By: Hala M., Crofton High School
In the book They Both Die At The End by Adam Silvera, Mateo Torres and Rufus Emeterio both receive news that they will die within 24 hours. Although strangers they are both arranged to be each other’s “last friends.” Together they have one last epic adventure, learning more about themselves in one day than they did in their lifetimes.
After reading this book I liked how the book stayed true to its title, they both really did die at the end. There wasn’t any crazy plot twist or obscure detail that gave the reader hope that the characters would survive, and as morbid as it sounds, the book is so much better that way. Knowing that the characters will die almost forces us to go through the same experience as them. We have to cherish the last few hours Mateo and Rufus have just like they had to.
I really, really loved the climax of the story. It wasn’t really a plot twist because the author dropped hints of it and built the plot up to this point but Adam Silvera did it discreetly so that it still gives the reader a delightful surprise. I will also say the ending made me cry but in more ways than I thought it would (again the climax!!). What I particularly disliked about the book is that it did not keep me engaged until pretty much the end. There was a point where I almost gave up reading it because I felt like the story wasn’t going anywhere. Obviously, I finished it and really liked it but fair warning to those who are going to read it: the beginning can be boring but trust me it gets good. In the end we get a fantastic story about death that will leave you with a lesson or two about how to live. I would recommend this book for readers 12 and older.
Click here to check out They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera.