chronicles of Narnia by the date written. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is always book one to me. 

ETA: Oops! I just reread my "audiobook review" and realized that I didn't mention the performance at all. Michael Sheen turned in a phenomenal performance. I was so absorbed that I had to remind myself to breathe often. Somehow, he managed to be coherent and understandable even when the characters were incoherent with fear. Outstanding, not to be missed.