SuitabookGuilt after bereavement
Petula believes she is responsible for her baby sister’s death and responds by withdrawing and anticipating danger.
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Book details
Susin Nielsen - Author
A character-led story about grief, guilt and anxiety, balancing painful experiences with humour, friendship and a slowly developing first relationship. Petula’s movement towards connection is central, while Jacob and the therapy group bring different burdens and perspectives.
Book Brief
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Sign in for personalised guidanceA character-led story about grief, guilt and anxiety, balancing painful experiences with humour, friendship and a slowly developing first relationship. Petula’s movement towards connection is central, while Jacob and the therapy group bring different burdens and perspectives.
Petula believes she is responsible for her baby sister’s death and responds by withdrawing and anticipating danger.
Petula initially resists Jacob, then works with him and gradually opens up as their relationship develops.
Jacob has a prosthetic arm, and Petula belongs to a small youth art-therapy group whose members carry different burdens.
Pay particular attention to grief and loss.
This is a grounded book brief while Suitabook strengthens the analysis: some draft conclusions still depend on unresolved evidence.
Optimists Die First – Author Susin Nielsen – Random House Children's Books
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Checked: 22 September 2026.
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