SuitabookOptimists die first
Susin Nielsen
- Reading
- Read alongside a willing young person rather than presenting it as a guide to anxiety or grief. Pause after major disclosures, ask what feels believable, and discuss how several characters respond to guilt and loss.
- Themes
- Guilt after bereavement: Petula believes she is responsible for her baby sister’s death and responds by withdrawing and anticipating danger. The book’s stance on this remains unclear.
- Connection and recovery: Petula initially resists Jacob, then works with him and gradually opens up as their relationship develops. The relationship is presented as meaningful and respectful, while one account questions whether Petula’s improvement relies too heavily on romance.
- Difference and belonging: Jacob has a prosthetic arm, and Petula belongs to a small youth art-therapy group whose members carry different burdens. The book’s stance on this remains unclear.
- Worth knowing
- Pay particular attention to grief and loss.