Award-winning author Susin Nielsen's brilliant new novel explores heartbreak and tragedy in the way only she can - with a big dose of humour, sarcasm ... and lots of cats. Petula's pessimistic world is turned upside down when she meets Jacob, an optimist with a long-hidden secret.
Ever since tragedy struck her family, Petula has learned to see danger everywhere – whether it’s crossing the road or eating a poached egg. At first Petula is repelled by his optimism, yet even she can’t deny their chemistry together.
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Summary
Award-winning author Susin Nielsen's brilliant new novel explores heartbreak and tragedy in the way only she can - with a big dose of humour, sarcasm ... and lots of cats. Petula's pessimistic world is turned upside down when she meets Jacob, an optimist with a long-hidden secret.
Ever since tragedy struck her family, Petula has learned to see danger everywhere – whether it’s crossing the road or eating a poached egg. At first Petula is repelled by his optimism, yet even she can’t deny their chemistry together.
Description
Ever since tragedy struck her family, Petula has learned to see danger everywhere – whether it’s crossing the road or eating a poached egg. Petula’s determined not to let her guard down, even if this means allowing herself to be ruled by anxiety and grief, and losing her best friend.Then Jacob walks into her therapy group. Strikingly tall and confident, he’s survived a different kind of disaster and still come out smiling. At first Petula is repelled by his optimism, yet even she can’t deny their chemistry together.But optimism is blind – and so is love. What will happen if Petula gives in to both?
Awards
Nominated for CILIP Carnegie Medal 2018 (UK)
Critic Reviews
"Hilarious, heart-warming and beautifully unexpected – a real keeper" Lisa Williamson
"I fell for Optimists Die First like I was curled up with a familiar favourite – offbeat charm, with a bittersweet romance at its sorrowful heart." -- Harriet Reuter Hapgood
"Optimists Die First will make you feel bigger in every way. Bigger in courage to face a dangerous world; bigger in feeling; bigger in love; bigger in your ability to put yourself back together after something that should break you; and yes, bigger in optimism" -- Jeff Zentner
"Susin Nielsen has produced a richly comic story featuring a cast of mismatched, engaging characters" -- Marilyn Brocklehurst Guardian, The Best New Children's Books supplement
"Entertaining but also poignant" -- Claire Hennessy Irish Times
"One of the most talented teen writers working today" BookTrust
"Grief and guilt permeate Nielsen’s empathic and deeply moving story, balanced by sharply funny narration and dialogue." Publishers Weekly, starred review
"Nielsen writes with sensitivity, empathy, and humour" Kirkus, starred review
"The novel’s greatest strength is its handling of the characters’ very real burdens with sympathy, wit, and not an ounce of melodrama. Nielsen excels at depicting troubled, clever teenagers" Starred review, School Library Journal
"Optimists Die First is both funny and heartbreaking. Fans of Rainbow Rowell’s Eleanor And Park will love it." Red Magazine Online
About the Author
Susin Nielsen got her start writing for popular television series, Degrassi Junior High. Since then, she’s written for many Canadian TV shows and her young adult novels have received considerable critical acclaim. Word Nerd and My Messed-Up Life won multiple Young Readers’ Choice Awards. The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen won the UKLA Award, the prestigious Governor General’s Literary Award, the Canadian Library Association’s Children’s Book of the Year and many Young Readers’ Choice Awards, while We Are All Made of Molecules was longlisted for the Carnegie Medal. Susin lives in Vancouver with her family and two extremely destructive cats.
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