by TPS reader alchj22
Optimists Die First is a Young Adult novel written by Susin Nielsen. It follows teenage Petula DeWilde as she obsesses over everything that could kill you. Petula used to love crafting, and she and her ex-best friend, Rachel, would do it all the time. They make everything from clothes to necklaces. When Petula is left home alone with her little sister, Maxine, the fear begins. Maxine is upset, so Petula put her to bed. Maxine cries then calms down and talks to herself. Soon, it got very quiet. Petula doesn’t worry about it. However, when her parents come home, they discover Maxine had choked to death on a button off of a costume that Petula had made. Maxine’s death brought lots of changes to the De Wilde household. They move to a new apartment because nobody could bear to live there anymore, Petula stops crafting, and she ruins her friendship with Rachel by cutting off her hair and insulting her. Her parent’s marriage begins to suffer.
Ever since then, Petula takes extreme caution in everything she does, from eating to crossing the street. She has to take art therapy classes where the people don’t like the teacher who makes them do childish projects. Then, she meets Jacob, who has a prosthetic arm and a secret. They partner up for a project and become fast friends. Petula soon realizes her feelings for Jacob, and vice versa. They start dating, and Petula is content for a while. Then, the secret gets out. Will Petula forgive Jacob? Will her parents make up? Find out in this gripping novel, Optimists Die First.
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